National Republican., 1879-07-25
rhe number and valuation of houses is shown in


From this table It Is that Of the 1868 houses
assessed at $500 or upward l0,5iS are assessed at
1000 or under. this number being more than two
thirds Of all furnished with Potomac water. There
are but lT7l houses assessed ut $1,000 and upward,
and only 6l2 assessed at over 5000. OF this entire
list of houses assessed AZ $500 and upward 1t is
probable that over G23 do not take water and this
lumber is distributed over the entire range of as
scsscd houses. The Commissioners. after a careful
consideration Of the tables, concluded that 81 would
be reasonable charge for the introduction of
water upon premises where no fixtures existed, as
would probably be the case where improvements
were assessed under $500. They fixed 50 as the rate
upon houses assessed from $500 to $1,000 the great
majority of such buildings having In them modern
ConNeniences.
There being G,357 so assessed in the two cities, 1t
was clear that about GOO must be waer-takers.
Under the old system 6.S29 houses are charged be.
tween SO and 81 The rates for them, therefore,
increased from 81 to 81. Finally, under the old
system there were li,2H paying from 81 TO 81 water
rent. Under the present system there are 1882
that pay from - TO $40, the great majority paying
between S. and 81.
Under the present system the more valuable
houses taking water, being One.third Of the whole
Uumber. are made to pay rate exceeding 81, n sys
TEN whereby the expense of the Department 1t Is
believed, Is distributed more In accordance with
the general system Of taNation-that is in proper
ton TO The valuation of property-!han has hereto
| fore prevailed.
II may be snid that there should have been a dis.
tincton between houses valued at over $4,000, and
made to pay $40 rent us maximum, but the Com
missioners thought that this being three times as
much as is paid by nearly one.half of all supplied
with water, 1t would not be Just TO impose an add
ton for higher valuation, especially as such
houses have, in addition, quite large stable charges.
Il This is matter, however, reserved by them for
II further consideration.
The present condition OF the water supply IL such
as to cause actual distress upon the higher levels Of
the city. Two remedies are prncticuble-onc, the
suppression OF waste the other the increase of the
supply.
The result TO be anticipated from a resort to
measurement Of water can he shown MS follows:
cities daily is q 100000 gaonsl How much of this
is wasted in the various Departments Of Govern
ment is unknown, but II we suppose 400 gallons to
be the average daily consumption for each house,
the total used for domestic purposes would be
100000 gallons or one-tourth of the whole brought
to the cities. charge Of seyen.tenths Of one cent
per 100 gallons for less than the usual charge in
cities would give an annual revenue. allowing 10
per cent for delinquences aud unoccupied houses
of sl3Tg0, or more than the estimated receipts from
the present established rates. 1t is possible charge
of onehGlf cent per 100 gallons would support tue
Department. Street-washers being outside the water
metres would be used subject TO proper regulation
without additional charge. This method would
also end great and needless waste.
Existing defects in the eintroduction Of water from
the distributing reservoir and in the distribution
within the city, from which those living on The
higher levels are suffering, can be rcmeded onl,
through heavy expenditures, which Will fall upoI
wnier.iakcrs not upon the general public.
An Unlimited provision ni water would be a mos
desirable thing, but Its cost should be understood
before entering upon any plan for its introduction
With view 10 ascertain the amount required anC
TO determine the nnture and character OF work in
volved, careful Investigations have been made.
Two plans are propoSed-one contemplating pro
longing the present conduit TO the immediate
vicinity of the city; the other, simply laying III,
additional main. In either case the dam at th
Great Falls must be completed. since at certain
seasons the present mains carry all the water tina
the conduit now delivers. The Commissioner
have regarded the plan for extension OF the con
duit although the most expensive, as the les
. method of increasing tho supply, since by thi
means the water can be delivered in nmensel,
greater quantities and of a somewhat higher leve
than can be done by laying one new main. Ii 1
also permanent Improvement The latter, how
p ever. involves the least immediate outlay and
measure OF temporary relief would be effective.
The cost of Il three foot main has been estimated
by the engineers in charge OF the aqueduct q
y tS9S COO. At the present reduced price OF iron TN
y Commissioners estimate, however, that fUur.foo
o main. which would double the present supply
u could be laid for $4,000 10 tins must be uddeC
y the completion of the dam, estimated at 500 OOl
" giving total OF $4,000
~ The interest NJ per cent and sinking fund t
~ eXtlnguish the debt In thirty years will lay al
~ ditiona burden of Si5 S33 upon the watcrakcrs O
W the city for the first year. which would be annual
~ reduced by the operation OF the sinking fund.
" II must be borlie IN mind also that any increas
i In the supply of water. unless accompanied by III
bringing the water into the city in condition VII
a fit for domestic use.
Finally the law requires that the Water Dc
g parnent shall be helt-sustaining that Its fund
Il shall be appropriated to no purpose other thai
those of the Department, and that 1t shall not b,
e made source OF profit TO the District treasury
: For several years past ii has not been sclf-susai
: lug hnd the present government Is suffering fror
the acts or failures to act of the late government
III the District.
4 BY order OF the board s. L. PHELPS,
President