New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-02
BROOKLYN WATER FRAUDS.
A COMMITTEES REPORT NEEDED.

WATER METERS SIT IN TURN - TIE RHODES
METER PUT IN By THE RHODES PLUMBER.
The extraordinary powers usurped by the
Brooklyn OF City Works and its subOrdnates are
well excmplifed in the OF the vatermeter imposi
ton in which John Ii. Rhodes, the Water Puryeyor'
plays a very prominent part Although many com
plants have been made To the Board Of the way IN
which be his Office TO Cypress tax payers aud to
enrich himself yet the Board OF City Works refuses 10
him curtail his privileges. He Is the only
one who really understands the Water Puryeyors De-
partment" say his allies and friends and feeling that
he is strongly ntreuched he has resumed active war
fare upon the rights of Others TRIBUNE readers know
all about the patent stop-cocks which he endeayored TO
fOist upon all the property holders in Brooklyn Ho also
sought 20 introduce water-meters when had been
approved by him. Daniel L. Northrup Secretary OF the
Board OF City Works, and he himself wanted moiety
for every meter set II this were gIvea them, they
would see that no other meter was set in Brooklyn.
This proposition WAS received with disfavor by the
manufacturers Of the meter and thenceforward Rhodes
would allow any meters Of this pattern OF manu-
facre be set in the city The prOpretors offered 10
have the accuracy OF their meter tested but Rhodes
peremptOry refused listen any such disinterested
proposal Another meter better for he allowed
zeal further than this for he forced
1t upon people where il was not needed The second
meter cost about twice much the irst. Several
kinds OF tried, much to the disgust OF the
taxpayers In OF the most expensive OF these,
ordered in use about year and half since, brother
Of a newspaper proprietor interested, as well as
NOrthrup.
These facts are derived from the testimony taken By
the Aldermanic Committee ON Stop-cOcks aud water
meters which began its sessions nearly year ago,
but which has never presented report. As the Com
mttee was not a standing it have no existence
under the Board. The Chairman Of the Committee
Alderman BrOwn said 20 have begun the inyestiSa-
ton because his father, who formerly held position
under the Water Board had been discharged by Rhodes;
and s said that the father rensated by Rhodes
who feared the result Of investigation into the az
fairs OF his department Alderman whitney, another
member OF tho Committee IL an intimate friend OF
Rhodes No steps have been taken in the matter during
the present session Of the Board.
EVIDENCE WHICH HAS EARNED REPORT
A reporter OF THE TRIBUNE has been examining the
testimony elected by the Committee as we'll as some OF
the complaints made by propertyowners in relation 70
the meter which 10 show, first, that Rhodes and
Norhrup introducing the meters wished TO share in
the profits secondly that Rhodes interested In the
meters which he allowed to be used thirdly, that the
meters used cost much ana are less servceaDle
than the ones which rejected; and fourthly that
the rejected were, according TO his own asSer
tons, really trustworthy Instruments
At the meeting OF the Committee held Sept &C. 1873
Henry F. Reed, machinist and superintendent OF the
manufacture OF the rejected meter, testified that he
agreed 10 give Rhodes an interest the patent under
which the meter was manufactured. Rhodes SAID that
he would use his influence him. Reed got an order
for 500 meters, and Rhodes claimed that he had fur
nished the money for them. This about FIVE years
before Reed sold the Water Department IS meters for
which he received pay. Only two meters Of the kind
are now in use in Brooklyn owing 70 a misunderstand
ing between Reed and Rhodes. Reed asked permission
IN use the meters which he manufactures but 10 was re-
fused Rhodes said that he vOnd resign his Office rather
than set Reeds meters man named Bryan mas the
exclusive light to all the IN Brooklyn, and so
ia charged for the meter NOrthrup went 10 see Heed
when he was making his meter. At that time Rhodes
was interested in it, Northrup wished TO take an inter
est but Reed refused 70 allow him. because, as be sad
one was all could handle sc time" Rhodes offered
70 give an order 20 Reed for all the meters wanted In
return for half interest. Rhodes SAID his influence ana
position were equivalent TO the others capital. He
wanted therefore, unconditional assignment OF one
half which would equivalent TO the right TO the whole,
since under he could and manufacture all the
meters he wanted Reed broke OF the negotiations be-
cause he feared that Rhodes. when he OBJ
tanned half OF the patentrght, would manufacture all
the meters, and so shut him out altogether.
Ata subsequent meeting OF the Committee, john {.
Keller the President Of the Company which mauufac-
tred the rejected meter testified that he had offered TO
furnish the Department with 4 dozen meters to
show how they worked, but opportunity had been
given him. though the meter In question: according 70
the figures OF the Department. cost Aaf as mdch as the
meters adopted II been charged that many OF the
meters adopted by Rhodes found ess and were
sold for old metal. Nearly $4,000 WORTH 1t appears.
were sold in this way From number Of cases showing
the manner in which Rhodes went 20 work after he got
meter presumably to ms liking cited. In one
he eperneued with various while the other
he refused for long time 10 set one which he had ap
proved.
EXPERIMENTS WITH NON-REGIsrERESG METERS.
It had been practice OF the Water Purveyor before
the introduction Of the meters 10 estimate Tue water
tax IN various ways so TO charge FOR the amount OF
water used In the case of livery stable the charge
was nut down as much per horse. The bill for lS2-3
NJ Mr. Wood, livery-stable keeper on Myrte-ave
Brooklyn, T. D., contained the item OF 10 noIse9 az ~
much per horse. Inc Dill III TINS case dui9unO1u ~
$40 b. aud Mr. Wood paid IT IN advance IA play, 4Si4
In July OF the same year plumber lang 90 MS s'1Des
water meter on the premises. Mr. Wood resisted tne
imposition aud the naa was 0osod tbe Cy Hi
and stated that he had PAID MS water rate
in advance, and that there renamed seven seven
months before the tune for which 10 had paid
would expire. Rhodes got very angry and sad
that Board had right 70 change the Dl whenever
pleased. Nix Wood theh Wen. 70 NOItAIu ~
OF the Board who, as Is his won't became AiShy mug
at learning the state OF aars OF W Sf HS vs.
probably fully aware long before nc tOit AlI noOu'
however 70 do anything in the matter before near
inc nom him the board nc ,a4 nog4t Hpo 'r mo
water from his premises. MI W ot tAereupon "ens
home but received visit that afternoon from men sent
by Rhodes 10 cut on the water Il H9 s9uq no' @ III
TO the imposition OF the meter MT. Nool az nfSt re-
sisted bat rejecting that lie would Dc al great loss
the water cut Oh, he was obliged 10 gVe way lac
meter was set and a Dill for s5i 50 sent H. which Mr..
Mood was obliged 70 pay. Just here, however, comes
IN the ridiculous feature OF the whole proceeding Inc
new meter aid not work well, aud soon sent
no nut 10 another the ground that The first instru
ment did not register. The second meter answered no
better than the frst since IL soon gave way 70
third and then 20 a fourth, and 80 on untlI ABOUT
seven meters had been tried The seventh meter
h now on the premises leaks badly, allowing much
of ne water 20 escape the Oor being worthless
as register In spite OF this want OF success IA these
expermeus the Board OF City Works through Rhodes,
sent Mr. Wood November 1873 Dill Tor water rates
from May OF the same year Inc Dl amounts ~ 80,
which Mr. Wood refuses 10 pay and the Department IN
spite of s threat TO off the water does not seem 20 De
In hasa 10 enforce its requirements Mr. WoOdsays mat
ne SyorLmen Who came 70 replace the meters IN every
~ sad that The new ones pat IN because the