The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-30
THE CITY TO PAY FOR THEM.
$500 APPROPRIATED FOR PUT
TING IN WATER METERS.


man HudsOn's Opposition 40 the
Meter System-AIdermHn Garrard
FavorS 1.-THE Arguments ON Both
sIdes-The Appropriation Prnctie-
ally Commits the City TO Payment
for the Meters.
The city council decided last night 10
appropriate $500 10 enable the water COM
mission 10 make a beginning in the
meter system.
The subject came before the council on
the report Of the committee OF the whole,
recommending the appropriation Inc
question was discussed at some length.
Alderman Garrard moved the adoption Of
the report. Alderman Hudson moved as
substitute that the report Doe recommit-
ted 10 the committee. Both motions were
seconded. There was quite a discussion,
The principal speeches being made by Al
herman Hudson in opposition 10 the meter
system and Alderman Garrard in favor
of it,
Alderman Hudson opposed the system in
toto. He gave his reasons why water
meters should not be inflicted on the pub
lie.
as there any real necessity for
ST." he asked. As I'M
derstand it. the reasons assigned
are that the expense to the consumers
will be less, and unless the great waste
OF water is stopped the wells viii be
pumped dry, and We viii have sand and
mo water. 1 take issue as to anything
being called a waste when applied to
water. My reasons are based from the
standpoint of cleanliness and sanitation.
Located. as we are where for some
n. "a M rsFra
weather. il is necessary that the limit as
10 the use of water should not be regu-
lated by the price We pay for IL by the
measure. People should not Ieei tnat
they must buy that for which they have
already paid taxes in the past
ii there is real danger that the present
water supply is liable TO give out at
any time is not the danger the same
whether little or much water Is used?
las science demonstrated TO certainty
that artificial means of procuring wa
Ter from artesian wells will always give
supply II such Is not the case meter or
no meter, we don't know when the wells
will fail US, and IL seems to me to be the
hight of folly for the city TO incur an
expense of $50 900 to meter the city, besides
the expense of putting them in, which
would probably take as much more, max
ing an expenditure OF some Sl2),0Ol
q think we had better go slow in this
matter and let il be referred back to the
committee of the whole. The appropriate
ing of $3 so as asked for by the commits
sion really means that the city incurs the
whole expenditure, and as for compelling
property owners to pay for meters while
tne aGt cLeallhs tne Wate5 cV Ilit
gives II that power. l hardly believe 1t
will exercise It, and l would, by my
vote if had the authority cast 1t against
any such hardship.
I'm purchasing meters, I understand
that the commissioners state that they
have to pay cash for them, or only thirty
days time. If we are going TO have meters
1t would seem as though they could be
purchased on long time. say one, two,
three, four. five six, or even seven years, i
cant understand why the transaction
with a city like Savannah should be cash
If IL wants time to make its payments
for purchases; certainly our notes with
fair rate of interest ought to be taken;
our bonds sell considerably above par
what security or bond do these meter
people give that their meters Will register
correctly, and for how long a periOd2 If
no bond is given or for only a specified
time, you must add that time to the cost
of meter and putting it in. We are told
that probably houses costing S2,Ul0 and
upwards meters will be productive or
less expense to the owner than 10 those
costing lessor, in other words, the bur
den OF expense or increase VIII ran on
those who have or live in houses costing
from 500 up to $1,000, and they constitute
{he masses. The time guaranteed by the
meter companies, which is practically
cash, means they sell an instrument, get
their money and you can help yourselt
afterward. Is this a business principle?
Is 1t such as a business man would make
on a contingency in his affairs, surround
ed by like conditions2
'grhe great trouble has been in
hasty legislation in this matter;
comforting upon the water commission
powers that should be held by the council
alone. The council is selected by the votes
of citizens direct. 1t is looked upon to
direct and use its power and discretion IN
all matters as pertains to sucn an import
ant question as the supply OF water ana
whether il is TO be controlled by com
mission of water without council review
ing what is done by them e...,.
nrfl
have been taxed in the past Tor the water
works and mains, and the idea of putting
meters upon them naturaliy Is rep faaso'
IT Is like coming IN TO your own mousse
everything in which has been pald forl
and demanding a periodical tribute 1
don't know of any city similar 10 SaYan-
nah charging for water by the meter sYs-
tenn There are numbers OF cities which
use meters, but they are private COM
having invested their own cap1-
tai in the business, like the gas
monopolies, but know of none, situated
as are, with an over-abundanee OF
supply of fresh water at our very doors,
where meters are used. In instances of
cities that have their own works, where
they use meters you will find that they
have to bring their supply of water any
where from eight to 100 miles 10 the city,
Atlanta for instance, which means a large
expense that necessarily results in an
enforced hardship in the way of meter
restrictions.
IF the reason assigned why meters
should be put in, the danger that the arte-
sian wells viii go dry has real foundation,
] would much rather vote a sufficient APP
preparation. either to connect the new
works with the old or with the river, than
throw away $4,000 on an uncertainty.
] firmly believe the people having paid
for the water works are entitled TO water
as nearly free as it is possible to give it"
Alderman Falligant opposed the meter
system on the ground that it is unsani-
tary and tended 10 discourage the free
use of water when it is TO the interest of
the health of the city that water should
be used freely.
Alderman Garrard recited the reasons
why water meters are necessary and why
their introduction viii be beneficial 20
both the city and the consumer. He sub
mitted some statistics collected by the
superintendent of the water works. The
following answers out of IA similar COM
munications sent by water works super
intendents throughout the United States
in response to inquiries made by the
Water and Gas Review were quoted:
New York-3000O meters in use; salts
factory to consumers; they are accurate
and durable Chicago-4654 in use; meters
are the only sure way to prevent waste;
they are generally satisfactory to con-
sbaK- "a