The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-16
---------------s--sss 49, 49,
THE WATER METER QUESTION.
The Heavy Burden That Is Placed
Upon the Little Houses.

Inc HenVy burden Ihat Is Placeu
Upon the Little Houses.
Editor of Morning News: l notice the
statement emanating from Mr.. Dixon in
your paper with interest l was prepared
for this, as l understood from Mr.. Fox
that the commissioners were offended at
my application to council, to take out the
water meters in my houses on Hall street
intended to strike back--why they should
be offended / do not know, as there was
nothing personal in my application-sim
ply matter Of dollars and cents-T knew
the commissioners mind was fixed on me-
ters, and my only hope was to get relief
from council. Now to facts: l think it
would have been fairer if the commission
ers had stated. what is the fact, that there
were no water mains on many of the
streets on which my houses were situated
Harrison, Orange and all the streets run
ming north and south, except Farm street
We're without mains in Yamacraw, also
Minis, Berrian and Sims streets in Curry
town and Minis ward. These houses were
built many of them before the water
works-in the time Of pumps-when water
was free and plenty, and nobody was
obliged to use hydrants unless they so de-
sired. The pumps were succeeded by street
hydrants, free to all. The taking of water
Now, however to take water from a free
hydrant appears to be criminal. and for
the first time II appears TO be compulsory
to take water in every house. even though
IL be no larger than chicken COOP. I'm
der these conditions bought many
houses. When I could get a responsible
tenant, who would pay his house rent.
very often put water In, when there was
any main. When the houses were poor
and the tenants worthless, 1t would not
pay to do it. l have never asked the
city of Savannah to put in a free hydrant
for me. Many persons have, and succeed
ed Ia having them put in. have put in
water in my houses with free hydrants all
around, being the only person in the
vicinity TO take water in houses The peo-
pie use my hydrant5 and keep them out
of order and cannot prevent IL. In a GER
tain street / am the only person having
water in houses. There are seventeen other
houses on this street taking water from a
free hydrant, there being no main on this
street, l brought the water by permission
through peoples lots, long distance from
another street to two houses.
There are 1000 houses in this city. How
many are accessible to water mains? | do
not know OF these 1 have understood
there are about $500 water takers This in
cludes factories. hospitals, churches and
railroads. Why, then. when Mr.. Dixon
fine their efforts entirely TO my houses?
know of one street with about so houses
and only 10 water takers. Why should not
my tenants have as much right TO these
hydrants as any other persons tenants?
l judge | have paid the city of Savannah
in the last Is years, $4,000 think there
fore, I am entitled to some benefit in re-
turn. In water fire protection and police.
Now take Huntingdon street that the
commissioner mentions. The people have
labored under the disadvantage of having
no mains for years, some OF the houses are
500 feet from the street hydrant, and some
of them are getting their water in a man
ner that the commissioners cannot pre-
vent Namely by catching the rain from
the roof in barrels-"Mr. Dixon says I
have made the complaint" that the water
rate was raised on three of my houses
$l.S9. / have made no such complaint. /
have complained that the rent was raised
from S2i3 per month to S5.74 per month on
four houses or from $50 per annum 20
SOS So per annum, raise OF more than 100
per cent MIR. Dixon states that with
meters we pay for the water that we use.
neither more or less" This Is rot so in my
case. II / paid the meter rate for water /
used 1t would be So cents per month. hav-
ing used 700 feet in each OF two houses at
90 cents per thousand. This would be SO
cents. Instead of this a minimum
my annual rent $3.50 per house, while II
paid only for what l used II would only
be $3.50. Mr. Dixon goes on TO say, Of
course. there have been some increases;
Il would be hardly fair to the city II there
were not. ! can't see where the fairness
comes in. When he let's some pay for
water they use while with others he puts
a minimum and makes them pay for more
than they use. He cites cases where /
have only one 20 three faucets In a num-
Der Of houses. particularly on Jones and
Guerard streets, and on Poplar one faucet.
In these cases he will probably find / pay
for eighteen hydrants. II he puts meters
I'm all my houses at $3.50 house. and up
wards-as one house on Hall street.-the
water rate was increased from $3.50 per an
mum 10 1885, Ny water rent would run
from between 5000 to $4,000 per annum.
Mr.. Dixon SAYS he considers me entitled 10
sympathy" / do not consider this cour-
toous or businesslilSe mode Of treating this
matter. II looks as though he was ami
mated by feelings that are not proper In
a public officer. / know that public OH