Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-16
BENEFIT OF METERS.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL GIVE
THE room MORE COMFORTS.
EISIuuM RATE PROTECTION OF ALL.
II IL as Low nv That of Any City
I'm the Country Except Wnshing-
homework of Putting IN "e'c's
Soon TO Begin.


,oi,,es on Water viii begin TO arrive ana
he plsced IN houses here by June ISL. IL
wiu take some time TO place the whole
number bought. which was ABOUT i'4V''
but they will all be put into service py
the end OF the year. Already there are
IN use IN Richmond l.43s water-meters,
nearly all OF which were purchased by
tho consumers.
Three years ago there was the greatest
complaint OF scarcity Of water at the
blgher points Of the city. and 1t has been
since then that most OF these meters
have been put into use. Withih inns
period OF time. Superintendent Boiling
saws. the pressure on high service mas
been I'VE pounds, which is equivalent 10
a rise OF ll% feet in the water. LIES
condition. says the Superintendent Is
the result OF use OF meters, notwithstand-
ing the fact that most Of the meters
were placed at high points. where they
would do the least good in preventing
waste and thus increasing pressure
EXPECTS GOOD RESULTS.
Mr.. Boiling said yesterday that ne
thought there was every reason 10 eN"
pect good results from the LOO meters
10 be put In by the city this year. Ihese
will be placed on the service pipes III
the lower parts of the city. where tne
pressure and the waste are naturaiy
greatest. The new ordinance proposeu
by the Committee on Water does away
with the 81 per annum rental upon 'nese
meters and they are TO be put in abso-
lutely free to the consumer.
Speaking OF the minimum rate OF D.
cents per month for 1850 gallons OF
water. Mr.. Boiling said that IL was alb
solutely fair TO all water-takers. a care
full scientific estimate had shown that
$50 gallons OF water day. or 400 gal
Ions q mouth, was a sufficient quantity
for an average family to consume. By
comparison with the rates OF seventy
two of the principal cities OF the United
States. IL was found that the proposed
meter rate for Richmond was one OF the
five cities standing next TO Washington.
which had the lowest rate.
IN CASE OF EXTRA METERS.
The object OF the present ordinance
relating 10 the introduction of meters
Is intended 10 apply 10 all meters fur
blshed and put In by the city of Rich
mond. The intention OF the city Is to
place a meter on the service pipe sup
plying lot or premise at the expense or
the city, but wherever any lot or premise
has more than one service pipe and
The occupant wishes 10 continue the
ese Of water through the additional pipe.
II Is the purpose 10 require the owner
er occupant to pay the cost of each extra
meter, and keep the same in repair, the
lily being responsible for all repairs to
The meter which she furnishes.
The present price OF city water, as
liked by ordinance. for one hydrant or
faucet is s. per annum, or IL cents per
month and special charge for each
additional fixture Is added. The proposed
Drfinance. fixes the rate. at Al cents
month for one or more faucets, and al
lows 5000 gallons Of water per month,
there being no closets on the premises
So for a hydTant and closet the present
ordinance rate is IS per annum or 81
cents a month. and special rates for
bach additional fixture. while the pro-
posed ordinance makes the rate 81 cents
per month and allows the use OF 4,5CO
gallons OF water. with no additional
charge for extra fixtures. such as addi-
honal faucets closets. and baths; but
IN both cases meter rates are charged for
AL water used in excess of this
liked quantity. This shows that the meter
md the present ordinance rates are the
Iame except that the former rate fixes
the quantity Of water, and unless waste
lHt PlCNtulOI VI WHICH - TIC
object OF the introduction of the meter.
The water bills OF the consumer will not be
rs high as at present. and from the
liberal quantity of water allowed con-
Burners OF limited means will have the
opportunity of adding extra fixtures for
comfort and convenience without an In
crease in their water bills.
EQUITY OF MINIMUM RATE.
Superintendent Boiling spoke at some
length yesterday relative to the equity
and fairness toward all citizens Of a
minimum rate. and said that what he
regarded as a fine illustration of this
point was the following extract from
the annual report for 1896. of John b.
Helm. Superintendent OF the Water
Works, OF Madison. Wis:
MINIMUM RATES.
For several years cry has gone up
by some dissatisfied patrons of the I'M
business of a minimum meter rate, and
like all isms. finds its following.
To set matters right and intelligently
before fair-minded public, a think 1t
best TO show the reason Of this mini
mum, On the LIST OF October 1895. we
had 1894 water-t takers and on the LIST of
October. 1886. we had 2.1S6. These patrons
paid $2S255.l9 in water rent. OF these
l.ls6 takers, COS Paid only at the mini
whereas the other 1,57S takers paid so,
us4 OF these COS takers six consumed
less than 100 cubic feet in six months,
ranging from 80 to IS cubic feet and
would have paid 10 the city, at the rate
of 20 cents per 100 cubic feet. as follows
One taker consumed 292 gallons, 80 cubic
feet-$0S
One taker consumed AZ cubic feet-s09
one taker consumed 6S cubic feet IL
,.o1 =
One taker consumed so cubic feet 10
one taker consumed IS cubic feet IL
There were 26 takers that consumed
during six months between 100 and 2Ot
cub,c feet. or from 20 TO 40 cents.
sixty-fve takers consumed between 20(
ara 300 cubic feet-40 to 60 cents per six
months.
slxty-three takers consumed between sO(
and 400 cubic feet-60 to so cents per six
months.
seyenty-nine takers consumed between
100 and COO cubic feet-S0 cents to 81 per six
months.
Frfty-six takers consumed between 5o
and 600 cubic feet-sl TO $40 per si1
months.
Eighty-three takers consumed between
COO and 100 cubic feet-sl.20 to $40 per SIX
months.
ssyenty-one takers consumed between
700 and 500 cubic feet--$i.{0 TO SLIGO per 81,
months.
sixty-onc takers consumed between so
ana 800 cubic feet-sl.t0 to tl.so per 81,
months.
Thirty-seven takers consumed between
800 ana 1000 cubic feet-a-So to 81 per si'
months.
and 100 cubic feet-s2 10 500 per sh
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