The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-19

Estimated meter rate, Novem-
Der, IL no we'll. ll............,.......$26 "A
Amount of buckwheat coal used in
twelve months, 1898, s262.2O; per month,
$21.S5 average.
The Scranton Bedding Co.,
II. ii. Benton, Secretary.
Below Will be found q statement from
Mr.. A. Il. Warman, OF the Lacka-
wanna laundry, which is a commercial
proposition, and goes to emphasize the
stand taken by the board Of trade, viz,
that water rates for industrial and
commercial purposes I'm Scranton are
too high, and far in excess of those
charged in many other cities:
Scranton, Pa, Dec II, 1899.
Mr.. ID. y. Atherton, Secretary Board
Of Trade, city.
Dear Sir: Replying to your request
pertaining to the past and present
water rates for our laundry premises
mot including barn., we find that pre-
Vious to the meter rates we paid $194
a year.
The first month during meter service
our bill was for 6S34OO gallons at ten
cents-$6S.34. The second month (No-
vember), 72O,750 gallons, S72.O6. We can
estimate from the amount of water used
these two months that our water bill
for one year, October 1, 1899, to Octo-
In conversation with a prominent
laundrymen from another Pennsylva-
mia city, yesterday / learned that he
does about one-third the amount OF
laundry work compared with our plant
He pays 800 a year.
Very truly yours,
A. B. Warman.
COMPELLED TO WASTE WATER.
For good and sufficient reasons the
names of concerns that are purposely
wasting thousands of gallons of water
per day, in order to come under lower
rate, and thereby decrease their MONTH
ly water bills, are withheld. A num-
ber of cases can be cited where this is
being done, suffice to refer to only one
in detail. In this case a certain con-
Germ using less than fifty thousand gal
Ions per day, at certain time each
month open their water system, allow
ing sufficient water to run to bring the
average meter reading up to fifty thou
sand gallons per day. At an average
consumption of $4,000 gallons per day
their monthly water bill cannot exceed
800, if they use but $4,000 gallons their
monthly bill would be Sl15.20, there
fore by increasing the amount of water
passing through the meter they de-
crease the amount of their bill $25 per
month.
Mr.. Scranton has acknowledged that
perhaps their card rates are inequit
able, and has intimated that he would
consider suggestions that would better
the matter. A uniform rate would OBJ
viate the entire difficulty, and put all
manufacturers on an equal. As stated
above Scranton should have d.
versified industries. At the present
water rates, we are able to secure only
| 4. ...,..
quantity of water, and we are unable
to negotiate with industries that use
water for other than steam purposes,
which bars out cotton mills, carpet fac
tories and the like, who use large
quantities of water for dyeing, clean
ing and securing purposes. The manu-
facturerS committee are continually
meeting this question of high water
rates. 1t enters into every discussion
with proposed manufacturers.
If the water rates here are compare
lively low, why does the Lackawanna
Iron and Steel company pump the
filthy water from the Lackawanna
river for use at their mills, and why
are so many concerns putting down
wells and using water thus secured
wherever possible?
PURE AND ABUNDANT SUPPLY.
The Scranton board Of trade has re-
peatedly referred to the abundant and
pure supply of water furnished by the
| Scranton Gas and Water company. We
have taken great pride in advertising
full details of the wonderful water sys
tenn of the city, with its beautiful
mountain lakes and superb drives,
which the great public can enjoy with
out let or hindrance. We have never
presumed for a moment to offer advice
as to how the business of the Scran-
| ton Gas and Water company should be
conducted. We have only presumed to
undertake to show the Scranton Gas
and Water company that it's water
rates to manufacturers are too high,
believing that we are in a better posi-
tion than 1t is to judge, as we are con-
tinually compelled to meet the ques-
ton in our unselfsh and patriotic ef-
forts to advance the interests of the
city.
We believe that inasmuch as Mr..
Scranton has more financial interest
by far in the growth Of the city than
any member of the board of trade, that
he should meet us more than halfway,
and by cooperating with the board OF
trade, place our city beyond all possi-
bility of retrOgesson when the anthra-
cite coal measures are exhausted. Could
we, through the courtesy of Mr.. Scran-
ton, obtain a five cent uniform rate for
water to industrial and commercial in
stitutions, we believe that our city
would steadily grow along these lines.
until all fear of the future of the city
would be dispelled. Should the pres
ent water rates continue, we may eX-
pect other cities like Binghamton with
a six cent and seven and one-half cent
rate, Altoona with a four and one-half
cent to ten cent rate, Erie with a six
cent uniform rate, Philadelphia with a
four cent uniform rate, Harrisburg
with two and one-half cent to eight
cent rate, and Reading with a three
and three-fourths to twelve cent rate
to advance in industrial growth at a
much more rapid pace than it is pos
sible for the city of Scranton to attain.
PREPARED BY REQUEST.
The secretary explained that the
| resolution was prepared by request
! and had been submitted for approval
| to number of members of the board
Captain May moved that action on
the statement be postponed for one
| month and that the secretary be in
| structed to have it printed and dis
| tribued among the members.
Colonel Hitchcock questioned the ad-
visibility of giving the statement to
the press, fearing it might be prema-
turely taken as an expression Of tho
board Of trade, when it was simply