Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-25

The Engineering Record of the current
week has the following upon the vcXed
question of water meters;
Long Island City, N. Y, has been
having considerable trouble of late,
with its water supply both in quantity
and quality. A proposition u apply
meters and thus check waste was made
by one of the daily papers, and has been
advocated by Others. Mr.. John Thorn
son, NJ. Am. Soc. O. t., of New York,
contributed 10 the discussion decidedly
pertinent letter, from which the follow
ing extracts have been made:
"Water ought to be free as air." we
hear. How can it be when the avail
able supply is limited and it can only
be delivered at heavy expense taxed
upon the community II isl condition,
not theory, which confronts us, and if
it is met as any business man would
meet it, then the remedy will be
promptly applied-namely, SEQ to it
that each consumer pays for what he
uses. This proposition the legitimate
user will not oppose, and the opposition
would come, as ii doubtless now does,
from those who get more than they
ought for the sum taxed upon their
property. II is the many who pay for
and who are disconnected by the lavish
or criminal waste of the few.
Nor does the application of meters
tend to restrict the legitimate use of
water. AS matter CT fact payment by
measurement of the quantity used re
suits in q lower water rate than pay
ment by pro rata tax. The reason for
this would appear to be obvious and
ought not to call for argument. But it
is strange how enormously this is re-.
gardcd from the theoretical standpoint.
Here is an illustration of the principle,
however, the result of actual practice,
which appears in a report made only
about month ago by the city of SYRIA
cuse:
"Of 1,246 meter accounts the average
daily use was 1868 gallons, and of un-
metered water, distributed among 800
accounts the daily use for each was
1884 gallons.
THE daily total average consumption
of water, metered, was 2,O65, 14i gallons
and of unmeterei 4.49G,2lo gallons"
Again, about three years ago the city
OF Detroit was pumping from its un-
limited lake supply over $50 gallons per
head during each 81 hours, and the
'"klcks' were SO strong and continuous
from the outlying districts for more
water that prompt action was called
for. The problem presented to the De.
trolt Water Commissioners was II simple
one-nanlely, add another 4S-inch force
main and build another pumping sta
ton, or save some of the water wasting
into tho mr.
decided upon, and following the uppli-
cation of only about 1000 meters, or
not to exceed 3 per cent of the total
water services, the delivery of the pumps
was reduced over 20 per cent, the pres.
sure being increased to satisfactory
extent throughout the city. And this
was accomplished at cost for meters
amounting to less than the interest
would have been upon tho investment
necessary for Increasing the supply by
adding to the pumping plant. But it
seems needless To amplify Illustrations.
The equity and the desirabiity is adj
mitted whenever the pros and cons of
the question are judicially investigated
on the merits, and provided that the
best interests OF the community are kept
i'll mind.
A word in regard to water meters
per Sc: About six years ago the yearly
output of all the makers in the United
States probably did not exceed $4,000 to
$4,000. Last year from 10000 to 80 900
were made and sold. During the same
period, as the consequence of increased
demand and competition, the price of
meters has been reduced about 20 per
cent and also concurrent with this, the
general efficiency and durability have
been greatly improved. This refers to
water meters in general.
The conditions of service for meters
in Long Island City are about as bad as
they can be. The chemical quality of
the water is bad; partially, if not largely,
due to the extreme draft ON the wells in
ducing the inflow of brackish water and
acids which attack the best gun-metal
compositions and quickly ill up boiler
tubes and service pipes. Nevertheless,
with u fair exercise Of intelligence in
the setting and inspection of the meters,
] will guarantee that the prompt appli.
cation of from 1000 to 1900 water
meters will nearly, if not entirely, re-
store the pressure and will greatly i'm
| prove the quality of our supply.