The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-19
City Water Departments Show
ing for Five Years.
GAINS IN RECEIPTS.
Comparison ut Month OF Jane for
1900 and isoG shows Increase of
s5.53f .es-Din"rcpcc In Money
Received From Consumers Ia
s4s.nos.gS in Favor d Pres
ent Yesr-New System'. sacc~ss.

Few OF the city departments have made
as rapid progress the water depart
ment since the return OF prosperity to
this section OF the country. For many
years the receipts have shown steady
increase. being materially above the ex-
penscs. There Is at present about siee.ooo
in the water fund OF which a portion will
be transferred 10 the general fund.- as
occasion may require. TO reimburse tho
latter for advances formerly made by IL
In payment ~ interest ON water bonds.
During this year $4,000 on an average has
been taken In by the department each
month.
There has been a substantial increase
in the number of water consumers since
February, when the new system of ac-
counting went into effect. During this
time the number OF new taps has been
$50 on nxed rates, bringing the grand to-
tai up to 7.sao Since February there have
been sixty new meters. the total number
OF which Ia now IA
Under the new system OF accounting re-
ferred to- each consumer has a aistinc-
tive number which never changes. When
he goes TO pay his water rates he gives
the number, and In a few moments the
transaction Is closed From the SSth
day of each month 10 the LIST OF thu
next the force of clerks In the treasury
department make out receipts for all the
consumers. These are bound In books at
200 each. arranged In numerical order.
and II takes but a very short time 10 re-
ceive the rates and give out the receipts.
Under the old system things were entire-
iy different The clerk had first to look
up how much a consumer owed and then
make out the receipt IL was no uncom-
mon sight to see people lined up waiting
their turn 10 pay, and much valuable
time was thus lost Since February
there has been no repetition of this. The
consumers have taken 10 the new Meth
Cd gladly. and IL is said that many paste
their numbers inside their hats so "a
not TO forget them. Even IL they do
forget the number. n is very easily aa-
certained by the clerk from the index.
Thus the work of taking care of the 1881
water consumers, as far as payment Is
concerned. Is reduced To minimum. Tho
general books ara kept Ia the cumptroi-
ler's office under the charge of H. w.
Carroll, who furnished "A reporter yes
terday with the statistics given below.
There ara four sources Of revenue 70
the water department. The first II from
the fixed rate consumers, who pay GER
tain sum based on the number of tapa.
baths, etc, In their houses or stores. each
month The rate does not change unless
new fixtures are put In The second
source Is from the meter consumers. Me-
tors are only supplied % people who uea
upwards OF 80 worth Of water per month
and are only put in by request. unless
the department thinks they are neces-
sary. The third source H. from the me-
ter rentals, which are fixed by ordnance
"a follows; One-half inch meter 80
per annumi three-fourths NJ an inch 81.
one inch. 81. ono aud one-half inches, sf
two inches. s.. three inches, SIC: four
inches, sei, and six inches, $40 The Same
ordinance fixes regulates and controls
tho use and price ~ the city water. ard
requires the meter rentals 10 ha paii
quarterly. Tho fourth source Of revenue
~ from the sale Of old material such as
water pnen
To Indicate the steady DEVELOPMENT
made by the water department since 1888
tho following statiNt!se are given. show
ing the receiuta for the month 90 June ia
that and each succeeding year up 20 aud
~.