National Republican., 1875-12-02

within ten years, in such sums may be required,
$4,000, for the purpose OF introducing water
through the city.
Sec.3. And Be il further ordafned, That to en-
able the corporation to redeem said stock ard pay
the interest thereon, and to pay other expenses
attending the introduction and maintenance OF
the water establishment, thero be, and Il hereby.
levied water tax of sixty cents per foot every
front foot on each side Of every street. lane or
alley Though which the water mains have been,
or may be laid hereafter: and that said tax shall
be collected by the collector OF this corporation
under the laws already passed for the collection
of the general tax of this town, as follows: one
1859 viz He shall collect fteen cents Of the above
tax In that year. fifteen cents in the year 1882 ff-
teen cents in the year 1851, and fifteen cents in
the year 1852; and he shall pay over to the clerk
of this corporation such sums as he collects, re
tanning three per cent for his compensation for
said funds he receives them to the credit OF the
water fund, and the same are hereby pledged for
the payment of the interest and the redemption
Of the principal of all the stock that shall may
be issued under authority Of this ordinance.
THE LATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
of the District of Columbia passed the following
act, approved June ., 1873 under which all as
sessments for laying water mains are now made;
SEC. Q. and be 1t further enacted, That here
after, in order to defray the expense OF laying
water mains and the erection of fire plugs there
be, and is hereby, levied special tax OF one and
quarter cents per square foot on every lot and
part of lot which binds on or touches on any ave-
nue., street or alley in which q main water pipe
may hereafter be laid and fire plugs erected which
within thirty days after such water mains and fire
plugs shall have been laid and erected Of which.
assessment the Water Registrar shall immediate
ly notify the owner or agent of the property
chargeable Herewith setting forth in said notice
the number Of the square in which is situated tho
property on which said tax is assessed, and the
street, avenue alley on which 1t fronts; and the
said tax shall be due and payable in four equaltn-
stalments the first of which shall be payable in
thirty days from the date of the notice, and the
other three shall be due and payable annually,
one in each year, dating from the time when the
first instalment became due, and all OF the said
instaIments shall bear interest at the rate Of six
per cent. per annum commencing from the date
Of the notification of the assessment; but the
owner of the property taxed may at his option
atany time after the assessment pay the same in
fpll, and IL the said tax shall be paid in iuA
within thirty days from the time notice was given
Of the leyying thereof
AN ABATEMENT OF SIX PER CENT.
shall be allowed on the whole amount OF the as
sessment, and in no case shall the same lot be
chargeable with more than one tax for the laying
OF water mains and the erection OF hre-plugs."
The foregoing extracts from the laws OF Con-
gress, late corporations Of Washington and
Of Colum pia are ali that have direct references TO
water-maips.
tenn OF taxing property for the laying OF water
mains by the square foot is the correct on, Tor
the reason that while frontfoot tax may be as
nearly as possible equal and uniform, the square
foot tax is equal and uniform; yet, owing to the
fact that In laying water mains across streets,
front Of public property. for which the goyernment
receives no remuneration. deficiencies Often exist
between the actual cost Of the wors and the as
This past season q numbor OF streets were
sessed for the laying OF water mains and erection
Of fire plugs. The assessment amouuted TO Sl6-
T49.49, while the actual cost of the work and ma
terial amounted to S23 coo ~ leaving def ,leney
Of 6,s5l.oi. To overcome this and other
DErlcIEscIEs IN THE FUTURE,
recommend
First That the present law he so amended as
TO make the said tax due and payable in two
equal installments instead Of four; the first pay
able within thirty days from date of assessment,
without interest the other due and payable one
year thereafter, and with interest at the rate of
ten per cent. per annum from the. date OF assess
meDt. II the first installment be not paid within
thirty days from the date of assessment, then all
shall bear interest at the rate of ten per cent per
annum, said rate Of interest to commence from the
date of assessment.
Second. That where mains cross streets, ave-
nues, alleys or public reservations, the actual
cost of the same be paid by the District govern
ment out of the general fund.
Third. That the law exempting church and
charitable property from the taxation for the lay
ing of water mains be repealed
Fourth. That no water shall be turned on or
water mains tapped for the use of any property
Gne year in arrears for assessment made for lay
The interest named (ten per cent? is greater
than has heretofore been levied for the non-pay-
ment Of taxes for the laying of water mains; but
it should be borne in mind that the assessment is
simply to reimburse the g1yernment for moneys "
;
property owners for their benefit, and the
ments in tho majority of cases are small: for in
stance the tax on a lot 25xl00 feet-2,5OO square
feet-amounts to s5l 25.
