National Republican., 1879-07-25

Some houses assessed under $500, or Others as.
sessed much higher, having only hydrants IN
yard will pay but 81 but this will not materially
affect the above showing. which is the maximum
amount that can be collected.
IL is an approximate result, the data not being
sufficient TO mako close estimates for the current
year. but IL is clear that the Indebtedness to the
general fund cannot be returned IN fun from tie
collections of one year derived from the newly.
established rates The Commissioners hone TO re-
duCe the current expenses OF the Department 10
about $50, OC0 instead of Si5SO0 w estimated.
Under the old system, based upon the width and
height of houses premises having no fixtures with
IN the house and obtaining water from hydrunts
in the yard often paid two aud three times more
Than other houses having oil the modern con-
veniences. This system had been maintained since
1889. In the interval the character aud style of
houses has greatly changed Now in the smallest
the so.called modern improvements are introduced.
Then Il baih.tub was are thing In a house In
Washington. Now houses are mostly built with
marrow frontage aud with every convenience
within them.
TO add say 80 per cent to the existing rates obvi.
ously wouli be perpetuating wrong, for the occu-
pant of the sixcenfeet front modern house ijoys
more water privileges than the one in the older
house of forty feet frontage. Under the old system,
supposiug both two.story houses, the former paid
81 aud the latter 50. In the former 1t would be
adding 80 per cent upon ~, or nm increase of nine
ty cents; ~ the latter 30 per cent upon So M In
crease OF s2.7O. The former would then have paid
total of $500 and the latter of Sll.10 the elect
Icing 10 increase and prolOng the existing wrong
The Commissioners then could not adopt u sim.
pie addition oi a percentage 10 The old rates aud
adhere 10 the old rule of width and number OF
stories as measure for water rent, method dis
tinctly condemned by Congress.
They thought. and still think that the water me-
ter presents the only absolutely Just basis for pay
ment OF water rates but its immediate adoption
Ii inpracticable. and would probably be unRccept
able 10 watcr-takels. Hence some other method
had 10 be adopted. Naturally, charge of so much
per spigot first presented itself but little rehec.
lion Will satisfy any one that the number of spgot
is 10 guide for measuring the comparative con
sumption Of water in houses. Inquiries were made
in regard to the water systems in use in the various
cities, and the attention Of the Commissioners was
particularly drawn to the Boston system of making
the assessed v0lIe OF premises factor in detcTun.
| ing water rateS
But in that city the value of the land as well az
of the Improvements Is taken into consideration,
| which practice did not geem to the Commissioners
| to be just The character Of the house might bo
fnd is Il measure of the style OF living and there.
lore OF the use Of water but the value OF the land
could not affect this question hence they adopted
the assessed value Of houses only as factor Then
the question was What amount Is ii necessary to
charge the average small Wo'stOry houses, having
| the usual fixtures, as Il minimum charge? To
| reach Il CONCLUSION In this matter inquiries We're
| first directed 70 how many houses there arc In
Washington and Georgetown. II was found that
In Washington there are 20 l79, and in Georgetown
2l77, L total Oi 1850 houses or these 1870 take
water, as per the following tables:
TJle h0giRg he number Of houses pdNiHG irdr rate
| hteir classification aud the amount pdtd