Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-07
wArER-METERs.

In the following letter a tholshtfuI
friend of ours discusses the watcr-meteI
question. and makes objections that we
undertake to answers
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
I have noticed all the articles published
In regard TO water-metcrs, ana see 'hat
81 Is the Intention TO levy a new aA.
The object of the meter ~ 10 'neasuie
the amount of water used ny 'hc 'an.''
90 that they may be charged Tor what
tbov nae. not what they do not use. In
NV own case there are but two In my
family: there is no washing OF clothes
IN the premiscs. / have one faucet ana
one closet. / pay 81 per quarter iof
water. whether l use the water or not
Am careful I'm the use or water
and do not waste II. Now i think u
unjust to charge me for any more water
than use and think in justice to those
who are careful and do not waste ine
water. that the same RUE should Apply
10 the water takers that Is applied 10
those who take gas-let them pay LOT
what they use. ,,..,.
In the winter-tlme I use very little
water. while I'm summer / use more.
have nut I'm n stop-cock for the purpose
of cutting off water and draining the
pines TO keep them from freezing, ana
use every precaution to prevent waste.
The rates proposed will be very unjust
TO the small takers OF water. 90 not
care for myself. but there are others VINO
will be unjustly imposed upon IL such an
ordinance is imposed. / know OF some
who have gone 10 the expense OF putting
I'm meters and whose water bill Is less
than G7 cents per month. yet they use
all the water they want, not denying
themselves y drop. If Is cents per thou
sand gallons will not pay the city,
charge 20. but let us ali pay for what
we use; do not charge those who have
been careful for what they do not get.
The theory has been advanced by some
that unless you charge special amount,
there are some people who are so stingy
they will not use water enough 10 Keep
themselves clean. From my STANDPOINT,
II looks as IL the Council were afraid
TO try water meters on their merits. or
else that they wish 10 levy new tax
on people who can i'll afford TO pay 1t.
WATER.
The object of the meter Is 10 prevent
waste The object of the minimum rate
Is not to charge more than the present
ordinance rate-namely, G. cents per
allow certain quantity of water Tor
use for these fixtures. so that good sani-
tary conditions may prevail. ms rate
Is not unjust to the small taker, where
the city goes to the expense Of putting
in a meter. but is a just rate, alike 10
large and small consumers
AS stated. the price for hydrant ana
closet by the present ordinance Is 81
cent Now the city proposes to put In
a meter at it's own cost, and the consumer
NAV add a bath and other closets II he
chooses. and provided he does not use
more than the 1850 gallons per MONTH
he will get these additional conveniences
without extra charge And then every
consumer will be upon exactly the same
basis of charge. The average number
of persons per family is estimated to be
five and this quantity of water is re-
garded as sufficient for family OF that
size for domestic and sanitary purposes
both.
The present ordinance (section II, chap
ter 20 reads:
"In any case not herein provided for
water rent shall be at such rate as
NAV be fixed by the Superintendent OF
the Water-W Works subject TO the Com
mittees approval; and the committee at
tie discretion. may introduce into prem
ises water-meters. and charge rate not
more than IS cents per thousand gallons;
provided. however. that in no case where
a meter Is used shall the annusq charge
he less than 81 per annum for the rent
of the meter, and meter rates Tor the
quantity of water used"
AS will be seen. then, the object or the
nronosed new ordinance, is to do away
with the tax Of 50 annual rent for the
meter. allow a full and abundant use OF
water. and fix the charge at the same
ordinance rate for the fixtures (hydrant
and closeD. It would therefore appear
that the object OF the ordinance is In
M sense intended TO increase" the bur-
don of tax. and If the ordinance be pass
cd. the charge will not be greater than
the present one. except where person
either wflfully or neglectfully wastes the
water.
II should be noted that these are
the charges for water where the city fur-
nishes and puts in the meter.