, 1879-07-13

ANx1 1441StA~O 4ASAN
rested and prevented would render the pres"
ent available capacity of thapumps sufficient
for several years to come.
The wastage is due to the thoughtlessness
Of housekeepers and the improvideuce OF
all classes. The direct means by "hch
water is wasted are: ~ Turning on the
water during the winter months to prevent
its freezing (2) turning on the water dur1ng
the summer season in order to have it cool
for drinking; % letting the water run day
and night to flush ont the closet-plpes and
sinks; (4) letting water run through hose anu
eprinHers during the evening and night;
Isl the reckless waste Of water IN stables ano
barns, where it is permitted to run contln-
uously (6) the excessive use OF water Tor
wettine down the sidewalks and streets,
and for watering trees. In some houses
the faucets run continuously all the year
round, and it is surprising how many persons
cling to the insane idea that they can pre-
vent bad smells from closets by having a
stream of water pouring down the pipes,
when the fact is that thereby they open all
the traps, and let the gas from the sewers
back into the houses It is useless to charge
this waste upon any class; it Is general
universal, the answer to all objections
being, eve pay for the water; 1t don't cost
any more to use 1T in this way, and, as
other persons use all the water they can, We
may as well have our pipes and hose run al
day as well as those Of other persons"
When the practice is so universal the remedy
must be as general That remedy is to make
every man pay for the water he uses and no
more. Then he can use all the water ne
thinks proper. The water is abundant and
cheap. Our system of water rent IS de-
fective. Each house pays at certa1n rate
per foot Of frontage, with additional h1ed
charges for hose, closets, baths, and barns
The frontage rate is an arbitrary one, haV-
ing no connection with or reference to the
amount of water consumed. Other persons
pay according to the water consumed as in
dicnted bv meters It is declared by the
Water Superintendent that those who have
meters pny less for the water consumed than
do the average Of other consumers. A
result of the use of meters Is
no economy in the use Of water
for all legitimate purposes, but stoppago
of waste. No man with meter lets his hose
or his faucets run all day and night. Meters,
however, have been introduced in establish
ments whera the consumption is large. Why
not introduce them into oil houses? If the
consumers Of gas should turn on the gas IN
one or two burners in each house, and let
the gas burn or escape Ill day, it would re-
ouire two or three additional gas-manufacto-
ries to furnish the gas required for this city.
So with this loose and improvident use Of
water. IF the present general system OF
waste continues unchecked, it will require an
additional pumping-works every two or three
wears, with q new tunnel occasionally. We
are in favor of the largest possible use of
water, and at The lowest possible cost to con-
sumers. It costs the city as much per gallon
to distribute the water which is wasted as it
does that which is consumed for legitimate
purposes. The cost of pumping all the
water delivered during the year 1873 was at
the rate of $5.94 per million gallons. Let
water-consumers examine thsir bills, and see
how many, millions Of gallons Of water
they pay for annually. Now, if the
city should fix the price Of water to con-
sumers at the rate of $12, or even
s18, per million Of gallons, this profit
of 100 or 200 per cent would still result in
the reduction Of many thousands of water
bills, and at the same time would compel
all those who waste the water to pay for
their own 1mprovidence. Even if it did not
reduce the consumption Of water, it would
distribute the cost of it equitably among
those who use it. There are, perhaps, 10000
householders in Chicago who have water
connections, and who are not now using
meters. Into each Of these houses meter
can be introduced at an average cost Of $40
each. There is not water consumer who
will not voluntarily and willingly pay for
the use of q meter in consideration of the |
certain reduction Of his water bills. The
meter may be paid for direct and become
the property of the owner or, when q
house has no meter attached to tho water |
service, an annual charge may be made for
It's use or the city may retain the owner
ship Of the meter and add to the water-
bills stated rent for its use. This |
is matter Of detail easily arranged.
The end sought will, however, be gained, |
and that is that the waste Of 80 per cent of |
the whole water distribution shall be arrest |
ed and prevented in the future.
.DEMAG0G1CAL FALSEHOODs. !
DR.. ERNEST SCHMIDT, the late candidate Of
the alien, red-Hag anarchists, -self-dubbed
+" Socialists, planned thata recent anti