Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-01-26
FRIDAY, JANUARY 90, 1900.
Water Meters and Rates.

Olt OblCNOtpu W INC uVNSA - oAOih
j. the free water craze. The cry is
water should be free as air. Such
it is when furnished to US by
kind providence in fO,m of lain or
snow. Ii We have we'll at our door
it costs us money to build and keep
in repairs.
When we lay water mains, build
tanks 10 hold reserve for fire pro
lection. it costs money TO build and
keep in repairs Where is the water
free as air! The operation and mode
Of supply must be paid tor by those
who get the benefit and the rate
must be- fixed accordingly. A shrewd
business mana or cuts of all unnec-
essary expense and at the end of the
year fluids his gaius, Ho does not
borrow more money TO employ more
men to do more work TO get deeper
in deot, but he stop. the tile leak
aud big waste by cutting off a poor
salesman here, Ii incompetent Off
cial there. He puts IA nan IN charge
OF the business who Is competent,
ole that can detect the leaks and
wastes, why ahouid our city father
not do the same with our 81 alter sup
ply. 1t is impossible for any official
however, 50 compC tent or lar seeing
TO make tour of the town every few
months aud tell here tn leaks are
And who Is Wasting wa e? The
tendency Of all OF as Is TO get as
much as possible Tor little or moth
ing; We always want the lions share,
If only some one else pays for it.
The ms lOu al the meter is not to
deprive Us OF plenty of water, but to
prevent its vase. When the pres
ent system 90 wafer works were put
IN there MAS core water per capita
than New lotk or Philadelphia cal
culate their water supply per capita.
Where has 1t gOuv! Why should
our few business enterprises VINO are
willing to help the Consumers paw
the water tax, be compelled to shut
down on acroun' oi being out OF
water. 1t IL mistaken idea that
the meter system restricts IA legiti-
mate or a .euhiu. u-e Of water.
Their only aim is Ia restrict the
careless waste aud leak
Mr.. John b Hume, Supt. city
water works, Madison, Wis, says:
I'VE fiud in our city that the meter
is a fairly accurate instrument and
we are anxious when the day comes
when eveIy zap !, metered. We teach
our takers nov 20 read the meter.
We purchase only the straight read
ing metre, SO that any one of the
family can read it, We ask them TO
read 1t when we lind AN annual waste
Tod y We have out little complaints
of water bills. If there are com
plants they are from patrons who
pay 40 attention to or NOTICE or NEG
lect TO repair leaks. The selling of
water by meter measurement ia the
only ialr and Just principle. The
careful person, as we'll as the extray.
agant get value received, under the
meter system. Tue careful person
pays Tor the cXtravagant wastes of
others without the meter system.
when ire occurs and a heavy
pressure Is demanded the water ;s
not oozing from "A Tia 'usand and one
openings, reducing the pressure as
well as the volume, crippling the
usefulness Of the system"
From Boston municipal renort
I'm 1883 when We adopted the gen
eraI meter system aud commenced
placing meters at tie expense of the
city we discovered some very great
ie"As' Tue leaks were not repaired
Tor several days so that we could
see what they amounted to. We
will mention that.
In one instance The city received
under schedule rate SIP per anuum
The waste under meter amountod 70
sooo- The annual NV, rage payments
now rDder meter, iih more fixtures
is S42 AS
Another instance: T.e animal
rate schedule / was S32. the meter
showing waste and usage 10 be 500 |
The annual average after leaks stop-
ed was ss6s 80. The third instance
the city received nnder scbaa,Io