The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-12
CROTON WATER METERS.


sumers in this city. The different heads of the bu-
that have been from time to time called to the
position to have tried every method in theiH
power. but for reason success did not
crown their efforts. In 1870 proposition was
made that water meters be introduced into the
various large manufactures. stables and other
places where immense quantities OF Croton were
consumed. and it met with great favor among
those who were in power. general test OF
various kinds of apparatus ordered to be made.
which took place at the city yard. at the foot Of
Twenty fourth street. East River. The experiments
resulted in the selection of the Navarro meter.
and contract entered into behalf
OF the city for delivery of 10000 meters $40 each.
The meters were delivered. but the money was not
paid. The city refused to be bound by the terms Of
the contract and vexaous litigation has ensued
since. In 1873 the Legislature passed act author
izing the Commissioner of Public Works. in his dis
creton to water meters to be placed wherever
it thought desirable. 1.-THE pattern of which and
the price OF which shall be approved by the Mayor.
Comptroller and Chief Engineer OF the Croton
Aqucduct.'
After the passage OF this law the supply Of water
became much greater. and no recourse Was for .
short time had to the question OF deciding upon
Croton meter. to be introduced throughout the city.
Latterly. however. the Commissioner OF Public
following is copy. to all the large consumers Of
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLic wosKs
NEw YORK. -. 1879. !
Under provisions of 80 chapter so Laws Of
Public Works to be placed in all
.. wnrSss fsrp and in Il. places whsr:
is furnished for business consumption" you are
service Of This notice to place Worthington water
said section 10 of the charter on the pipe your
premises with water an thereafter to pay for con.
to Page the s,sr ss s & T Do
water rates according viii DO followed b.
.ps
panying rules and regulations Very respectfully,
ALLAN CAMPBELL. Commissioner OF Public Works
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The "rues and regulations spoken Of In the
notice to the following effect. 1t will be seen
that they very stringent and are OF interest to
every citzen:-
All meters, before being placed. must Be sent. With
dence and place OF business to the department pipe yard
will within yeght hours upon the written
of the giving the Of the plumber who 10
Consumers required to keep their in repsis
All meters be placed under the supervision and to
the satisfaction of the of Public Works.
such as he may designate 50 that they can be easily
Between each and the Cro.cn main stopcock
must be placed on tho service pipe within one foot Of the
used promises to be supplied by motor except has
No shall be within feet of sink privy.
Licensed plumbers Of this city ana employees OF tho Do
of Public Works are the only persons author.
No meter shall he removed or repaired except upon
permit from the Department of Public works and whsn-
is removed for any tho Commissioner
In case of the violation any preceding require
mens and regulations or Il free access to TIE meters fSs
such person persons as the OF
il shall be- found that the meter has boea tam
with the water supply shall be stopped unless the
pas OF
shutting oS and turning ON and upon
snnans n DO IS Of esans4 & 'h. ~
that a expenses Of meters their eonneetons aud set.
Of Iroton water shall DO lien upon the premises .hsrs
such ppe % be made
paid for the fiscal year ending April 80 sso when oii's
Bills for all charges in connection with me
rsaareS .S Ds and ali
can be obj aimed At the Office OF the Chief Engineer room
Ali payments for Of water for meters setting ss,
AMY Suy os ls p aha no " A%hAN cATPBsI
Commissioner OF Public Works
It will be observed that those amenable to tho
order given above Obliged to obtain "Worthing-
ton meter" 1t has bothered great many largo
users OF the Croton as to why they should be com.
PEELED certain kind OF apparatus, to be chosen
for them by the head of municipal department..
They consider the action arbitrary and unjust. Az
one of the proprieors OF large establishment in the
upper part of this city said to HERALD reporter yes
terday:-
at confines us to the use Of only certain kind Of
meter and we must purchase that kind, no matter
how much it costs or how badly 1t may be suited to
our purposes. think the action Is simply out
rageous. Why should one mans invention be taken
in preference to that of another persons? The mar
terms and with all modern appliances to boot l. for
one, don't propose to stand it, and Will put in what.
ever meter have mind to and then test the ques-
ton in the courts.
WHAT THE Authorities SAY ABOUT TIE MArrEn.
Mr.. G W. Birdsall, who has charge OF the en-
gineeriug department, gsve complete history of
the water meteor question to a reporter yesterday.
at in 1876 said he. 'that the first stops were
taken by the local authorities to come to an agree.
ment some one kind OF water meter. The then
Mayor the Comptroller and the Chief Engineer oe
the Croton Aqueduct met required by law. and
decided upon adopting what was styled the Worth.
ington meter The for taking action on
the subject at that time was because 1t was found
that an immense amount OF water was wasted. The
consumption was becoming too great for the supply.
Something must be done. and that quickly. The olo
of 1873 still in force, and recourse was had
to its provisions deyfter resort. The new meter
was Gully in use in very large manufacturing estab-
lshments. No steps were at that time taken
looking to its general introduction through
out the city Nor was there anything further
done about the matter until . little over
year ago. Then again the water supply became
short, and the dangers of long drought threatened
the people OF this city. Orders were given out to
husband the Croton tor any emergency that might
arise. The storage reservoirs were filed and expert
ments were made in the neighborhood of the Bronx
River and Rye Ponds tor the purpose of making tho
water in these channels available Tor consumption
To aid the work of the department meters were
placed the docks and piers and in all places where
great deal OF Croton was used. Even now, when
great many meters have already been introduced
there is scarcity of water The reservoirs In order
to properly supply the city, should contain ut tho
very least thirtysix feet OF water At the present
time there but twenty-nine feet four inches OF
Croton in the main reservoir. and but trhe over
twentythree feet in the adjoining one. So you SEQ
there is deficiency in the supply ofabout seven feet.
of the proper quantity to meet the bare
demands of the people This indicates of that
there arc many millions of gallons short. II matters
were allowed to on in this way you can readily
see where it all would end. When people can usa
the water without check hindrance they not
a rule. careful. Much of the precious liquid Ia
allowed to 20 to waste. Each person fails to how
the small quantity he uses can make any difference
in the grand total. and yet 1t does. Because when
you add the waste allowed by everybody you obtain
quite q respectable number of millions OF gallons.
Why, since have attached meters to steamboat
piers you would be astonished to hear how much less
water has been consumed than was done formerly.
Millions upon millions of gallons OF Croton have been
saved to the people, Notwithstanding the fact that