The age-herald., 1900-11-04
THE METER SYSTEM
 IN WATER SUPPLY
Would Greatly Reduce Cost to
 Domestic Consumer
SOME FIGURES ARE GIVEN
The Present Contract Has Fwenty-one Years to Run, and Every Conces- sion from the Water Com
 pany is Public Gain

The water supply report submitted to the Commercial Club by Judge Banks, as referred to in yesterdays Age-Herald, cites that the present contract between the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham and the Birmingham Water Works Con- pany will not expire until January |, 1921, and whatever changes are made therein must be with the consent of both parties thereto. On June 6, 1900, the Birmingham Water Works Company proposed in writ ing to the Mayor and Aldermen that said contract be modified in certain important resubjects. copy of this proposition is attached hereto, and made part of our report. The Mayor and Aldermen declined to accept the changes in the contract sug gested by the water works company, and all negotiations between them ceased. It was for the purpose of bringing the two parties together again that the matter was referred to this committee. It will be ob- served that the most radical change pro- posed by the waters works company Is the right to place meters in private residences, wherever they may be required, either by the consumer or by the company, and the right to charge for the water used by the meter record. In consideration of this the company proposed to furnish to all houses of three rooms or less, one thousand six hundred gallons of water per month for the price of 50 cents, and to all houses having more than three rooms, three thous- and three hundred gallons for the price of one dollar. All water consumed in excess of the quantity above stipulated to be paid for at the rate of 30 cents per thousand gallons, It was a question of doubt with the committee whether the quantity of water proposed to be furnished for 50 cents and one dollar per month respectively was adequate, and in order to inform the com mittee on this question, the water works company agreed to place several meters in different portions of the city and in differ ent classes of residences and furnish the meter readings for period of thirty days. This was done and our conclusion from the data furnished us is that two thousand galolns per month would be adequate sup ply for residence of three rooms or less and four thousand gallons per month would be adequate for a residence not exceeding eight rooms. If the water works company will agree to furnish two thousand and four thousand gallons respectively for the same price they propose to furnish one thousand and six hundred and three thousand and three hundred, the committee recommends the meter system.
 eff a liberal quantity of water is guar anteed the consumer at a reasonable price,
 
 just and equitable. It enables the water works company to protect itself against the careless and wanton waste of water and furnishes an incentive to the consumer to practice reasonable economy in the use of water. That there is a careless and wanton waste of water under the present flat rate system is fully demonstrated by the investigation made by the committee. A meter was placed in three-room house where there was constant flow of water through the closet. The record kept for thirty-one days showed a consumption of 169.S60 gallons. Another test in a similar house showed waste of 2S320 gallons. A meter placed in a house with the same number of rooms with the plumbing in good condition and an adequate consump- tion of water. but no waste, showed a use of 522s gallons in a period of thirty-one days Meters were placed in eight or ten dwell 1ngs of from six to eight rooms each, and in nearly every case the water consumed if paid for under the meter system, would not have cost the consumer exceeding s1 per month, while under the present rate system he paid from $141 to s216 per month. Your committee is of the opinion that the meter system would greatly re- duce the cost of water to the domestic consumer. In the proposal made by the Water Works Company it is provided that either the company or the consumer may demand a meter. In the event no meter Is demanded. the Water Works Company pro- poses to make deduction from the pres- ent flat rate system of g per annum In every residence where water is used. Un- der the present contract the city is paying $55 per annum for every fire hydrant in use The Water Works Company proposes to re- duce this to $50 After careful investiga- tion your committee Is of the opinion that the annual cost of fire hydraHts now in use ought not to exceed s45 for each hydrant. And we most respectfully suggest to the Water Works Company that this conces- sion be made. For the additional fire hy- drant that may be placed by the city, we think that the Water Works Company's proposal to charge $40 per hydrant is en- tirely reasonable.
 '1f the water works company will re- new its proposal to the Mayor and Alder men with the changes above suggested we are convinced 1t would be to the best in- terest of the people of Birmingham to ac- cept it. The present contract has twenty one years yet to run, and every conces- sion in the way of reduced water rent that can be had is that much clear gain to the domestic consumer"
 The Clubs Meeting
 The meeting of the Commercial Club Friday afternoon was accidental rather than hurredly called Secretary Gibson asked the Age-Herald Thursday afternoon to say that the regular meeting for Friday was postponed until after the State Fair Friday turned out to be a bad day, and the club members couldn't attend the fair; so 1t was decided to hold the regular meet ing, Secretary Gibson informing all the members he could reach by telephone. Thus there was nothing really out of the ordinary in the meeting all inference to the contrary being erroneous, and at the same time unjust to Secretary Gibson, who is much embarrassed and deeply regretful that there was any misunderstanding as to the clubs meeting. His request to the n prtU of was done after consultation with leading members; and the subsequent turn in events was wholly unexpected, and by him unavoidable. Everybody will agree that he did what was eminently proper
 plAPE l.EO,S HEAVY MAIL