The morning call., 1891-02-12
WATER SUPPLY.
Details Given of Spring Valleys
Great System.
Pumps Are Being Constructed That Will Fur
nish the City Daily Thirty
Million Gallons.

The Water Committee of the Board of
Supervisors spent several hours yesterday
hearing the representatives of Spring Valley
testify as to the company's affairs, preimi-
nary to fixing the water rates.
The first one to speak was George L.
Booker, chief accountant OF the company.
The operating expenses for 1890, he said,
aggregated S4S2,912 80, the general expenses
amounted to S3S, GOT, salaries Sill, 763 46. ex-
cessive and unavoidable expenses, from
washouts, etc, S3S, $50. The estimated ex-
penses for 1891 are $4,000 and the interest
paid during the year aggregated S527. 235 CT.
OF this S165,000 is interest on 4 per cent
bonds, sos. 500 on per cent bonds, SIG, 500
on mortgage at Hibernia Bank, and S47, 235
on floating Indebtedness. The estimated in
terest for 1891 is 5000, and taxes last year
were $50, 446.
Total estimates Of interest, operating ex-
penses, taxes, etc, make an estimated total
of 81, 646, 800, which must be secured by the
company during the coming year before div
dends can be paid. Present indications
make about $4,000 monthly as the esti-
mated income of the company for next year,
but reinspection now in progress may
bring this up. For the year s., 1850, 600 is a
fair estimate of income from consumers.
NO METERS OVER-REG
Thousands Of meters were examined dur
ing the year, but none found to over-regis-
ter. Charges last year for waste and excess
footed up S7463. but after Investigation
S19S2 was RENTED from these bills. Since
1884 $4,000 has been collected for waste
and excess, but of this amount $65, 900 has
been RENTED. The total bonded indebted
ness of the company, Mr.. Booker explained,
is S9,475, Geo and its capital stock $40 600 900.
In 1889 dividends amounting to $3.50, 600 were
paid last year the dividends were 500. Co.,
Supervisor Burling asked what the total
valuation is. but Mr.. Booker could not tell.
Mr.. Herrin said appraisers had differed so
widely in their estimates that the real value
is difficult to arrive at. The dividends for
the past two years it was agreed amounted
to about 5l5 per ceut
Under the present adjustment of rates
every consumer Is supplied with all the
water needed and the average meter costs
SIS. The average daily supply of the city
for the past four years was as follows: In
1887 there were only about 1000 meters in
use, now there are about 1900; 1851, 10. H.
600 gallons daily; 1888, IL, 2SS. GOO; 1890, 49,,
$4,000; 1890, 20,430,0 CO.,
The average consumer, 1t was said, pre-
fers the fixed rate to the meter system. Ii
the entire city were put under meters the
consumption would go down some 10, zoo, 900
gallons daily. The average daily consump-
ton of water per capita is sixty-eght gallons.
AVERAGING THE COST OF WATER.
In 1890 water was supplied to 80, 032 dwell
lighthouses, Is, 125 business places and 122
parks and public buildiugS-a total of 80, 149
consumers. The average charge per con-
| sumeT, considering each of the above as
| separate consumers, was S2S 60, although
really the average of bills was S44 %, some
persons owning many houses. The follow
| ing list will show how San Francisco COM
| nareS with Eastern citieS.