Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-09
Friday Morning, Sep. 9, 1881.
LET WE'LL ENOUGH ALONE.

1 LET WE'LL ENOUGH ALONE. 1 Some time ago the City's Water Committee l sent out circulars to persons in other cities and towns asking information about the wa
 ter question. One of the questions asked in
 the circular was concerning the ownership | and control of waterworks. Many of those | to whom the circular was sent answered that they thought it better for city to own and 1 control it's waterworks. It is not surprising
 that SO many such answers were received, for
 they were given, in most cases, by city of
 fcials, who naturally felt that anything con
 trol1ed by members of their noble band was I 8 good thing for the public.
 It would have been better, we think, if the | committee had addressed all or most of its
 circulars to prominent and capable men not holding city offices Such men would be more likely to give fair and unprejudiced an l swers to the questions propounded, and they l would also know quite as well as the officials how the management of the waterworks af- fects the public. But as the committee did
 CTS, householders and taxpayers of
 New Haven, before they vote yes or
 no on the very important water
 question, to make personal inquiry of friends
 in other cities as to what water privileges they
 enjoy and what they have to pay for them.
 We suspect that the answers to such in
 quiries would not all, or nearly all, be such
 as to encourage voting for change in.the
 present very satisfactory water system in
 New Haven. AS samples of what most of
 these answers would be we give the result of inquiries made by a citizen of New Haven in Newark and Brooklyn-in both of which ] cities the water is under city manage ment. householder in Newark said that he | was paying at least 20 per cent. moro for | water in his house than householders in New | Haven pay, and that if he used his street | washer it was $5 extra. In Brooklyn the in- quirer was informed by manufacturer that real estate is taxed for water-vacant lots and | all In many places water meters are put in, and the user of water has to pay $25 for the meter in addition to water rates and water tax In some places meters put in where but little water is used. If water is carried 1 into street the property holders of an adja- cent street are taxed for benefits. To show how observant and strict the officers and en- p1oyoo Ol IAO DIOOAlyu "dtST CULupduy dT0 u story was told of a man who kept horse in little shed in the rear of his house, and was presented with an extra bill for stable. He objected, saying that he had no faucet in his shed. But the horse must have water," said the inspector. ''Well," replied the man, q carry it to him in pail from the house." Do you? Then you must pay for it just the same as though you drew the water in the stable.'' There was nothing for the man to 10 but to pay for the water or submit to hay ng it stopped
 Those who are inclined to vote for the purchase of the waterworks by the city would do well to remember that after the pur- ,hase will come 8 water tax, water meters in etc., and strict surveillance oy city officials of the use and waste of water. There will also be higher water rates than are ( 1ow paid. The citizens of New Haven now snjoy greater water privileges than exist in my other similarly situated city in the . . United States. Water here, if not as free as [ lir, is very free. In freezing weather fau ,ets in houses and manufactories are left 6 open, and in time of extreme drought like he present the streets are kept wet down and . he garden hose is kept running night and I lay. All this without complaint from the s lot, then, let we'll enough alone?