New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-25
ECONOMY IN CROTON.
wANToN WASTE OF THE SUPPLY.
THE PRESENT SYSTEM SHOULD BE CHANGED
AND METERS USED EvERYwHERE-Jus-
TICE TO TAXPAYERS.

Sir Your able editorial OF November o. on
"New-York City's Water supply" seems to have
aroused much interest. judging by the letters Won
have since published. The problem is seriously en-
rnR,ng the attention OF the city officials and an
Improvement in the situation i believe will soon
he evident. This citys water supply Is ample for
years 20 come. but the deficiency In the service is
accurately accounted for when you attribute II 70
"war;on waste The almost criminal waste OF
water which many citizens are guilty OF Is so
sorcbly described in your editorial that II seems
superhuous TO say more. but one OF Your CORE
spondents. &C. II. NJ" in your issue of December
!, makes 4 claim that has so impressed one OF
our highest city officials (who can exercise the
creates; power in concentrating the desired end)
Judging by short conversation we held on the
matter. that for his benefit az we'll as the com,nun
ity in general some further discussion OF the ques-
ton IL your counns would be profitable 10 all and
rnagnanimous your part.
The refutation OF the claim made by &C. H. NJ"
Hes with the economist ,han the water en-
eineer. Dr. Stewart. in writing YOU also referred TO
&C. IL Ms letter In complimentary manner
all o. which indicates an unconscious growth OF
sociaistic IDEAS in the minds OF the community.
Water should be as free air to use. to waste
even. without thought stint" This, &c H. NJ"
says would be ideal water supply" and he
thinks 1t be furnished by simply Increasing
our storage facilities. the supply. he thinks, being
ample. and give to each individual n proper al
lowance." The point lies in the give: 1t cannot
oe gwen SO ioNg as cost ATTACHES al outset 10
the procuring OF the one and not OF the other
AS an abstract principle in economics water as
much any other commodity. should be paid for
81 absolute proportion to the quantity or value
ceived. Some men do think that all necessarie.
should be gratuitous. but that is wholly faacious
when IL costs to get and another. Heat
and light in the shape OF coal and gas also
necessities. and the same reason, II one could be
found. would dictate their free distribution well
water. What costs cannot be donated some
body must pay for IL, and II the general COM
r,unl,y who use It then what portion of the COM
n,un.ty ought TO? Evidently the property-owner
only could be taxed fo- II II tho general community
is to be relieved OF the burden. The equity OF this
c.rcunsoribed taxation j will not deal with now,
but II might surprise &c. II. NJ" TO learn how
much O. the burden is salready borne by the rich.
The operation OF the Incidents OF taxation cannot,
o. course be gone into here. but hope II is clea-
that water cannot be given away. any more than
other necessaries that cost: that II cannot be as
free air in cities where expensive plants
required.
THE RATING sYsTEM" wASTEFUL.
As payments must be made. the question then is.
What payments? Clearly, for value received. The
necessary the article supplied the greater the
reason for selling II al its market value; yet for
years our water has been chiefly sold the unjust
and Improbable rating system" although IL has
been proved again and again in OF cities all
over the world that the system is most arbitrary
and wasteful. Bread is bought by quantity. but
water by the position and size OF the house OF the
owner, instead OF by the quantity the purchaser
consumes. A householder buys Just much food
his family requires. regardless Of the size of his
house but be Ills family large small. ne is
PEELED pay amount for water rated the
style OF his dwelling. whatever quantity he
eumes-6o gallons a day or 800. Yet water is as
necessary food and both provided for the
consumer by the capital and labor expended by the
supplier Should not the payment, therefore be in
the direct ratio OF the value received?
Most European cities and many of own-it
would take too much space TO mention all-even
Hoboken and Flushing. at own doors. have all
proved the wastefulness Of the rating system and
abandoned II for another method. Our water sup
ply is superintendent much larger than most cities
enjoy. Waste Is the cause OF our present trouble;
this fact your editorial clearly showed. let US
strike at the root OF the trouble at once and make
those who do the dancing pay the fiddler. The in
ordinate OF water inseparable from the rating
system ia causing SO heavy a strain that radical
change is imperative, either in the quantity con-
sumed and wasted else in the quantity supplied.
How best to accomplish this is the task OF water
engineers and they answer the question IN
certain tone, for their experience universally yields
the same results. The successful solution OF the
problem lies In the thorough application OF the
meter system Of payments. The present manage
ment Of our public works understands the value
Saa e an. aseT viii see Vast ana 5Um
men; IN our water by Al
meters are now in use, not half as many as the
present law calls FOR hundreds Of those il
consumption. All sorts Of favors were granted by
our precious mnePa rulers t9 ssd sna
paired Against dishonest administration kind Of
ton must measure the size OF such .niquity and ap
ply the penalty as they did last year
the present law and the income honestly collected.
ii viii be by the present administration the vr-
tire community apparent TO ell. that every house
owner will demand the complete abolition OF pay
ment by meter. A larger water rent VIII be collect
ed S9uT Sns about BY rate
ment proper meterng will double the tota!) and a
the largest business and most opuent private con-
sumers pay for what they use.
EXPERIENCE OF OTHER CITIES.
BY checking thoughtess waste the honest con-
suner will not be charged for his neighbors ex-
travagance One-halt the water passing through
our mains Is now heedlessly wasted. We are fur
aished with about 100 gallons day per capita; 30
gallons is ample for all the personal, business and
manufacturing purposes Of our city. Berlin. prob
ably the best metered city IN the world finds p gal
IONS a day per head abundant London consumed
q gallons a day one-third OF which was considered
wasted on account OF imperfect meterng. Fifty
gallons per diem In temperate climates IS found
ample and every city that mas reduced us wasse ny
sney @ne ,on .hey have increased the necessary
consumption by lowering prices and have I'M
proyed the health OF the community by furnishing
an abundance for street uses and pubic SANITARY
purposes Atlanta Providence. Hoboken ana r!ush-
Ing are conspicuous examples OF the improved COL t
dillon OF their cities from adopting the system Inc
Pars.an authorities about three years ago AZ
extend the meter system over tnelr whoe ono
supply. in TO other way couIo me- h ou r
corded where the public health has suffered pecauso
OF the measured consumption; -. 49,. go.
conspicuous example Of me success % .nv n sEH
tenn Is Basic Switzerland. II found itsct running
shor: OF water and made an appropriation Ior new
r,crks After considerable outlay upon them they
heard Of the Berlin plan Of meter:ng ana sen, an
expert TO examine and report results: he .hc
innresse,k with tie virtues OF the pan ina .ae
authorities OF Basic put the same system ~ Per-
ton. Abundance OF water was ice 'eSu' anu '
satisfied ,, -.,oh.a h,s irev-
tebly been the same By PaCIIe ara,.,ises and