WATER RENTS.
Tho following section, of act of Congress ap-
proved March s. 1859, refers 10 annual water rents
viz.
Sec g. And be IL further enacted That the said
corporation shall have authority by ordinance act
or otherwise, to establish a scale of annual sales
for the supply and use Of said water, apportioned
hrNfl. fNz
ing TO their size dimensions, assessed values ex-
posures to fires, uses for dwellings, for stores,
shops, stables, manufactures or other purposes
number of occupants or consumption of water,
measured by meter or otherwise, and to modify,
alter, amend, increase or reduce such scale from
time to time, and to extend 1t to other descriptions
ofbuildings and establishments; collect such rates
or rents when so fixed, and advance or otherwise,
though such agents or commissioners, as they may
authorize, from the owners or occupants of all
such building or establishments respectively, who
may use the water therein; to stop the supply of
water to any such dwellingor establishment upon
failure TO pay any such rate charge or rent: and
generally TO enact such laws as may ybenecessaryto
supply the inhabitants of saidcity of Washington
with pure and wholesome water, and to carry into
full and complete effect the powers herein granted
Provfded, That the rates levied by the cities OF
Georgetown and Washington shall
NEVER BE 4 SOURCE OF REVENUE
other than a means OF keeping up to the said
cities supply Of water.
The ordinance Of the late corporation of WASH
ingtop, passed In april lsol, based upon the above
Sec. p. The annual rent to be collected BY the
water department shall be as follows, TO Wit On
all tenenents two stories in height, having a
front width Of sixteen feet and under the sum OF
81 and for each additional front foot 25 cents aud
for each additional story q per story.
See. %. The extra and miscellaneous water
rents shall be in addition to the regular annual
water rates on the houses when occupied as dwell
ings, as follows, to wit; Bakeries for tic average
daily use Of -four to each barrel the sum of 81 per
annum. Bathing tubs In all public bathing estab-
lishments and barber shops, % per annum each.
So; for each additional Jet Of one eighth, IL; for
the FIRST jet OF one fourth ofan inch IS; for each ad-
hree eh 81 o each anI nts5 sl
si5; for each additional Jet Of one half Of an an inch,
any premises when the water is not taken for |
other purposes and to an extent sufficient for |
these purposes.
Horses, (priyate,) including water for washing |
carriages for each horse, S11; livery stables in
Guiding water for washing carriages, for each |
stall, IS cents; horses omnibuses carts draws or
other vehicles, for each horse, so cents.
HOTELS AND BOARDING HOUSES
shall in addition to the regular annual water rate
for private families described in the twenty ninth
for boarders or dodgers within the same the sum |
OF 30 cents; stationary steam engines, for each |
g. per annum; locomotive engines
making not more than two trips per day, 500 |
each per annum; If more than two trips per day, |
in the same proportion refectories, eating houses
na
and oyster saloons from IS to $50 per
annum, TO be fixed by the Registrar; stores shops
warehouses, offices, billiard saloons, barber shops
and apothecary stores, from 50 to SIS per annunl
TO be fixed by the Registrar. All manufacturing |
and other business requiring large supply Of /
water are TO be charged therefor ut the rate of /
cent per 100 gallons on the daily average esti- |
mated quantity during the year. the year to be /
at 800 days. Ali water required for |
purposes which are not specified in the foregoing |
tariff shall be paid for at such rate as may be |
fixed by the corporation. The proprietors per-
sons having charge of hotels boarding houses and
establishments may place within |
their respective places, at their own expense, |
sufficient and accurate water metre, to be ap- |
proved by the Water Registrar, for the purpose Of
the quantity OF water used by them /
respectively. And when, in any case the quanti- /
ty used shall be SO ascertained theWater Registrar
shall establish water rate therefor, instead Of |
the specified rate heretofore required to be paid
The mayor may grant permission to such persons /
as he may deem proper, who will comply with all 1
the conditions Of this or any other ordinance Of
this corporation t01se the water from such OF tho
hre-plug hydrants as may be designated by tho /
Inspector and tapper of water-mans, or If erected
by the United States then by the engineer in /
charge Of the Potomac water works. for the pur- |
pose Of sprinklng any of the avenues, streets or
alleys in this city, and no charge shall be made
for the water SO issued.
PROPOSED WATER RATES.
4