The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-11
TO PUT IN METERS BY STREETS
THE NEW WATER SYSTEM To Go
INTO EFFECT NEXT JULY.


The Commission VIII Make n PrRcti-
cal Test OF the Meter system by LO-
eaIIties 10 Avoid Discrimination
Against COnsumers-One Hundred
and Fifty Meters Ordered and the
work of Putting Them in 10 BE-
gin at Once-Chairman Dixon Says
some Regulation for the Use OF
Water l. Nccessary and The Meter
system l. the Most Practical
The water commission held a meeting
yesterday afternoon. AS a result Chair
man Dixon said that all water takers
win be allowed TO pay their water rents
for the first six months Of the year. and
that the system of charging for water
by the 600 gallons Will not be put into
general effect until July !.
The commission also decided that in
stead Of picking out water takers all over
the city and requiring them TO put in
meters. 10 which proposition so much eX-
ception has been taken. that meters should
be put in by streets and sections Of streets.
as suggested by the Morning News, so
that there might be no complaint of dis
elimination.
The superintendent will go right ahead
putting in meters, and by July ], when
the system is put into operation. there
will be several hundred meters in use.
The property owners Will not be required
TO pay for their meters. however, until
they begin using them, The large con-
sumers of water, railroads, hotels, brew
cries. laundries and factories, will be re-
quired 10 put in meters at once.
I'VE have not selected any street on
which to make a beginning" said Mr..
Dixon. but we have concluded that II
would be better to adopt this plan for
two reasons. The plan Of selecting large
water takers, or those who are supposed
TO consume large amounts of water
causes the cry Of discrimination TO be
raised. The water taker who is required
TO put in meter kicks because his next
door neighbor is not required to do the
same thing. The plan of putting the meters
IN by streets does away with this complaint
Inere IS another reason for putting in
meters by streets. Within the next three
one or more streets entirely equipped
with water meters. Although the water
Iakers VIII be paying on the old basis,
ed VIII be kept and a comparison will be
made with the rates now in force for the
purpose OF estimating a rate which will
Inc consumers. For instance let us say
that the present revenue OF the water
department from Broughton street is
SIOOO. After the street is equipped with
meters records will be kept Of the water
used and an estimate will be made OF
what rate per 1000 gallons Il will be nee
essary TO charge to secure the same
amount of revenue from that street
The impression that the water rate will
be 10 cents per 1000 gallons is erroneous.
That is the maximum rate which the city
council allows us to charge. We may use
our discretion in making a lower rate.
In my judgment the rate will be about
ten cents to ordinary consumers and less
70 large consumers, such as manufactur-
ing institutions. 1t is not our desire to Sc
cure an immense revenue for the city.
We do not expect to decrease the revenue
neither do We expect TO increase IL great
~. At the outside we do not expect an
increase of more than $4,000 which would
enable the waterworks to pay its own ex-
penses and an interest of about per cent
on the city's investment, which is hardly
high rate of interest. OF course we can
not finally determine on the rate until
lhe meter system IS in fun operation
r,o 1.-The Morning eIi1 News editorial this
line exactly. We cannot go on wasting
water as at present, or the city would
have to find some means OF increasing its
water supply. The property owners
would have that to pay for 1t should be
borne in mind that the cost of operating
the pumpage of water. A less pumpage
means saving in expense of operating
If instead of pumping 5000 900 gallons
daily, we only have to pump 100000 gal
Ions the saving i'm coal, oil wear and tear
OF machinery and other items will be
very considerable. The meter system will
thus prove double benefit. The net rev.
enue of the department will be Increased
as much by the saving in expense as by
the increased payments of consumers.
MI Dixon was asked what the commits
sion viii do II the railroads and other
large consumers should refuse to put in
Mill
ordinary consumers" he said. shut off
the water"
A few rays of light have fallen upon the
desolate pathway of the commissioners
Several consumers have come forward
and requested that water meters be plac-
ed in their houses. Manager j. w Golden
OF the Mutual Gas Light Company volun-
tarily sought out the commissioners yes
terday and obtained information as to
the kind of meters required He immedi-
ateiy teilegraphed the manufacturers for
gas light company. They will be of the
largest size and will cost about $500 each
The gas company uses a large amount of
water and Manager Golden said that he
believes the company will save money by
the use of the meters.
Alderman e. c. Gleason has had me-
ter at his stable on Bryan street for
several months, and says that il has al
ready saved him more than the first cost.
Capt. d. @. Purse requested some time
ago that meter be put in the board of
trade building. Probably a majority of
the water consumers would be willing TO
have meters put in if the city would pay
for the meters That is where most of
the kicking will be.
Mr. Dixon stated that the $50 water
meters which were ordered several days
ago are now on the way and are expected
here i'm a day or two. The meters will
be ordered in patches of 100 or mCra in
order to secure the lowest wholesale price.
They will be furnished to the consumers
at cost. Any property owners, however.
who wants to buy his own meter can do
so, provided it comes up to the required
standard