, 1875-08-01

Tho enttre expenditure On account Of tho Water
Tozksincluding running expenses Of the chops, SAL
a,es Of eployes repairs; 90 operating a o. mo wotxs
and interest Of e34D 294. 20 on waer bopds-was S61
06512. The income for water collections was 67o5,
The Wafer-Wo1ks may therefore be considered sue
cessful municipal investment.
EFFECTS OF FRosT.
During the past winter Inconvenience WAS expert
enced in soma parts Of the cityon account Of the
freezing Of the wate1-pipes. This occurred only in
tho condition Of the streets prevented their being
pl1ced deep enough. The depth 1t which the pipes
urn now laid secures permanent immunity from
severity is unprecedented In the recollection Of those
connected with tho Water Department. Wherever the
s q e 5S
but uanny Of them small that they viii hare 10
be taken up, and be replaced by arger ones. Tbs
Board have been retarded in the carrying out Of this
Design By want Of funds.
Some difficulty was found in preserving the hydrants
from the se1erty Of the eoldest months. Various
in ths hardest staAon, most Of the hydrants
kept serviceable. So great vigilance was required
however, that thu forenen and their employees had to
work nigh. and day, and several CT the bad
II trozen-
TIE WASTE OF WATER.
Having exhausted every effort which ingenuity has
thus far suggested prevent wase Of water the
Board are compelled to conclude that the1e s but
means by which this ctlninaity eau be checked,
namely, by the Of 1oeters. So firmly convinced
the Board Of this that If the issuance Of bonds
not consituttonaly prohibited, aud If the present
financial condition Of The city dld not render the
peuditure burdensome to the people, they would
recomme nd thatA water-meter be placed wherever
setviceppe larger than OF an inch ia d.
ameter js used The difficulty in doing lies in the
price Of the meters The cheapest satisfactory meter
which be hail to expensive to admit Of the
purchase of the necessary number at the public cost
cheap Hater-Heter Ia one Of the uecessities Of the
age and ia surprising that mechanical genius has
not been able to construct simple nd cheap oesice
fortune to the maker. The Board have purchased
many meters during tho past year as the fund per-
houses and manufacturing establishments. The me-
ters purchased have already than paid for their
cost and afford absolutely Just standard by which
the consumer knows e1octy the quantity OF water for
which he has to pay.
One striking, well as interesting. feature Of the
employment Of wAter-meers is their assistance in the
detection Of obscure leaks leak may exist In hid
den portion Of servicopipe which might not be dis
covered for months the meter, by the unusual quau
tity Of water recorded, did not suggest such proba
bity. The selfish interest Of the consumer, who is
disposed to protest against the size Of bis bill leads
promptly reneded thus saytng to the city the water
which otherwise would be wasted.
The nonstrous waste Of wafer which takes place
Qpally in the extreme weather Of summer and winter
is reflection upon the moral sense Of thosa who arc
guilty of it. It appears to be impossible for many
people to understand that water. unlike air 10 not
free commodity, and that one ia entitled to uke
water than he rays for The water Of the cJ IL
municipal property sold TO individuals in PRECISELY
food or clothing and It Is no more privilege waste
water than 10 steal the groceries OF the merchant
the fabrics Of the drJ-goods dealer.
BEVERAGE.
One Of the re1narkabls features Of pubie improve
nents accomplished during the year consists in the
extent Of sewers built which reaches total of ~
miles, It ia obvious that the cleanliness and health Of
the city will receive from this extensive and enduring
help The city now contains 24o mi1es OF sewerage.
The following table exhibits the total extendon and
cost Of sewerage annually, since the sewerage depart
ment was placed under The charge Of the Board In
1861, well as the work which was done prior to tha+
time.