Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-25

l4,s'O Sl065l0
assessed much higher, having only MIGRANTS in
yard, will pay but 81; but this VIII not mate
rally anect the above showing, which Is the
maximum amount that can be collected
1t is an approximate result, the data not
being sufficient to make close estimates for the
current year; but it is clear that the Indebted
ness TO the general fund cannot be returned In
from the newly established rates The Com
mssioners hope to reduce the current expenses
OF the department to about $4,000, instead OF
$500, as estimated.
Under the old system, based upon the width
and height OF houses, premises having no fix
lures within the house and obtaining water
from hydranIs In the yard often paid two and
the modern cOnvenienceS. This system had
been maintained since 1859. In the interval the
character and style OF houses has greatly
changed; Now In the smallest the so.called
modern improvements are introduced. Then a
bath-tub was rare thing In house In WASH
ingtOn. Now houses are mostly built with mar
row frontage, and with every convenience
To add say 80 per cent. to the existing rates
obviously would be perpetuating wrong. for
the occupant OF the sixteen-feet front modern
n sSs ws Of o I fnan the
Under the old Fem, supposing botl two-story
houses, the former paid s. and the latter 50. In
the former case 1t would be adding 80 per cent
upon s., or an increase OF ninety cents; In the
latter 30 per cent. upon 50, or an increase of
$40. The former would then have paid a total
OF s. 80, and the latter of $11 10 the effect being
to increase and prolong the existing wrong.
The commissioners then could not adopt a
simple addition OF percentage to the old rates
and adhere to the old rule Of width and mum
per OF stories as a measure for water rent,
method distinctly condemned by Congress
They thought, and still Think that the water
meter presents the only absolutely lust basis
for payment OF water rates; but its Immediate
adoption Is 1mpracticable, and would probably
be unacceptable to water-takers Hence some
other method had to be adopted. Naturally, Il
charge or SO much per sp1gOt first presented It,
sell; out little reflection will satisfy any one
that the number OF spigotS Is no guide for
water In houses Inquiries were made In re-
gard to the water systems In use In the varlOns
cities, and the attention OF the mlnissIoners
was particularly drawn 10 the Boston system
OF making the assessed value OF Premises a
factor In determining water rates.
But In that city the value OF the land as we'll
as OF the Improvements is taken into coD5idara-
tlOn, which practice did not seem to the Com
missioners to be just. The character OF the
living, and therefore OF the use Of water, but
the value OF the land could not affect this dues
tlon, hence they adopted the assessed value OF
houses only as a factor. Then the question
was, what amount Is It necessary TO charge the
average small two-StOry houses, having the
usual 1lXtureS, as minimum charge? To reach
conclusion In this matter inquiries were frs,
difected 10 now many houses there in are Wash
1ngton and Georgetown. IT was found that in
Washington there are 23479, and in George
Town 2,lII, total OF 1866 houses or these
l4,9'0 take water, as per the following tables:
1dbte shoctng the number Of houses paying ,cater
rates their classification and The oTyo,, ,o;d