Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-11

| Capt. Symons has addressed letter TO Major
| Raymond, the Engineer Commissioner, calling at
| tention to some Recommendations that the captain
| made in his annual report respecting the water
| department. Capt Symons writes: "There Is
| great need OF legislation in regard to the water
| service OF the District There are three measures
which, II they should become laws, would be Of
great public benefit and divide the expenses Of
! the water department in a far more equitable
| manner than at present among those receiving the
| benefits OF the water supply.
1. The law requiring the owners OF a majority Of
TO join in petition FOR water main before one
| can be legally laid should be Changed. This law
works serious hardshtps at times and causes un-
necessary annoyance to the people who are build
ing and improving the City and desire water faci-
ties The difficulties OF obtaining this legal petit
ton are sometimes very great, on account Of the
| large amounts OF properly owned by non-resi-
| dents, on account of the absence Of resident
owners, and on account Of the aversion OF some
owners OF unimproved property to having a main
/ laid and being taxed therefor. believe It would
be for the best interests OF the city II the Commits
Stoners had the power to orer the laying OF water
mains and TO levy assessments therefor whenever,
| IN their Judgment, such q course would seem for
| the public good, and earnestly recommend that
| Congress be urged TO bestow the necessary power
2. About one-fourth OF the Inhabitants OF WASH
| tngton and Georgetown are now supplied with
water free Of charge through the medium OF pub
| lie hydrants, and the houses in which they live
are given FIRE protection through the mains and
nre- plugs.
| There Is a large amount OF District property
! wnich Is supplied with water and for which the
water department receives no revenue.
These two items throw an unfair burden upon
the water rent and water taxpayers OF the Dis
| tricL The water department is required to be
! sef-slstalning, and should therefore be treated
| much in the same manner as private water COM
panieS are treated and should not be compelled to
bestow its benefits where none are returned.
l would, therefore. suggest that legislation be
| procured authorizing especial assessment Of
] from 50 to s., according to the size and use Of
buildings to be levied upon all premises situated
within 500 feet OF public hydrant, which prerni-
| ses are not supplied with water in the ordinary
manner, and this assessment TO be Connected in the
| same manner as ordinary taxes and deposited to
| the credit OF the water fund, together with the
regular water rent charges and water taxes on
al District property receiving the benefit Of the
water supply.
The great debt Of the water department, due to
the construction OF the new dam, new aqueduct
tunnel, and new reservoir requires that the reve-
nbes OF the department be increased IL its affairs
| are to be efficiently administered.
3. II Is Impossible, under existing laws, to pre-
vent the waste and misuse OF water The conse-
Quence OF this waste ana misuse is that an enor-
! nous burden is thrown upon the people for the
construction OF new works, and that the people
living In elevated localities are deprived Of their
! just share OF water. The most effective measure
which could be adopted to prevent this waste
would be that where waste was detected or reason
ably believed to exist to require meter to be in
troduced, and the supply to be hereafter at meter
| rates.
This method of procedure is recognized as the
most practicable way OF preventing waste. Among
others 1t has been adopted in New York city with
satisfactory results / would therefore, earnestly
recommend that legislation be secured, II possible
authorizing and directing the Commissioners to
require meters TO be placed in all houses where
owners or occupants thereOf-and that thereafter
meter water rates be charged"