, 1874-05-20
LOCAL LETTERS.


ID tAe Editor If 79it Chicago Tffbhns:
S1n: read with considerable satisfaction tho
romarkH OIL wator-metcrs In your last Sunday
Issue, because tho time has arrived when this
subject should DO fully discussed and dotcr-
mined.
Unfortunately It docs not matter how you tax
aone people, 1t is always wrong; there nrc others
who nro never satiailod unless they are qulto
sure they aro getting tho bust of thoir noigh-
bors, whilst there nro some few who have an
Unborn, conscientious principle not to wnHto
anything belonging to themselves or othor
people, or allow othor people to waste anything
without word Of axpoatulation. Tho last arc
OF opinion motors aro unnecessary, believing
oyory body as honcst as thomselvos; tho second
claeB do not desire water-metors. because 1t
would make them pny thoir full sharc Of wator-
tax, and tho first, by far tho most numerous, do
not desire to ray my taxeB at oil, and eyory timo
they 800 tax-paper Of any description they re-
gard 1t as IN outrage. ! really believe in this
item OF water tho Bmu1 consumer has boon con-
sfderably imposed upon, and hiB only RESOURCE
IL now to get o motor and pay ouly 10 ccnts for
1000 gallons, and he ought to be satisfied:
Now, It IL tho proper businous OF tho city
authoritios to SEQ that overy man III fairly and
eouitably taxed, and 1t so happenH that on this
particular and Inoat important article Of water
distribution 1t chn bo dono, but only In ono way,
other article il sold, by Weights aud measures.
by tho wator-meter every man ia frco to tax
lfmsoli lo may 10 o1trayagant or economical,
In tho same manner Us for ton, cohoo, sugar,
coal, gas, or wearing apparel.
4 fow words on tho cost Of water-metcrs Th
conditions required to bo considered in good
water~meter aro too many to be ,giyon in detail
horc. and those unacqnRintod with tho subject
havo no idea Of the difficulties experienced by
inventors to construct . machine which shall
will 10 eaBily understood by everybody, and that
is tho cost OF materials 10 make them strong
enough to Htand tho pressure, and the very
heavy Bhoeks to which they are Liable from tho
opening and closing Of main valves. 6omotimea
Oh the Hquare inch over tho normal pressure in
tho pipes. When q body Of wator III latge pipes
is put into motion and suddenly stopped
1t may be compared to running
saosd hsa wa ran wasrmars d gs'd o4Ssas5 ssans5
to Withstand all this, to measure correctly, te
coat nothing for repairs for five ycarB, and cost
next to nothing to begin with. The atreugth Q!
materials, aud materials TINT will not rust, will
always render 1t impossible to mako = seryicea'
tlo aud accurate meter for $5.
In addition to the advantages named In YOU
articlo, mny bo stated the fact TINT, ii wator
motera were universally adopted then the qual,
tity Of water now pumped ut tho North sldt
pumping-worls would supply at loast thret
times tho present population Of Chicago, and I
gradual introduction Of motors will be prepa ring
supply of water for increasing population with
out any moro large appropriations for pump
ing-onginoH, tunnels, etc. During til,
present generation, tho cost Of motor
will bc insiguiticant compared with thos
appropriations, and nuroly oil classes o
taxpayers aro touched by appropriations to-
auch large amounts. Lot tho taxpayers fairl
consider this subject; $4,000, ,000 ia largo itom
nlroady spent, in water-works, and Is worth thci
| consideration, and every min will soon arrive q
wator by the gallon, aud let tho price DO no ixes
aud regulated as to meet tho current expenses
10 do this, water-uoters are necessity, and
| whom oncc fairly organized with suitable ma
chine people will feel tile beneficial results, ant
| wouler it was oyor othorwiao. Yours very ra
spoctfully, Pho BoNo PupL1co.