The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-20
THEY FAVOR THE METRES
THE RETREyCHMENT COMMITTEE
SAY THEY ARE BENEFIT CIAL.
Questions In Reference to the Water De
partment Referred TO superintendent
Boiling for Information.

.he Council Committee on ltetrcnch-
mont and Reform met IN adjourned ses-
sion in room NO. 8, city Han, at $40
o'clock last night. with the following gem
tlelntn present: Chairman Allen, MesSrs.
HARRISON, John J. King, kountree ana
Zimmcrmann-a bare quorum. Superin-
tendent Boiling was also present.
The FIRST business that came before the
meeting was the consideration OF an
amendment to the city ordinances in re-
ference to the Water Department con-
corning the placing of water metres upon
the premises OF certain citizens.
LENGTHY ORDINANCE.
The ordinance as submitted was quite
lengthy anu specified the rates TO be paid
by various concerns, departments ana
private parties, and laid forth fuzzy ana
clearly the privileges 70 be allowed those
who used the metres.
The ordinance was referred TO this COM
mittee for the purpose or ascertalnlnS
and ito report facts and figures as TO
the supply and cost Of water, the revenue
derived by the city under the present
ordinance ana what 1t VIII be under thls
ordnance
Mr.. ROuntree suggested that Superin-
tondenI Boiling be heard on the ordinance
1AN"N NANNN 90 AAANAAN go """
supply facts and figures I'm reference 10
tho supply and cost OF water % the
Teycnucs Of the city under the present
ordinance, but that he could not say
what the revenue would be under the
proposed amendment.
CITY'S EXPENSES LEsSENED.
He further thought that by the use Of
metres the expenses Oh the city were
minimiZed and even lesscned by betWeen
$500 and s. 90 a year.
Superintendent Boiling exhibited a chart
showing the pressure upon a. seif-Iecoiu-
ing gauge I'm which the pressure since the
metres had been I'm use was mulch greater.
The chart was very comprehensive ana
showed that the greatest amount of water
was used on Mondays and between mo
hours Of 5 and III o'clock.
In reply TO a question Mr.. Boiling said
that If the ordinance as proposed became
"a law and the metres were put into
general use, the work at the old pump
house could be dispensed with, except IN
cases OF extreme emergency. Al the
present ratio in which metres were being
put into use he thought that within two
years the new pump house could supply
The city win It's water.
GOOD SANITARY FEATURE.
in reference TO the sanitary part Of the
question he found that where metres were
in use no had In very rare instances TO
flush tho premises. whereas the occur
renee was frequent where metres were not
in Use.
He compared the present charge for the
use OF water i'm Richmond with a large
number of other cities I'm the country
and fOund that there were but four cities
with rates as low as they are here. No
body objected % the regular rate FOR
closet and hydrant, but when additional
faucets and bathrooms were placed In
some objection would arise. but In these
cases the natural or careless waste that
follows must be looked out for. And this
was one good reason for favorable action
in reference TO the use of metres gene
rally, where 4 minimum rate can be
established. and the wealthy and poor
pay alike for the use or water.
SHOULD BE PASSED.
Mr.. HARRISON. I'm speaking 10 the subs
icct. cOntended that the ordinance should
be passed because il is a necessity from
the standpoint OF cleanliness and from the
standpoint Of revenue.
Mr.. Allen thought that the minimum
rate as provided for i'm che ordinance pro-
posed was "a good thing tor all classes of
citizens. for IL would place a uniform
charge upon them.
The information desired 10y the Council
I'm reference TO the ordinance was re-
ferred 10 superintendent Boiling with the
request that he furnish the committee
with the information at IT'S next meeting.
The committee hen adjourned 10 meet
at s o'clock next Tuesday night.
The question a. consolidating certain
Council committees was also 10 have
been considered. but this matter was laid
over to the next meeting.