Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-12

The city council yesterday morning
held an informal meeting with repre-
sentatives of the water companies with
a view of discussing the water rates to
be fixed for the ensuing year.
Major Bonsall was in the chair and
the discussion was opened by Council
man McGarry, who inquired whether
anyone was present with complaints
against the rates as fixed by the council
last year.
In reply Mr.. Dodd, of Levi & Dodd,
contractors, held that the rate paid for
water used in cement work was exorbi-
tant. This rate last year was 15 cents
per barrel, 20 cents per 100 square feet
of laid cement, and 40 cents per 100
lineal feet of cement curb. Mr.. Dodd
said this rate was thirty times higher
than the water rate.
William Caswell, of the City Water
company, said that the rate was not too
high, because his company was at enor-
nous expense for collections on account t
OF the delinquency of contractors in
paving for the water. Yet, he said, the
rate fixed here is lower than in any
place on the coast In fact, he main
tanned, the rate was no higher than the
family rate and was below the ordinance
rate.
w. H. Perry, of the City Water COM
pany, wanted to know what was meant
by exorbitant. Ii Mr.. Dodd could show
that the cement rate was over half as
much as is charged elsewhere on the
coast, the water company would &C.
knowledge exorbitance.
Mr.. Dodd-I don't know what the
rates in San Francisco or elsewhere are,
but l know that when l am charged Is
cents for half barrel of water, that
charge is exorbitant.
Mr.. Caswell here took issue with the
gentlemen upon the quantity of water
used to lay 100 square feet of cement,
and contended that it took ten barrels.
Mr.. Innes-I do not understand that
we are to fix rates according to what the
rates are in other cities, but according
to the amount of money invested in
your plant, and your running expenses,
and this irrespective of what other cities
charge.
Mr.. Perry--We are under the law or
under the contract which was made
prior to the law, prior to the new consti-
tuition on which the law is based. All
attorneys agree that we are working un-
der the contract. If this is so, then the
way to fix the rates is not to get at our
capital invested but upon the rates fixed
in other like cities.
Mr.. Bonsall--How do the contract
rates compare with rates fixed last year
| by the council.
Mr.. Caswell-They are much lower.
We still hold to the contract rates, but
we make rebate on them.
Mr.. Perry-We are furnishing 100
families in this town who are not pay
ing us cent and never have paid us a
nickel. We know where poverty is and
we see it. We are today dividing less
money by one-half among our stock
holders than any water company on the
Pacific coast.
hear is the rate charged on water closets
month. They want it lower.
advance the rate on the closets OF public
houses. They are in an abominable
condition and the water that is wasted
by them is scandalous. / will say moth
ing about private houses at present.
Speaking of the cost of pipe Mr.. Perry
| said: The railroad rates on pipe make
the pipe cost us double here what it
would cost in st. Louis.
| Mr.. Steward here complained of the
water furnished the hills district by the
| Citizens Water company
Mr.. Perry said: The credits of water
companies in Los Angeles are so poor
that they can't raise money to do any
thing. / know you people on the hills
have had hard rub, but hope it is
better now. That is another company
| from ours. I want to request the coun-
ell to adjourn this meeting Tor one week
| in order to give us time to gather data