The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-22
WILL FIRST STOP THE WASTE.
WATER COMMITTEE To Set on
MAYORS METER PROP OSITION.

ntnN HNh0NAA % All NhAht
Closets as soon A. Practic'1bIe, Az
ter which Meters May he Grad
unIIy Observation-Disclosures an BR-
con says Movement Is to Patch
Holes in Peoples POckets-AIder-
man Dixon and Williams on the
Opposing List-Mayor Myers Not
Considering Popularity Of the
Movement.
a special meeting Of the Council com
mistee on water was held yesterday after
noon TO discuss the waste of water, which
is soon to be considered by the City Coun-
ell in the way of reform. There is nc
doubt about the waste. it seems, and the
OBJECT of the committee IS TO locate the
leaks, decide on the best way TO stop them,
and make Recommendations to Council A
special meeting of Council VIII probably
be called by Mayor Myers Tuesday or
Wednesday to hear the report.
Mayor Myers brought the water question
to the attention of Council, and for this
reason he met with the committee, desir-
ing to cooperate with 1t in an effort 70
bring the matter to an issue. The ques-
tons the committee desire 10 answer ~
its report is whether there is a waste of
water, where the waste is, and the remedy
for it. A great deal of work attaches 20
the investigation of these questions when
was shown from the results obtained from
the meeting yesterday.
Supt. Kinsey of the water department,
Mr.. Bernhard, the superintendents clerk,
and others, were before the committee.
The object was to obtain from them gen
eraI data on which TO base the report.
They were asked as to the daily consump-
ton of water, the pressure al different
hours and which portions of the city
consume the largest amounts While the
committee will probably hold another
meeting before the report will be finally
decided upon il seems well understood
that one of the recommendations will be
the removal of all globe valve closets as
soon as practicable.
Alderman Bacon, chairman of the COM
mittee has had this question under con-
sideration for several weeks and had de-
termined before the matter was presented
to Council in Mayor Myers letter to in
vestigate the causes thoroughly and ask
for remedial legislation. The meeting
only served to strengthen Alderman Ba-
cons opinion that something must be
done, whether it be the adoption of me-
tiers, or some other method of restricting
consumers 10 use the amount of water
they need and no more.
As the policy of the administration is
the economical management of the city's
affairs Alderman Bacon believes this can
not be done without the hearty co-opera-
zion of the people 1t costs money TO
pump water but If consumers thought
lessly throw IL away, or continue to use
fixtures which a.one waste many times
the amount really needed by an entire
family, the City Council gets the blame
Tor improper management. 1t must be
understood that this movement is not TO
restrict the people from the free use of
water, he said. but TO prevent a large
amount escaping which does them no
good In other words, the movement
simply means that Council is endeavorlng
70 patch up holes in the peoples pocket
books.
Il was clearly convinced from the in
formation brought before US thai mos,
waste i in the old fort and Yamacraw
where the largest number OF globe waive
closets are in USE said Alderman Bacon.
something has been said through The
papers about the city wasting water in
flush tanks, and as | understand there is
something in the reports, / have called the
attention OF Director Gadsden to il. with
.he request thdt ne see mat city employees
do not leave water running unnecessarily
in these places. Some persons are said 10
nave been seen turning the water on in
these tanks, believing it to keep the atmos-
phere puTer In their neighborhoods. An
other instance has been called 10 nv at
tenton where persons deliberately removed
the man hole cover TO procure water for
their own use This is not only an imposi-
ton on the city but It may be these per
ERt 70
eminent hospital consumes a large amount
of water, as well as the troops now in Sa-
vannah all OF which must be taken into
consideration in making up our report
The amount furnished to the troops, of
course, IS not a permanent demand. The
contractors now operating in the streets
also use a great deal of water, which is
an extraordinary demand. The contract
ors pay the city for all they use, however"
Before the committee finally decides on
its recommendation many other facts bear
ing on the question win be obtained for
the benefit of Council. 1t is said that an
important consideration will be the reia-
tive cost of a water meter and a modern
flush tank closet to take the place of the
globe waive. which seems to figure so
largely In the waste. The chances are
that property owners would object to buy
ing meters, when they would also be put
20 the expense of buying new fixtures
If modern closets will settle the question.
il may be found that there is no urgent
demand for meters
Mayor Myers has given II as his impress
sion that the committee will first recon-
mend the removal of all fixtures which al
low the waste OF a designated amount OF
water. The gradual removal of old clos
cts viii be followed up by the introduction
OF meters. so that in the end the city win
DC prepared to sell water on a more equit-
able basis, and property owners will NOT
nave telt so heavily the burden all these
improvements would bring.
Whatever the recommendation. there
promises TO be fight In Council over The
move for meters. even though it be desired
TO introduce only few as an experiment
Alderman Dixon is still opposed 70 any
change. believing the experience the CITY
had in 1898 was enough 10 show that II
VIII be some time before an absolutely re-
Liable meier wiz be on Tie market Al that
time Alderman Dixon was a strong adyo-
cate of the change and the fact the me-
ters proved TO he such unqualified failures.