Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-21
ron IND AeAlssr METERS.
Morocco Manufacturers Oppose Them al
Meeting of the Water Commissioners


Morocco Manufacturers Oppose Them at
Meeting of the Water Commissioners
Tuesday Evening.
The Board of Water Commissioners were
in session until $50 o'clock Tuesday night,
an unusual occurrence. This was due to
the TACT that hearing was given John G.
haker, General j. Parke Postles and Daniel
4. Pierson, who appeared before the board
to oppose the introduction of water meters
IN the morocco factories of the city, Ms pro-
pressed at a meeting of the board held some
Two weeks ago. As has already been
stated, the object of the meters was to
avoid the alleged waste of water by morocco
manufacturers and beside the board is
desirous of establishing a rating for such
establishments in this city.
The question Tuesday night was discussed
in an impartial and courteous manner, the
utmost good humor and good feeling pre-
valling throughout. The morocco men
proved lot of clever, jovial fellows and
when their persuasive argument failed 10
convince the board that their position was
the correct aud proper one and the body
decided i'll favor Of meters, the morocco
men accepted the result as inevitable and
with the best grace possible.
Mr.: Postles, in opposing the meters,
stated that their introduction puts tax
upon the manufacturers, which is onerois
HAAA " ANANAi tlIt were llIltlUlc
to bear. He had in view the result of the
meter plnaed in the establishment Of the
Diamond state Leather Company TT No.
" West Fifth street. lie claimed that
hsnrcs showed that the water tax, by rea-
son ct the meter at this morocco factory,
was very heavy, and comparing the rating
at this place with that OF his own estab-
iishment in the event of the meter system
becoming general, he estimated that his
water rent would be about 81, 0oO per year.
This he thought oppressive. He denied
mat there was waste of water IN the
morocco factories as claimed. The morocco
manufacturers were in no wise mendi-
cants, he said, but in petitioning the board
their only desire was that they should not
DC Durdened with water rate which
would drive them out of town and become
oppressive.
John G. Baker asked the board to bear
Ill mind that the morocco industry was
comparatlveiynew i'll the city. and pointed
to the TACT that it was possible by placing
TOO heavy tax upon their water supply
TO force them to move outside the CITY or
seek their water elsewhere. Mr.. Baker
thought there need be no fear of the water
supply becoming exhausted as long us the
tide Gibbs and flows iii the river. He had
been once connected with the water de-
partment himself, and was somewhat
familiar with the system. He did not
deny that the manufacturers used great
deal of water, but til did not waste it.
Mr.. Pierson Thought it barely possible
that the morocco manufacturers did not
know exactly how much water they did
use, but he did not think they ought to be
burdened by an increase in the rating as
proposed by the meters. He was afraid
that if the meters were put in the depart
ment would fear the waste OF water was
due to the morocco factories and they
would be blamed for all the trouble. He
stated that il the manufacturers had TO
pay for the water at the rate the Diamond
state Leather Company is paying for
theirs under the present meter, they would
go out Of town and be carried out too.
Mr.. Porter stated that it was a settled
fact that the meters were to 20 in, but he
thought the morocco manufacturers could
so home feeling perfectly at ease and with
the knowledge that they would not be on.
pressed by the meter system. The board
introducing the meters had simply in view
the avoidance of the wasting Of water by
the manufacturers and did not know when
their water supply might give out. The
present rate is 80 cents per 1000 cubic feet
Of water, but no definite action was taken
as to what the fixed rating for the morocco
factories would yet be.
In adopting the meter system the board
had in view the system in use at Fall
River, Mass, u city of 1899 population.
This city has at present 25S meters and
ilnds the system very equitable one