The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-21

| Reason i-"Bccause more economical.
This Is true as 10 the actual present out
lay. but not as to the ultimate outlay, gay
| I'm fiftecn years. nor as TO the yearly eN-
| pcnsca at any time IL Is "a conservative
estlmtc 10 say that IN fifteen years the
consumption viii have about doubled II
| self whether material or immaterial. ana
this is therefore a reasonable time on
which 10 base comparative estimates.
The outlay for metcring ali existing
taps will be about siS)ov. and the Ike
sum Will be required in the course Of nj
! teen years 10 keep W with the growth
OF the works. or in all. say. Sc),en.
starting az the present time with re-
drccd consumption Of siX millions per
day, consumption will have reached about
twelve millions by the end OF fifteen
years.
But before this quantity IS reached the
eNisilhg trouble from deficient press. res
mains are enlarged.
In the report Of the Superintendent for
lbH'., u MAJ be- on that with a daily
consumption OF 990Sl22 gallons. AT times
pHlne The GUNNER "it was impossible
10 provide citizens In the higher parts OF
the city with the necessary amount"
Toe greatest per diem use for any month
mat summer was lO.Di.iH gallons. With
tn' greater comparative growth OF the
city IN these higher districts il is almost
certain that this difficulty will be- expc-
rienced IN the future with the present
mains with a smaller average consump-
ti'ii Aiau ten fnlUlNUS. some additions
10 the cost Of tn metres should. there
Tore. be made for the cost Of new mains.
IN comparing the cost Of the two alierna-
yves, and $4,000. or one-thrd OF the
sum above-est.mafol for the same is not
large estimate for this.
COZ OF TIE Mr-nF PLAN.
The total outlay required. therefore. by
The meter plan In the next fifteen years
VIII be. I'm round numbers. 10000. while
Lao Il
sions 10 provide for the larger. uumotered
supply. hcginniue with. say thirteen mil
lions per day at the present time. and
Increasing 20 tWeuiy-Gy millions per day
ar the end Of the fifteen years. VIII De
the sums estimated above:
For now NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .SifG.0D
For additions - pump-houso. etc. 1900
Together with the cost Of the
wheels and pumps 20 bring the to-
tai WATERPROOF or pumping capacity
mp 10 - millions. sum OF. say. 5000
Tho foundations. wheol-pits. etc.
having been already provided
totai expenditure oi.................S2 S,ci)
for the enlargement OF the work or. iu
round numbers. 10000 less than required
by the meter plan.
Tho following estimates are presented
as TO the yearly expenses under the two
plans
I-Metcrel consumption. 8 millions.
The average Of all expenses. includ-
ing extensions. but except pump
Years ' '.....' y' w. D,' Nv. $685.
This expense VIII remain practical
ly the same in either case. The
average cost Of pumping for the
same years has been sac per
million gallons II the quantity
pumped Doe reduced onc-naif tins
rate will Zoe increased as some
Of the items of expense viii re-
main the same. and may he rea-
raflNppuf at s. Per million gal
and 'l'i aS days is. per 7'y 1880
/ Add maintenance Of meters at
per cent. interest. ada per cent.
for renewals. add per cent. for
repairs. making u per cent on the
cost Of N,Wp....-.......... I.-l1
Total immediate annual expense
under the meter system equals
a.25 cents per io5o Gallons, 80 s72,2i5
I. a.-Metored consumption. u
millions.
All expense. except pumping. as
above ......... Slb,NhH
Pumping Z millions 255 days, at
- s0........... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1900
N on NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. '''' 5000
-Four per cent. interest ON cost Of
larger mains, $1,000. ............... i.6i0
Total annual expense at end OF .
years Under the meter system
ions s''. ....i............ ...Nios0o
H.~Unmetered consumption. 70
Gnmpinr consolidated az the New
pump-hOuseD
All present expense. except pump 5000
ing............. .-.....--.-....--s f"p,Nf'
i q 10 ''''''' '.. ..' D", - leoss
gThls is The average cost for the
past five years for the new water
power pumps.
fr.f eos.
fo onio rS Sl vS 5000 ............ 1000
Total immediate annual expense
with works enlarged without
meters equals l.& cents per l.o" 800.
If. a.|Unmeterei consumpu ~,
p pre lp'iI' Expense except p,nrne. safo5
Pumping - millions 3fj days. az ....,
Four per cont i i9e'rS 81 .o .. 1900
Total annual expense al end OF
Ia Years with works enlarged,
without meters equals - cents $500
Der 100 gallons .......... --.-.-t.- f''.'''
II would appear therefore. lhat W.
plan of metering involved dh ut'ldtD
outlay in the period cf iitcen years
90 l-3 per cent greater. an ii.ineHldl,
an iual expense 10 per cent. hI'el'is atH
am annual expense az the chi on Ut.
than will be incurred by ihe all -rnatlFe
plan Of charging th" capacity Oh MAINS
Reason .. Because a supply without
limit promotes the wdsteful cNilaFasaNte'
etc.
This argument is based upon the as
SUMPTION that the present use OF water
i'm Richmond Us cNtravagant. ana that
the consumption should Dee reduced, 40
least 10 the quantity Of sixty gallons
per capita. given in the report ass ass
Cerfaife1 hV The more recent iuNcslea-
tions TO ice the sufficient or needful sup
ply
impossible % fN upon am absolute guam
uy OF water as ncedlul or necessary
and wrong TO DESIGNATE as tNtraVaeancc
or waste any Use greater than tome
arbitrary quantity. ana that the only
way of determining for any particular
city whether the use OF water IS zoo
great or not IS by q comparison Of the
quantity used with the cost of obtaining
a.. and with the revenue derived from
its sale.
1t is stated I'm the majority report that
i'm households supplied with water
'tOtcd" from the spring or lifted from
a well by the buckotful. the quantity
uscl does not exceed five gallons per
CAPITA per diem. This quantity IS ccr-
tainly an that is necessary in such
households but the most ardent advo-
cate OF the meter would not probably
claim that therefore this per capita
amount should have any influence IN
determining che proper amount 10 be
supplied in any city.
soMR MORE pIs,nyANTicEs.
In reason : is presented perhaps, the
strongest argument In favor OF ihe IN
l. aHa ..sHNa