Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-07
THE WATER PROBLEM.
Commissioners Raymond Proposes to En-
force the Meter Regulations Strictly.

he SAYS STRINGENT MEASURES ARE NECESSARY
TO MAINTAIN SUPPLY on HIGH LxvELs-HE
DOES NOT THINK THE FoRrY-EIoHr-IScH MAIN
ALONE WILL sUFFIcE-HIs REPORT
The board at its session this afternoon con-
sidered the subject Of revoking the order of
the late board relative to the placing Of water
meters in hotels. 1t will be remembered that
several days ago Q committee Of hotel men
were given an audience by the Commissioners
to discuss the merits of the case Campbell
Darlington, the attorney for the hotel men,
argued that the introduction Of the water
meter would be serious detriment to their
business and asked that if it was the Commits
sioners' intention to carry out the order, il be
suspended until Congress convenes, so that
legislation could be secured.
Major Raymond at the board session to-day
submitted the following memorandum, which
was taken under consideration:
THE proposed revocation or suspension OF
the order OF the Commissioners of November
2. 1883, requiring the employment of water
meters after July l, 1889, by certain establish
ments, In accordance with law, being
now under consideration, I submit the
following remarks with reference thereto
Section ZIG, Revised Statutes of the United
States relating to the District of Columbia,
provides as follows: The supply Of water to
all manufacturing establishments, hotels, livery
stables and other places requiring large
quantity, shall be determined by meters
erected and maintained at the expense Of the
consumer; and the proper authorities shall
charge and collect for the quantity so deter
mined price not exceeding three cents per
hundred gallons The enforcement OF this
law is Of the highest importance, as will appear
from the following statement:
INCREASED NUMBER OF wATKR-TAKERs.
''The number Of water-takers has increased SO
rapidly, and the extension of the system Of
mains is 80 great, that during the past year 1t
has required the most strenuous efforts Of the
water department to keep the higher dis
a portion o. the day. Private fountains have
been prohibited; the hours for sprinkling
lawns have been inconveniently limited; pub
lie drinking fountains have been throttled,
end all cases OF water waste which could be
discovered have been prosecuted. 1t has
been necessary to refuse the extension of
mains into districts where they are greatly
needed because the water-pressures on Capitol
Hill and other high points would otherwise
have disappeared during many hours OF day
light.
Even with these efforts. and with the closest
day and night inspection, it was found impossi-
BILE to prevent discomfort on the higher levels
during the past unusually favorable winter.
The high consumption Of this summer and
the coming winter must now be provided
for. and every effort must be made in favor of
the high districts. II waste Is not vigorously
checked in every way possible Capitol Hill and
the other high areas must suffer.
THE NEW 4s-INoH MAIN.
'It has been said that when the new 4S-inch
main is completed it will supply all the water
required for use or waste. This is an error.
1t is question Of preserving pressures
With higher pressures leaky and open
fixtures will waste more water than now
and the tendency to rob the higher levels will
continue. In short time there will again be
complaint from the higher levels if unrestricted
waste is permitted. The experience of
last winter shows that unless the waste
is controlled it will be necessary to
replace many mains with larger ones to meet
the lack of pressures. This will involve an ex-
penditure which the water department cannot
assume without raising the rates.
There are now about 81 900 takers in the
District About 10 of these Cor approximately
one-half of per cent? are considered to fall
within the requirements Of the meter law. The
latter class includes the largest consumers and
those most wasteful Of water. Their expendi-
ture should be controlled in the interest of
the vast majority of moderate consumers.
The best method of checking waste in these
is to execute the meter law.
Opposition to the law comes almost entirely
from the proprietors Of breweries, hotels and
livery stables. These constitute about one
quarter of one per cent of the whole
number of water-takers, and they are RESPONSE
BILE for much of the existing waste. This OPP
position cannot be due to fear OF increased ex-
pense. The rate is fixed at three cents per
thousand gallons and is the smallest in the
United States. With such reasonable care
against waste as ought to be excer-
%l,A ~ rfnkn in hn
jority of cases will be reduced by the use of
meters. The opposition is probably due
partly to distrust of the accuracy of meters and
principally to q dislike to submitting to Off
cial control. Such control, however, is neces-
sary in the interest Of the great body Of water
takers.
THE METERS.
''The board has been informed that no accur-
ate and serviceable meter has yet been devised.
This is an error. Several hundred thousand
meters of various kinds are now in
use throughout the country. and the tendency
Of water departments is to insist more and more
stl ongly upon their introduction.
My attention was first directed to this law
about a year ago when the water department
was preparing for the annual issue of the
water bills. ] then learned that there
was an informal understanding between the
and the parties interested that
the meter-law would no. be enforced during
the current year to give the latter an opportu-
nifty to obtain repeal or modification of the
law from Congress. 1t was, however, further
understood that if no legislation was obtained
the law would be enforced during the coming
year. No legislation was obtained.
THE ORDER TO BE ENFORCED.
THE revocation or suspension Of the order
Of the Commissioners of November Z, 1888, does
not, however, necessarily prevent the execu-
ton Of this law. The law Statutes at
Large, VOL %, page 143) provides that the opera
tons of the water department of the District
Of Columbia shall be under the direction of the
engineers Office of the District, subject to the
control of the Commissioners. This gives the
Engineer Commissioner authority to direct the
operations of the department in &C
cOrdance with law, subject to such Or
ders as the board may issue. Accordingly
have sent, at different times, to the par
ties subject TO the meter-law, two notices re-
Quiring them to set meters before July /, 1889
Under these orders about one-third Of the
whole number required have already been set
or tested, and number of others have been
ordered. Unless such action is prohibited by q
positive and formal order of the board, / propose
to send a third notice to the parties who have
failed to comply with the law, and on July LIST
l propose to cut off the supply of water from
all such places where meters are not set or
efforts have not been made to obey
these instructions. Whether an order to the
Engineer Commissioner not to enforce q law is
such control as is contemplated by the statute
submit for consideration"
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.