The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-04
METERS WILL PROBABLY GO.
Water Commissioners Dixon Thinks
the Council Is Making "A Mistake.

the Council lis Making a Mistake.
The city councils dlsapproval of the
water meter system, as expressed in the
resolution adopted at its meeting Wednes-
day afternoon, may result in the aban-
Comment of the system by the water com
mission. Chairman Dixon said as much
yesterday when seen by a Morning News
reporter.
Il am willing" he said, s"to discontinue
the meter system altogether, since the
council has seen fit to express its dis
approval so plainly. 1 do not know what
the other commissioners are willing to do
about 1t. I think, however if council
would investigate the matter. It would
find that all the complaints against water
meters come from a few parties, prob
ably not over half a dozen, while the
great majority of water users who have
meters, look upon the system with favor.
| am willing for council or anyone else
interested In the matter to make a CEN
sus OF the meter users, and / will wager
good round sum that a majority of
those having meters will favor their con
tinuance. There are about 2SS meters IN
use in the city, / think and of this num-
Der do not believe there are over half
dozen who object to their continuance.
Instead of the people being opposed to
them We are continually besieged to put
in more meters. l have had half a dozen
requests recently from property owners
who want meters put in their houses.
l had a not argument the other day with
man who couldn't understand why
couldn't put meter in his house without
putting a meter in every other house on
the street"
why can't you put in meters for the
people who want them and leave out those
that don't want them. and thus satisfy
everybody" Mr.. Dixon was asked.
Because that would not be fair TO the
city," he replied. 1T would decrease the
revenue Of the water department. Peo-
pie who consume but little water in their
houses would have meters put In and thus
get their rates reduced, while those who
use large amounts of water would not
take meters, and there would be no com
pensation for the decrease revenues from
the meter users"
What has been the result In receipts
from the meter users?" Mr.. Dixon was
asked
"In the majority Of cases the rates have
been decreased" he replied In some
cases there have been increases, as a mat
ter of course. That is what the meters
were put in fOr-to make the people who
were using the water pay for IT, IL would
be just as fair to require Alderman Ham
ilton's electric light company 20 furnish
electricity aud charge for It according to
the character OF the building. and not ac-
cording TO the amount used, as Il Is 10
require the city to furnish water on such
a basis. The electric light companv has
meter on every building to which Il fur
nishes electricity"
Mr. Dixon said that II the commission
decides TO comply with the request OF
council all property owners now having
meters viii be put back on the rate sys-
TEN on July l. The commission made a
request on council some time ago for an
appropriation OF 5000 with which 10 put
in more meters. The resolution adoptod
Wednesday Is the first reply the commits
sioners have received 70 their request.