Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-22
OUR WATER WORKS.
SOMETHING OF THEIR HISTORY AND
PROSPECTS.
improvements Dcmanded--The Ruie rs TO
Charges Where Two Families
Occupy One House.


perintendent G. L. Boiling at leisure and
made bold 20 ask him number Of ques-
tions about the wstcr-works, beginning:
When did Richmond establish her first
watcr-worksg
The construction was commenced in
1850.
About how much money has she so far
spent upOn them2
IL is impossible 10 answer this question
correctly. For many years the expenses OF
she department were so blended with the
cost Of construction sndpipe extension on
the books that It Is impossible TO derive q
correct amount. have roughly estimated
the plant at a cost of $i.500,0OO.
MONEY.
What are the receipts and expenditures
per annum2
The gross receipts last year amounted 10
SIG, go. 81 the disbursements 20 $50 6N 81
OF the disbursements S2i. 475.0s was used
i'm pipe extensions. fre-hydrants. house
supplies (taps), and meters The actual
expenses Of maintenance, Office expenses,
yepairs so pumping machinery, &c, was
$50, 223.5l This latter amount includes
The payroll of the mon engaged in laying
the pipes and putting IN new services Tor
house supplies.
Is the pumping capacity now ample {?
How about reservoir capacity
The pumping capacity ~ Oncludine the
steam pump "A 900 900 gallons per twenty
four hours the average daily consump-
ton, IL 81 ,0I3 gallons. 80 Il viii be seen
that tho pumping capacity IS moro than
double the daily consumption.
The present storage capacity OF the re-
seTvoir Is ample, amounting 20 100000
gallons. There should be storage BASIN
above the New pump-works on the canal
for preserving large quantities OF clear
water. and pumping from this reservoir or
basin during the muddy periods Of the
river.
CONSUMPTION.
How long will It remain sufficient AZ the
present rate Of increase in pOpulatiOnf
The consumption OF water does not IN
crease in ratio 20 the population increase.
For example the rate per capita consumed
In 1850 was % gallons: in 1888 l26 gallons
per capita. AZ the present rate Of increase
IN our population. and the lavish CODsump-
tion continuing, we shall be compelled 10
add 90 our pumps and lay large supply
man from the New reservoir 10 the city.
The pump additions and main will cost
nearly $500 900. think this will have 10
bc done in the course of the next 1--WE years.
1t is absolutely necessary that there should
DE q safe margin Of excess m tho pumping
capacity over tho consumption. | sin
cerely believe II cur CITY was provided
with meters, which would break up the
waste. our present pumps would be sui1-
Gent for a population of 2O0,OW. / ms
would allow a rate IF consumption OF 90
gallons per capita, or twice the rate per
capita now used by some cities -fTovi-
deuce, r. J. and Atlanta, Ca. for example.
60
would be 12,OOJ.000 gallons. | estimate
That Il would cost about $50 900 TO meter
our city. II wall be observed this IS no eX-
pertinent We are 30 make, but the facts have
been proved IN many other cities which
ore not only manufacturing cities, but are
also kept clean and healthy. The economy
OF putting IN meters, compared with the
cost Of adding To our pumps, IA evident.
When nov pumps become necessary
where will they probably be locatcdl
At the present New puInp-house an an
mex can be made. The canal between tho
pump-house and Bosher's dam has ca
pacity fOI supplying more than double the
quantity Of water needed to run the pres
ent pumps.
TWO FAMILIES.
Hasn't the Water Department recently
made some new ruling with respect 10 the
ratc charged two or more families occupy
tng the same house,
There has been H0 nc'r ruling as to the
charge where two OF more families occupy
the same house. / find los an eXamlna-
ton OF tho old books that the charge has
been made aud paid for many years back,
and the same ordinance governing or APP
plying 10 th', case was enforced as far
back and prior b. 1879. IL so happens
trat the recent inspection has revealed
several premises, In addition to those n
ready charged, whore more than one tanll-
" occupied the premises, and the charge
of S1.2j per quarter for each extra family
was added 10 the bill at these places; that
Is whore the premises were sub-rented and
occupied by parties able 90 pay water
hill OF Sl2j. The present and original
ordinance states that whenever " the pc
Cupier of q lot or tenement on which has
been erected or placed % hydrant, cock, or
o, her fixture shall permit ne water TO be
used taken. or received by any person
other than the SAID Occupicr or member
or visitor of his family, there shall in each
case be fine on the said occupler Of not
less than five nor more than twenty dol
lars, and in the latter case there shall be q
fine also on the person SO using, taking, or
receiving the water; and IN every such
case the superintendent of the Water
Works shall stop the water from the
tenement and not turn 1t on again
until satisfactory assurance Is given
him that the like case will not
happen again" Ii has been the ruling
OF the Committee on Water for many years
back that this charge should be made, and
il has been enforced different by the Police
Court Of this city several times. The fact
that quite number who could pay awater
bill and had been getting water free is the
cause of 30 much discussion Of this ques-
ton Just now l repeat that il Is no new
law or enforcement, but the same has
been the custom for years back. The JUS
tice of such charge can be understood
when il Is known there are 5,7ej premises
in the city where the water bill IS from
Sl.25 20 1888 per quarter, the great
est majority being 81 per quarter.
These premises aresituated in the outlying
districts, and are owned or rented by the
poorer class of our citizens, and they pay
their bills regularly. In the middle pOr-
tiOn of the city there are a few Old-fash-
toned but commOdiOus houses, which fur
nish accommodation for more than one
family, and are sub-rented. In many in
stances the main building is occupied by
white family and the kitchen premises
rented ont 10 cOlored family. The
portions of the houses sub-reuted are
Just as commOdious and rent for as
much as the tenement buildings in the
outskirts, and are occupied by as many
people. therefore just as much water Is
used 10y the sub-tenant as though he occu-
pied separate and distinct house, and
wherever such has been found 20 be the
case charge of @l.25 per quarter has been
added for each additional but separate
family, and this charge was added to the
bill of the occupant who had the water
turned on in his name. The whole num-
Der of premises in the city where the
charge for an extra family is made amount
70 two hundred, so it will be seen that the
revenue derived from this source is small,
and the object of making such charge is
not the amount gained, but the desire 10
place all parties using water on the same
equitable footing. In further confirmation
as 10 the equity of such "a charge. every
store on Broad, Main. and other streets
which is occupied by family pays not
only the store bill but also for the use of
water by the family. In every instance
where the parties occupying the premises
are worthy and too poor TO pay, water has
been granted them free by the Committee
on Water. In conclusionf will say candidly
that the only proper and equitable manner
Of charging for water Is by the meter, buta
careful comparison of our rates and method
OF charging with that OF other cities will
show not only that the rates are low, but
are as nearly just as II is possible to make