Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-16
TnE CITIZEN AND WArER METER.
What the department HAS to shy in
Regard to the Alleged ChurSe of DTS

What the Department Has to shy in
Regard to the Alleged Churge of DTS
crimiaation ia water Rents by Meter.
The charge has been made for certain
directions. it is understood largely from
saluOn-keepGrs that the water department,
under its new system of placing water
meters, has Disseminated IN putting the
meters i'll some places and not in others
where a similar business or Ut least SINH
lar cause for the use or waste ol water
may exist. 1t is reported also that the
German salOon-keepers propose holding a
meeting some day this week to decide
upon asking for legislation whereby they
may be relieved from this alleged diseriml-
nation.
A representative Of The GAZETTE
called on Chief Engineer Bond at the de-
partment Monday morning.
The gist of that officials reply was as
follows; THERE'S absolutely no discrilnina.
ton in this matter that | know of. And
would certainly be cognizant OF ii If il eN
listed. Water meters are being placed in all
business places as quicklyas can be done.
They are being placed in hotels, livery
stables and public buildings. We have only
recently commenced putting them in, We
cannot put them in all at once.
Mr.. Bond then turned nthc water meter
ledger and showed the following places
ti4t 'ii 10 illAt lAAlN llfS hthANl
meters in their establishments The county
court house, Masonic Hall, Wilmington
Institute, Shields Library, Wilmington
Dental factory, j. Morton Poole Co., part
Of the Pusey 4 tones premises, the r., w,
4 b., u. & O. and w. IL \. Railroad Com
panies, HilleS n Jones, Hopes Il Town
send the Pullman Works, Sedel & Hast
ings, Wilmington City Railway CO., City
Electric Co, Trump Bros, all brewerics,
trust companies, most of the banks all
hotels, livery and boarding stables, mo
rocco factories Nc. Business places by
the score were seen on the pages.
The department is now putting the
meters in saloons. The meter costs various
prices, from ~ TO $500. according to the
size Of the pipe, The latter is G.lnch pipe
and the former s.inch. The meter to be
placed in saloon would cost from $40
to SO.
Many business men, including morocco
and livery stablcmen. have very recently
! expressed their entire satisfaction with the
water meter system,
For its registration of the quantity of
water used the meter is dependent alto
gether on the water pressure. The con-
| diuOns are always ia favor Of the con-
! sumner and against the department. Being
4 new method it is not rs yet generally
| understood. In sin months time probably
everyone will he in favor of the water
meter.
The average consumption in this city is
| % gallons per capita In some places in
4 the city, according TO the meter, it is i5u
| per capita. Il has been proved by ai,
4 rittCd authority Oh this subject that 4,
| GALLONS Is an abundance for all purposes
| including FIRE manufacturing and dpWes-
| tic purposes. lii some cities whore modern
| appliances exist the consumption IS only
Is gallons
Wilmington rates are as low, if not
! lower than any city in the United States
when conditions Of cost, &r.. are taken
into consideration. II there are any cite,
where the water is cheaper it is because il
those localities the wafer runs into tho
city by rravitation and where pumping Is
not needed Here, in Wilmington, the
pumping is about 40 per cent Of The aetna
current expenses. The department MAKE.
no charge for the meter. In Pittsburg til,
consumer pays for it He also pays TO
tue expense Of setting, maintaining ant
repairing. In Wilmington the depart
ment puts in and maintains the meter a
lis own expense. In l'ittsburg the rate t,
manufacturers and liverymrn, Sc., i
three tunes the Wilmington rate.