Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-25

the closing Of any stOp-cOCk during the night
tut the time AT which the men begun and
ceased to work. The city is divided into
120 waste-water district, the largest of which
contains 4,2I1 inhabitants, the average being
2,551. The meter Is fixed in a central position,
and the ordinary intermittent supply of wa
ter has been ascertained. The District is
placed under constant service through the
meter for from a 10 IS hours. The number
OF residents or takers is then ascertained and
stop-cocks attached TO the service pipes OF all
premises. The diagrams both for constant
and Intermittent service are worked out and
entered upon suitable book. A corps OF
night inspectors are furnished with copies of
said diagrams, and commencing NJ IL d. m.
begin their inspection. They subject each
stOp-cock on the sidewalk to a test. to aScer-
tain II water is passing into the premises. II
on applying the key TO the stOp-cock plug,
and the ear to the key no sound is heard, the
cock is turned until nearly closed. and il wa
ter is passing It Will then, by reason of its in
creased velocity be readily heard In this
manner, il is claimed, the flow due to a quick
dropping can be easily heard, and this is con-
sidered evidence of water on the inner side of
the stop-cock. These cases are all infinitely
reported, and in the morning the reports are
turned over TO the day inspectors. who make
a most thorough examination OF the prem
ises reported, for leaks, &c, and, as q rule, IL
is found that the pipes or fittings are defcc-
tive and leaky. This system, IL is claimed,
has been the most successful yet ATTEMPTED
for the prevention of waste in the city of
Liverpool, but at recent meeting OF the
the representatives from London, Manches-
ter, Dover, Norwich, Glasgow and other
cities, after full discussion failed to unite in
agreeing to the system as proper or safe
one. Its annual cost thus far has been about
$50 COO, which immense sum the people of q
city of 600 900 inhabitants pay To prevent the
improper use OF water, and then receive an
average 1914 gallons per head per day. OF
course it would be impossible TO adopt such
an expensive and complex system i'm this
city, besides, in my judgment, the better
method of discovering leaks and waste In
ton, and SO prevent the waste In business
and manufacturing places, hotels, &c.
/ renew my recommendation of last year,
that meters be placed on all premises other
than private residences, and that a moderate
rental per gallon be charged for the water
used.
WATER TAX.
The amount of water tax due and to be-
come due, with interest to date, is Sfr5 GOO az
The amount OF water tax claimed To be ex-
empt under existing laws Is sl0,55e.J6.
Low SALARIES.
In submitting my estimate for the next ifs
cal year, desire 10 call attention To the mea-
gre salaries paid the officers OF this depart
nent. which VIII not bear comparison with
the other bureau officers OF This District. and
are far below he average paid the officers
OF water departments throughout the United
States and Europe. When il is considered
that upon them devoive the constant care mi
over one hundred and fifty miles of mains
nearly one thousand fire plugs, and the sun
ply TO over fourteen thousand premises.
them at all times, both day and night rests
the entire responsibility OF the perfect work
ing of the extended system, which not onl .
embraces the ordinary details OF Office work
but necessarily calls forth skill and judg-
ment In the discharge OF The varied duties