Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-31
STAND FOR METERS.
WATER COMMITTEE ASKS FOR sis.-
600 For THEIR INTRODUCTION.
slight Changes in the Ordinances-sseond
Market Matters-Importsnt Meetings
To-Day--Digging Trenches, Etc.


Committee on Water was held In Com
mittee Room No. II Of the new City Hall
last night. Chairman White presided. and
Messrs. Briggs. Boykin. Brock. Mann.
Mountcastle. and Trower were present.
Mr.. Everett waddey presented the Pc
tition OF the Virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical Society for free water during
the Exposition this fall. The superintend-
ent was instructed to turn on the water
at the Exposltion-Grounds whenever 1t
should be needed there.
The payroll Of the department for the
past month and a number Of bills were
approved.
Moore street. a square and half west
ward from Glner street, was ordered.
as was an extension between Twenty
third and Twenty-fourth streets.
The committee tabled the resolution
providing for the running Of main In
81. James street. from Hill street TO
Shockoe Creek, in connection with the
existing culvert
METERS THE ONLY REMEDY.
Complaint was made by Mr. Mann Of
the low pressure TO the city water In the
Pinch main on Broad street which sup
plies Church Hill. Mr.. Mann said he
thought this trouble had been caused by
the running Of a branch main from Broad
down through Twenty-sixth street 10
Franklin and to Twenty-fifth to provide
large buildings down there with water.
Superintendent Boiling explained that
al mr.
Marshall streets between Twelfth and
First streets. The only remedy for the
evil, he said was to place meters In the
buildings in the lower parts OF the city:
Mr.. Charles II. Page was awarded the
contract to supply the department with
coal for the steam pumps. He was the
lowest bidder.
A lengthily- signed petition from resi-
dents of Madison Ward, especially on
Marshall, Clay, and Broad streets be-
tween Ninth and Fifth, asking for bet
ter water-supply, was read. In connec-
ton with this appeal the superintendent
submitted his report.
This report dealt with the condition OF
the various features OF the department.
1t recited that the work Of repairing the
canal-bank above the Five-Mile lock
would be completed in three weeks.
PROMPT ACTION D1sbED.
Touching the water-supply question, su-
perintendent Boiling said:
1.-The complaint about want OF pressure
at different high points In the city ID
constant, and / deem il my duty TO again
bring to your attention the necessity OF
taking some action TO furnish our people
who are suffering for water at many
points relief. There are but two ways
to accomplish this-either put In meters
and stop the waste, or lay additional
mains to the reservoir and add TO our
pumps / have gone over this matter
carefully again, and with the exception
of submitting you two estimates ior IN
creasing our supply-one for 4S-inch
main and one for 36-inch main from the
reservoir to the city-I again submit 10
this committee the report l made to the
Water Committee on the same subject
October &c, 1891.
cit Is most gratifying to me that daily
the water-meter Is growing in the favor
of our people. and rich and poor are 10
a great rumber now satisfied that this
is the proper and just method to be
charged for water, and then 10 pay only
for what they consume. In evidence or
what Is being done with water-meters'
there have been placed since January ISL
231 meters. all of which have been pur'
chased by the consumers; 157 OF these are
on the high service. and "a on the low
service. Unfortunately, those set on the
high-service are situated. as general
thing on the high points. and little has
been done to stop the great waste at the
low points. Should the meter system be
adopted. and even a small Appropriation
be made. say $4,000, we would soon see
the good effects by placing meters at the
low pojnts Of the highserVlce.
RECOMMEND AN ORDINANCE.
The report OF october 26. 1891. was read.
II explained the necessity for the eStab-
Nshment of the meter system. A great
deal of discussion followed. and, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Briggs. action was inaiiy
taken recommending that the Council
mass an ordinance introducing the meters.
and appro priate $4,000 for the purpose OF
placing them where they will accomplish
the most good BY this motion the con-
sumers are to pay ~ per cent. per annum
upon the cost of the meters for the use
of the same.
CHANGES TO ORDINANCES.
The newly-codifed ordinances affecting
the Water Department were then gone
over. Only a few slight changes were
made. There are now three water districts
TO the city, and the second extends from
Second 10 Eleventh streets. Tho commit
tee recommended the changing or THIS
district. so as to place the western line
at Adams instead OF Second street. Those
affected by the change will have to pay
for two instead Of three months water
when the new ordinance goes into erect.
The plumbing ordinance was slightly
altered. Upon the suggestion OF Superin-
tendent Boiling the committee recon-
mended that for violating the plumbing
laws of the city q person shall be fined
800 sor the first offence. If the violation
Is repeated the Superintendent is invested
with authority to revoke the license, and
the plumber, If aggrieyed, has recourse
10 the committee.
Market House Ordinances. WV
A regular meeting OF the Council Com
mittee on Second Market was held at o:5J
o'clock last evening. Those in attendance
were Messrs. Ferrter ,chairman). Gunst'
White. and jackson. The usual routine
business was transacted. City-Clerk Au-
gust presented a copy of the newly-co-
difed ordinances, which was turned over
TO a subcommittee consisting OF Messrs
Gunst. White, and Jackson, who were
delegated 10 revise such measures as
refer TO the markets of the city.
Committee Meetings To-Day.
There will be joint session of the
committees on Water, Street, and Light
this afternoon TO consider the resolution
of Mr.. Epps's concerning the laying OF
trenches for gas and water mains.
a called meeting of the Finance Com
mittee will be held at 4:3O O'Clock THIS
afternoon.
The Police Committee meets in regular