The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-05

Rochester, N. Y, one-fourth metered. 49,. 6S
Syracuse, N. Y, one-tenth metered ,. 81
Aurora, H., one-half metered rs
Montgomery, Ala, one-half metered . SO
Madison, Wis.,, three-fourths metered 49,. so
Newton, Mass, three-fourths metered - az
Pawtucket, R. l., three-fourths metered -. 70
Providence r. l., three-fourths metered 81
although a heavy consumption for man
ufacturing purposes and running hydraulic
eevators.)
Morristown, N. j.. all metered ......... 40
New Rochelle, N. Y. all metefed .......... Is
Danvile, Va, all metered ..s... 40
Irvington- on the Hudson; all netered 49,. Is
In one city thirtysone sof the most
costly apartment houses in the CITY.
furnishing homes for 1851 persons,
show, as determined by meter. a per
capita consumption of fifty-nine gal
Ions daily. In another block of less
expensive apartment houses the con-
sumption is forty-six gallons: in the
poorest apartment houses 1876 gallons,
and the average per capita in all
dwellings supplied by meter there is
44.3 gallons
But such a table as thisTis not neces-
sary to show the effect which the
communistic principle has upon water
consumption. Experiments undertake
en- in this district have exhibited
startling results. For instance. be-
tween midnight and o'clock a. M,
when nearly all the city is asleep. the
consumption of water is ree-fourths
as great per hour as during the day-
time. This indicates that there is a.
steady drain through the whole TWEEN
ty-four hours from leaky pipes, and
from faucets which are allowed to run
all the time, OF three times as much
as the actual voluntary consumption,
wasteful as that may sometimes be-
City ordinances already forbid the
waste of water, but they are practi-
cally incapable of enforcement While
an officer was ringing the door bell
preparato tory to finding out if any vio-
lations of the law were discoverable,
it would be quite easy for some mem
Der of the household to run through
the house and shut off the offending
faucet. Here are some illustrative
examples selected at random in this
city, where test meters have been put
on trial:
Eight small two-story frame dwellings oc-
cupied by good class of white tenants 6
occupants per house. Total supply per day
per capita, q gallons; waste, 6 gallons;
use. 81 gallons
Forty-one small two-story brick dwellings
in Chester court, occupied by negro ten
ants, 90 bccupnts per house. Total supply
per day per capita before inspection 167
gallons.
Three-story modern brick dwelling in r
street Condition of fixtures good with the
exception Of one tap leaking slightly from
defective washer amount supplied before
repair or leek, 81 gallons per capita per
diem; after repair IS gallons.
Dwelling in Massachusetts avenue oc-
cupants, fixtures in good condition Total
supply per capita per diem, 90 gallons
Washington City Orphan asylum. 143 oc-
cupants, some leaking fixtures. Total sup
ply per capita per diem before inspection,
1853 gallons; after inspection 17S gallons
Catholic university, 200 occupants. mod
ern buildings Total supply per capita per
diem, "a gallons
The cost OF water meters, set in
place, is about $40 each, which would
mean an outlay of nearly a million
dollars to equip this district. The
house committee has decided to bring
this about gradually by applying the
ice to that object. This year it will
Of the city. Naturally the high service
sections, where the water is rendered
more expensive by the necessity OF
pumping, will be supplied first The
cutting off of wasteful consumption
will also diminish the area for which,
under present conditions, special
high service is deemed necessary. Cap-
ttal hill, for instance, is clamoring for
a high service, because in FROSTY
weather the consumers along the
seven miles of mains between the dis
tributing reservoir and the hill let so
much water run to prevent out-doO.
pipes from freezing that Capital hill
is left dry. This outdoor plumbing
the meter system will revolutionize
besides preparing the way for more
healthful, and necessarily more expen-
sive, water The experience of Wash
1ngton in this particular may be Of
value elsewhere.