The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-23

or,cers Of the old company stated that they
sssessed certain classes OF establishments under
x.rhai instructiops on general basis, which al
loved great latitude and discretion; and that
these assessments were liable to great cnange,
az ,acoyd. ~ the Office on the personal applca-
ton of the parties interested:
This condition rendered it necessary Tor the
board 10 establish an entire and compie,e system
of water rates. They had but nmiseo nne N
which 10 do this a. the period vas near wnen tne
assessments for the new year snoulu cvin nrSsd
They entered upon this labor OF oelall, guoe9
ony by such lights the reports OF otnsi anu an
and record. q the
IL was obligatory on them TO raise certa,n
amount OF revenue, and they determined !. snou.o
be done by disn ibuting the burden ACCORDING 70
the benefit received by each consumer. Lhey
fonnd AT the outset that II would be impossible 10
accomplish this by schedule OF rates appearing
as low as those in most other cities, because tney
were required to raise by these rates an JUN
Of revenue fifty per cent. OF the whoel 70 meet
interest PAYABLE in other cities by direct TAX,
col acted by different officer and under diner
eat name But, nevertheless. il Is q water tax.
In Boston New York, Cincinnati, nt Louis,
Iouisyle and other cities OF the United STATES
the water companies are relieved from TINS our
| den, and when New Orleans 10 placed on al
equality with them in this respect, II Will De ouno
the rates are lower than IN any place nanou sup
| The records prove that New Orleans receives
from twenty five to fifty per cent less revenue Ior
the same quantity Of water, than any Guy , non
| which reports have been obtained. For instance
the revenue received in New Orleans for lOVo GAL
| Ions OF water delivered is seven cents: :
| In New York nine and one-half cents.
In Jersey City, nine and one hall cents
ssn sse sna
In Louisville, eleven and one-qusrter cents.
In st. Louis, twelve cents.
Thin result follows from the excessive quantity
| of water used by our people. We have long sum
| mers and o warm climate and our people are
| luxurious and profuse in the use OF water. !
The consumption in st. Louis, Cincinnati, and
New York varies from thirty-fye to hfty gallons
daily per capita.
In Boston 1t is sixty gallons.
4 In New Orleans ninety gallons.
These facts show conclusiyey that the amount
| assessed for water in New Orleans is not excesT
sive and Is not as great 80 In other cities OF the
country for the same service. And the results, so
far render 1t very questionable whether the reve-
nues under these rates will meet the expenditures
| required of the commissioners by the city.
Then comes the question-and the annoying and
difficult one-of the distribution and application Of
| this water tax. All the complaints seem 70 have
originated in the fact that some parties are
Office show this to be 90, but they also show that
instances are much greater where the charge %
reduced. These are the results. not OF an increase
Of rate, but sn equalization OF the rate.
A handsome dwelling with the luxuries OF bath,
water closet, street washer, pantry with hot ara
cold water cocks paying only SIS $50 last year,
is assessed much higher this year but many poor
widows and laborers wEo paid the same price
, The large mandatory last year paying s6y1
] used twenty times as much water as forty small
! families who paid the same price. By the present
tariff these parties are brought nearer an equality
. | the former paving more, the latter less. Thou
sands of bills are thus reduced, OF wnlcn nothl1e
{ is heard, but the person who has heretofore 70
Q ceyed bis supply for less than the cost of Goa
used in pumping II, never fails to complain Oh an,
Q | increase.
Q One item which must enter into every bill, to Q
greater or less extent until the city assumes III
!. payment, is never considered in the ordinary GUS
!. cussion of this question. At least one third
d the whole supply Of water In New Orleans Is nse'
!. for public purposes such as extingnshing fires
cleaning streets, markets, ETC., etc. Ihis must o.
provided for by the commissioners until otherwls'
Q arranged by the city, and they have endeavore'
TO distribute the burden as evenly as possible, &C
j. cording TO the benefit conferred. The part
II whose insurance is reduced from 500 to SOU
n year by having supply OF water at his door
n pays more than the one who only dement's 70 u
Is extent Of $40 or $40.
y II will be seen the question was surrounded D.
dficuties-the duties TO be performed were laDo
Is rious. tedious, complicated and tnankless-IoI "a
d commissioners expected TO render the sefvic
ID | without money and without price. That they nav
e. been entirely correct in every item would De a.
70 sumIng infallibity-but that the principle,
their action is just and their system Of rates as To-
o as possible no fair minded man, who will troubl
3 | himself TO examine the records and make confe
Ia sons, will for q moment doubt.
"a They are now engaged In attaching meters
= several classes OF establishments, with view {
testing their rates Of charge, and with the intei
"a ton Of changing whenever found too high. 10
n. has been extensively done in other Cities and th
ar result has ever been to produce the very chang
:. which has called forth this discussion. The men
a. bers Of the press and the public will soon have
in opportunity to witness the operation OF thes
le complicated, ingenious and expensive htue te
tales. h..3
In the meantime, II is but fair thai harst cri
=. cIsm and unjust condemnation should be So
a pended.
~ Several cases have been reported where con
~ 4. plants were being made, based on public ramo
=. and when the parties called for their bills th'
Nv found them much below last year.
Is An idea seems to have entered the public min
u too, that because the works belong TO the city
charge should be made for water. The result
that nearly so per cent less has been paid TO q
present time than has been usual in former yea
for the same period.
Il, THos. III. SHIELDS,
n Chairman Committee on Water Worn
in | Comnon COuuril.