The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-25
WATER FOR THE CITY.

The Water Committee OF the Council
has marched up to Its duty like men.
Having made a thorough examination OF
the matter, IL has declared emphatically
that there must be larger supply OF
water for citizens. and that there are but
two ways by which this can be secured
either constructing additions 10 the water
works or adopting a system Of water
meters that Will force economy in the
use OF the present supply. They have
therefore instructed one OF the.- men,
bers, Colonel Cary, and the Superinten-
dent OF the Water Works. to go before
the Finance Committee and ask IL either
to appropriate $4,000 at once for the
construction OF the necessary additions
20 the water works or to appropriate $50
900 q year for the next four years to sup
ply meters. This places upon the Finance
Committee the responsibility of saying.
first, shall the people have the water
necessary for comfortable living, and
second. IL what they need is given to
them. in what form shall 1t come?
1t is idle to talk OF appropriating $780,
900 to the construction Of additions TO
the water works. II the proposition
were not absurd in itself, the city could
not do II II II would. When we take the
reports Of the city's officers last year and
add TO the then financial condition OF the
city the expenditures and appropriations
for year past. II Will be seen that the
city's margin for issuing bonds in the
future Is less than $4,000. after providing
for its floating debt and for VIVA. remains
20 be done on the City Hall. The city
cannot. therefore, undertake an expendi-
ture OF $780, 900 II II were wise 20 do 20
because il cannot issue the bonds neces-
sary 10 raise the money. -. tli.' efoTe,
anything is TO be done. necessity forces
us TO the sensible thing OF providing for
water meters, which will cause the pres
ent water supply 10 be abundant and will
make the cost OF water less to the water
taker.
Our sister city. Danville. adopted
system Of water meters less than year
ago. and she has found them already
bringing to her infinite satisfaction. We
learn from inquiries made at Danville
that they only got their meters fairly
into operation last December. Before
then II was necessary to keep the pumps
going night and day to fun nish the reser-
voir with sufficient water. Now the Same
pumps go an average of no more than
eight and half hours per day; repairs
on machinery are much reduced. with the
pumps always In frst-class condition,
and they have no muddy water in the
reservoir now at ali, whereas their water
was formerly as muddy as ours, as they
can stop pumping several days at time
for the muddy water in the river 10 run
off. and then quickly catch up.
The consumption of water in December
and January was only 81 per cent. OF what
It was in the corresponding months OF
the preceding year. and everybody had
water enough, and the water bills OF
the consumers are from so TO 60 per cent
less than they formerly were.
All these are record facts which the
Council can ascertain to be such II 1t will
investigate the matter, and. in view of
all the facts of the case, we do not see
how It can hesitate about what its duty
TO the city Is