Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-02
A MINIM M RATE.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
METER ORDINANCE.
SENSATION IN TIE LIGHT COMMITTEE,
Mr.. SHIELD Charges That the Rich
mcnd Electric Company Does Not
supply the Lights II Guarantees
The Lighting Contract.

1
by Council committees last night. ana SUD-
| jects OF general interest were discussed
and acted upon. The Committee on Re
trenchment and Reform decided to re-
commend TO the Council that minimum
rate should be adopted for water sup
piled by meters, and forwarded a report
containing facts and figures. which VIII
he potent arguments towards the estab-
lishment of the meter system, which has
been agitated for many months past.
The same body also forwarded a recon-
mendation to the Council that certain
committees now performing similar
functions should be amalgamated.
| The Committee on Light had mild
sensation in the form of a charge pre-
ferred by Mr.. Phil. SHIELD, attorney for
| the Southern Electric Company, against
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany. to the effect that the electric lights
| supplied by the latter company to the
| city of Richmond were not of the power
| represented. The matter came up Wnen
| the committee opened the bids for supply
| ing the city with lights. The new COM
pany appeared as a competitor OF the
old. and both bids were forwarded to the
| Council without any recommendation,
| after a lively debate, in which call Tor
an investigation was passed by, and
motion to accept the bid OF the old COM
pany-which was the lowest-was lost.
The committees on Recapitulation and
Cemeteries held interesting meetings
and the Committee on Streets held a
conference with property owners in re-
gard to the paving Of an alley between
til I'D CT north of Canal
AN INTERESTING REPORT.
The Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform met at $50 oclock, sub-Chair-
man II. w. Rountree, presiding, and
Messrs. Zimmerman, e. NJ. Noble, John
]. King. and +. c. Ebel present.
The subcommittee appointed at the
last meeting to gather facts concerning
the water-works, presented the following
report. prepared by Superintendent Boil
| ling:
Value Of water-works, 100000.
Annual interest on s., O0,0O0 at per cent,
| 100000; annual expenses and maintenance,
| &C., so, 900. Total. $4,000.
TABLE A.
Largest annual revenue 1893 $l43, $3.50.
Revenue from water 1897, $134,70S.43.
Estimated revenue per year present
condition 2.467 meters and no minimum
rate,) $127,S00.
Estimated revenue leach service meter
| ed, and minimum rate, $122,O72.
Estimated revenue leach service meter
tered, and without minimum rate), w.
S07.65.
TABLE Boost OF WATER.
Total quantity Of water pumped S,729,-
962, 800 gallons in 1897, divided into total
expenses Gl42,OoW, makes cost per LOU
gallons, 8 $40 cents.
Total quantity of water pumped. di-
vided into receipts for water (Sl341OS.O3),
makes rate received per 1000 gallons,
6l-l00 cents.
TABLE c.
Estimated quantity of water required
for use by water-takers, every service
metered. 12i3, 32O, 1884 gallons. equal to enc
lhird the whole quantity pumped at rate
Of 10 $40 cents per loo gallons, Sl34,21S.65.
Estimated quantity of water used by the
city for fire protection, departments, &c,
TO be 20 per cent. of total quantity, or
equal 10 1892 $50 gallons, at cost price,
8 $40 cents per 1000 gallons, $2S,3i772
Balance of water unacceunted for or
wasted. 46 2-3 per cent. of the whole
quantity, equal to 1,740, $4,000 gallons, at
cost price. 3 $40 cents, SEC, l4467; or.
LAO 1903 gallons, sold at average meter
rate. 10 $40 cents, slS7. 1908.
NOTE.-The above table was prepared
from facts given in the year 1896, when
per cent of the whole quantity pump
ed and measured by meters was equal TO
% per cent. of she whole revenue, and the
average rate was 10 $40 cents per 100
gallons.
In cities where all services are metered
the average consumption is 40 gallons per
capita. Estimating our population at
$4,000, at this rate the annual consumption
would be 1,3l4000,0O0 gallons and this at
10 $40 cents per 1000 gallons. is Sl4l,9l2.
After a lengthy discussion of all the
features of the report. it was unanimously
adopted as the report of the committee
10 be submitted to the Council al the next
meeting Of that body.
QUESTION OF MINIMUM RATE.
Mr.. Zimmerman moved that the COM
mittee should recommend to the Council
the adoption Of an ordinance providing a
minimum rate for water. Mr.. King said
he would not vote for the resolution If il
comprehended the minimum rate provided
for in the ordinance now pending before
the Council. He thought it Disseminated
in favor of the richer classes.
Mr.. Rountree said that the whole COM
mittee was anxious TO conserve the inz
terests of the poor, and Mr.. thinner
mann's motion would meet the views Of
the committee, in that it did not stipu-
late any fixed rate.
Mr.. Boiling said he had given the great
est care to the preparation Of the report
the rate as low as possible. The ordi-
nance, he said, did not Increase the price
of water beyond that which che poor man
was now paying. The proposed arrange
ment provided for a most liberal supply
and il was extremely improbable that
any poor person would ever be called
upon to pay more than the ordinance
rates.
Mr.. Zimmermanns motion was unani-
mously adopted
REDUCE THE COMMITTEES.
The committee then took up the resou-
ton of the Council referring to it the
consideration of the best way TO reduce
the number of committees by combining
those with similar functions.
Mr.. Zimmerman moved that the Com
mittee on Streets shall consist of twelve
members as at present, and shall include
the Committee on Shockoe Greek; the
Committee on Cemeteries consist of
seven members. and include ST. Johns
Burying- Ground Committee: the Commit
tee on Fire Department and Schools shall
consist of seven members each, as at
present; the Committees on Election,
Police. Claims and Salaries, Accounts and
Printing, Ordinance. and Markets shall
consist of five members each, the latter
TO include the First, Second. and Third
markets.; the Committee on Finance shall
consist of seven members, none OF whom
shall be eligible for membership on any
other committee; Relief of the Poor.
Light. Water, Retrenchment and Reform.
Health, and Grounds and Buildings shall