Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-03

the meters would have the effect OF COM
pelling nm undesirable economy IN inc
use OF water. There need be no rear Oh
such danger. Statistics wherever meters
are used show that this II an ungroundeu
apprehension. And besides, II such
danger existed, II would be easy enough
to remove II by allowing an additional
quantity OF water free to the class or
persons who would be thus affected.
We have $50 meters In use-an increase
OF % over last year. All the meters set
during the year were purchased AT the re-
quest and cost OF the water-takers. Inc
Superintendent has carefully examined
the effect OF the introduction OF the wa
ter meter In 90 premises. and has pre-
scented carefully-prepared table showing
what 1t has cost each consumer by water
meter as compared with the ordinance
rate for one year. This table embraces
water used by private families, manufac-
turers, and almost every different Kind OF
charge as fixed by ordinance. and Demon
strates how almost impossible IL IL TO
fix rate by ordinance that would De
equitable In all cases, and shows most
conclusively that the only fair way 10
charge for water Is by measurement. IN
cluded In this exhibit are the compared
bills OF some Of the smaller water-takers,
which show n saving to them OF 80 per
surance that they have In no way
stnted themselves. but have used water
abundantly In their families. In the 233
cases examined there is shown an average
saving OF 10 per cent. There are only five
cases In the list showing a higher bill
by meter than by ordinance rate. and In
some OF these cases the difference was
found 10 be caused by leaks or fixtures
left running. The complaints OF the me-
ter have been few, and over - per cent.
OF ell those now using them strongly ad-
vocate their general introduction.
DAILY CONSUMPTION.
Our average daily consumption of water
last year was nearly the same as the
year before. and. estimating our popu-
lation at 5000, shows a per capita OF
lJ0 gallons. comparison with Atlanta,
which is about the size of Richmond, but
has meter on every tap shows that in
the city they pump daily less than 1900
900 gallons. In 1885, previous TO putting In
meters, the daily pumpage at Atlanta
with 100 taps was nearly 100000 gal
lons-double what it was In 1892 with
$500 taps Their report shows that all
are abundantly supplied with an average
OF 81 gallons per day per person, and We
are suffering for want Of pressure and
furnishing $50 gallons per day per capita.
In other words, we are wasting over
9O0,0v0 gallons OF water every day of no
use or benefit to any one, whilst citizens
In some sections of the city are suffering
for much needed supply OF water.
do not hesitate, I'm the face OF these condi-
tons, to strongly urge the introduction OF
the meter az the most economical and
speedy relief that can be afforded our
citizens who are now deprived of their
fair share Of water, and as the surest
way to prevent the enormous waste or
water. which now exists
THE GAs-WORKS PROFITABLE.
The gas-works, under the excellent
management of Superintendent W. G.
Adams. continue TO be source OF profit
70 the city The excess Of receipts over
expenditures was $50, 1910. 81, to which, II We
add 81 ,929S 50 for gas consumed by the
street lamps and I'm our public buildings.
We have a balance in favor OF the gas
works Of s71,S6S.n. We have now more
than GO miles OF street mains, and l,6i2
lamps. We have put in during the year
for new consumers 372 service pipes. and
renewed and repaired 302 others. The i'm
provements 20 the works during the year
consist of the water-gas plant of 10000
cubic feet daily capacity, which was
erected at a cost of SIS, 10000; 2,4l7 feet of
main pipe, and one relief-holder OF 1000
cubic feet capacity. The Superintendent
reports that the water-gas plant Is work
ing 10 his entire satisfaction. and that the
daily make Of gas from II has far eX-
ceeded the guarantee Of the contractor
The saving to the city from this plant, as
well as 10 the consumer. has already
been demonstrated, and the saving In
the cost OF the manufacture OF gas VIII
be- so great that before the end or the
present year II will be evident TO all that
this Investment was most judicious and
profitable. An appropriation OF S5o,oOW
has recently been made for incre"- IT, the
purifying capacity OF the WORKS ms -
much-needed improvement and VIII. when
completed. add greatly TO the efficiency
Of the plant.
ALMSHOUSE AND THE POOR.
The city almshouse has been well man.
aged under the superlntendence Of Mr.. Il.
W Carter. the efficient head Of the De-
partment OF Poor OF the city. The total
amount appropriated by the Council on
account Of charity for the city for the
year was thrty-eight thousand two hum
dred and eighty-seYen dollars and fifty
cents. C3S.2S7J0). OF this amount twenty
nine thousand G29,Oo0.CO dollars was ex-
pended under the direction OF the COM
mittees Of the City Council, and the bal
ance nine thousand two hundred and
eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents
(s9. 2s1J0), was expended for the beneht
Of the Ladies' City Mission, Little Sisters
of the Poor Retreat for the Sick, Rich
mond Male orphan Asylum, X. Il. Lee
Camp. Confederate Veterans and other
worthy charitable institutions.
The total number Of applications for
aid received during the year was 5,l2i, of
which 99S were for indoor. and 4,l26 were
for outdoor relief, and 2i9 burials were
furnished to outside poor. The number
of applications refused during the year
were ninety for outdoor and twenty-five
for indoor RELIEF.
On the first day Of January, 1893. there
were 272 inmates in the almshouse, and
726 were admitted during the year. making
| a total OF 99S who received the benefits
of this institution. OF this number
twenty-four were born in the institution,
G}7 discharged, l3G died, and % remained
at the end Of the year. or the twenty
four infants born in the institution. ten
were white and fourteen were colored.
OF the 22j remaining December 3lst, 1893,
Ill were white and ia were colored. OF
the l36 who died, thirty-six were white
and lO1 were colored. The cost OF each
inmate for the year was one hundred and
twenty-five dollars and siXty-seven cents,
lSl2j.6O. The cost of subsistence for each
inmate was $0.l4,42 per day.
The annual report Of the Physician to
the Almshouse shows that there We're In
the hospital at the beginning Of the year
Ct patients, and that iGS were admitted,
making a total of 529 treated during the
year. OF that number 2sl were cured,
il2 relieved 81 died. and So remained in
the hospital December 81, 1893.
There were 70l ambulance calls during
the year, of which SOs were white and
393 were for colored persons a decrease
of lO3 calls over last year. The general
condition of the white department Of the
hospital is quite good, but there are
some needed Improvements to the colored
hospital which ! would recommend be
made during the coming year.
Nine hundred and twenty-one cords OF
wood and 1880 bushels Of coke have been
distributed; 1880 bushels Of this coke
were donated by the City Council to the
Ladies' City Mission and by them dis
tributed. The increase in wood over last
year was 297 IL cords, the increase in
coke over last year, 1.l3S bushels; 5.973
bushels and A. pounds Of meal were dis
tributed. being an increase Of 7S5 bushels
and 50 pounds Of meal over last year
Five thousand eight hundred and forty
eight prescriptions have been compound
ed at the city dispensaries exclusive of
Medical College,, being an increase OF