Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-18
Richmond and Her Yeter.

The Superintendent of the Water
Works sends us letter. which we print
this morning, returning thanks tor himself
and the community for the service that
The DISPATCH has rendered in warning our
people OF tho danger of water-famlne
here. We may add that but for the earnest
and alarming appeals which were made
through the columns of this paper the
city's condition yesterday morning, with
q great fire raging. might have been ap-
pslhng.
Richmond must give tins water question
more serious attention. care trlfling with
It. At all times we have plenty of water for
o city of our size but we indulge ourselves
IL waste that IL astonishing.
We may rs we'll face the question now
a. later on and realize that unless we
economic IN the use tor rather, waste of
water we shall have TO spend in the near
future a great sum IN the enlargement Of
our water.works. This enlargement Is
really not necessary, nor can We afford TO
make large issue of city bonds for any
such purpose. The proper thing to do Is
10 compel water-takers to be more eco
cause householders to have good fixtures
put in their houses, and we should offer
the greatest possible incentives TO those
who will consent 10 use water-meters We
fear that at present the lnducemcut IL not
sufficient TO encourage citizens to give up
their old habits of wastefulness and adopt
the meter system.
The Danville Register, commenting on
DISPATCH paragraph about the short sup
ply Of water in this city, says that that
city would be in the same condition but
for water-meters No doubt Of II. Rich
rnond has an abundant supply Of water,
but we are dealing with long established
system of water wasting, and we are con-
fronted with the unpleasant fact that our
plumbing is not such as we need for
winter like this. In too many houses, in
deed, the closets are of an Anticipated pat
tern and waste twice as much water as
thew really require while hundreds of
people have no means of emptyipg their
pipes 10 prevent the water from freezing
in them.
The plumbers are not to blame for these
ills which we desperately mourn at this
time. They have been made the victims
Of hundreds of foolish Jokes uniustly at
tributiug TO them all sorts Of rapacious
purposes. but it has never been said OF
them that they prefer 10 put in cheap work
where people are willing to pay for better
Richmond wall suffer in reputation. and
possibly in business. too, If she continues
20 loll along and waste her water instead
Of recognizing the fact that her supply Is
annie. but that il is allowed 10 waste 10y
means of the old-fashioned fixtures which
are IN use in 30 many houses here and by
further reason of the almost criminal care
lcssness which has become habit with so
many fanilies-famihes that would be very
economical indeed if they had to pay by
the hundred gallons for all of the water
which they waste.
We must adopt the meter-system II we
want 10 save the expense of water-works
enlargement. We must have better hx-
lures put in our houses If we wonld avoid
a repetition of present Inconvenience
from bursting pipes.
We might give our taxpayers pleasanter
news but il is impossible TO give any that
IS truer. ------