The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-05-01
TIE WATER RULES.
A Citizen Makes a Vigorous Kick Against
the Water Rates and Several Other
Features

To the Editor Of tic Post:
For several years have had knowledge
Of the magnificent fount of water
which, from its mountain lastness, was to
be brought to Us in ali its purity and
abundance to refresh The soul and Stake
the thirst Of every citizen here. With
such an unlimited supply at hand disease
could be defied and every garden made TO
blossom as a rose.
For months we have been waiting pa
tiently for this long promised boon, APP
preaching at snhl's pace, and now it is
here in our little city; it has reached the
first house; and We are notified that one
two. three, four streets are TO lie blessed
with it. Truly. there should be appointed
day of Thanksgiving in which all would
Join, for those not directly favored with
the water can at least get q buckctfull in
summer wien the well is dry.
Can they?
Such was my dream from which | was
rudely awakened on reading in Your last
issue the "Rulcs and Regulations of the
BIG Stone Gap Water Company
The first to strike one III these rules Is
their numbcr-thirty-t two OF them bY num-
Der, and many others sprinklcd ln-ovcrt"o
columns Of your paper, 4 list almost as
long rs months pipe laying.
First in the list oue learns that this
water company includes plumbing as
part of its business / do not know that
any objection need he made to this,
though in Justice to the poor plumber
when he receives his customary bcratng
for high prices it should be remembered
that from his pay the Water Company gets
its commission on his business.
The dozen rules under the caption OF
plumbers and plumbing, (some Of which
belong there and some do not are doubt
less sufficiently proiusc and precise TO
protect the company thoroughly and leave
the community ut its mercy. We leave
their further consideration Till we see the
rules for the government Of the plumber,
which the company will doubtless make to
suit itself, and take ZIP those OH the use
of water.
Rule II counts out more than ha's The
city from the benefits 10 be derived from
this muniicent blessing. More than that,
if thirsty wayIarer, passing by, calls for
and is given iranSht of water "the sup
ply uiN be stopped" and the amount paid
forfeited. More yet, if Il literal jnterpre-
tation is accepted, 4 visitor in the family.
all members Of the family in fact, except
its head, are debarrcd from the use of the
water, excepting possibly when each one
has separate service pipe.
Rule III prohibits the sprinkling of
parts of the four lucky streets. Even
were every lot TO pay for sprinkler
there would still be left a line OF dust
along the middle Of the street, as no man
will want to incur the danger of having
his supply Of water cut off by going be-
yond the dead" line; and no provision is
made for wcttinS the intersections OF
streets.
Rule II limits time i'll the use of this
unccasiug how Of water. Should the
clock be slow, or the darkey left in charge
fall asleep and neglect 10 close the valve
at the appointed time, you may have to
call upon your neighbor with well, 70
whom you cannot give drink, for your
supply for supper, as the supply will he
stopped without notice and the amount
paid forfeited.
Following these rules are others to en-
force them, more plumbing rules, etc,
rates, General Regulations, including
rates, mixed up and separated in most re-
markable fashion. Then General Rates
Literally sprinkled with rules. The COM
pany is free with the latter if not with
the water.
A few words now with regard to rates.
The following figures will show where the
happy TOUR streets stand iii that matter.
For comparison the average rates paid in
Virginia in 1889, the latest at hand, are
given after those of our own company:
Residence. $500 to 1l.5o
Average Family rate. Observation-Disclosures. $3.50
Wafer closet Observation-Disclosures. $50
Average rate. observation-disclosures. o'oo
Bath tub ................. 400
Average rate. .................. o.Ii
Mash bowl. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 200
Average rate ............. o.5S
Horse with carriage washing. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SUI
Average rate with hoSel.. Observation-Disclosures. 4.Oi
Cow ............. 200
Average rate ....... LOO
Average mo limi. given in time or area 4S2
There is to be then 4 charge made here
al, Froy, D0u/ 70 oyar SI1W greater