The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-22
Weekly Letter OF
Municipal Rffairs
NO. xvI.-THE WATER SUPPLIES
AND THE WATER RATES OF
THE LARGER CITIES OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Nnw York Snnt %

New YORK, sept. ~.
TIE WATER QUESTION is one Of the most
serious problems confronting the larger
= cities Of the United States. To some Of
them it is the most serious. Philadelphia,
Tor instance, is in dire need, not only uf a pure,
but adequate water supply. To solve the problem
1t recently set aside $l2,OOOOOO. Many thousands
OF dollars have already been expended in making
elaborate surveys to find another source Of supply
than the Schuylkill river; thousands more will he
expended before satisfactory method for puri-
Tying the water is found Albany, N. y, seems
to have solved the latter part OF the problem.
When the unpurihcd Hudson river water used
the death rate from typhoid fever was alarm.
ingly large as Philadclphias is and has been;
but since the installation Of the large filtration
plant-about year ago-the typhoid rate has
fallen to the minimum. 1t has proven salts
factory that other large cities have been inhu
cneed to decide in favor Of the sand filtration
scheme, notably Pittsburg and Cincinnati. At
present the Albany plant is the largest in the
United States, but the Others will greatly out
class it.
All things considered, Detroit has the best
water supply in the country. 1t Is not only incN
haustible, but pure II is also delivered to the
consumer at a lower rate than in any other city.
The general service Of the plant is the best.
few years ago, before the introduction Of meters,
the water rates were much higher BY the use
OF meters almost the entire waste was stopped,
the expenditures were decreased and the income
was increased, and the consumer soon rcapcd the
larger benefit by repeated reductions in the
water rate. BY the payment of 50 year the
average householder can secure a supply of water
that will permit him to use it in his kitchen,
laundry and yard. On the payment of SO. 20 more
| he will be permitted to use it in a stationary
wash'stand, in the bath, water closet and for
| sprinkling.
The average per capita consumption in the
~ i. Int ,f
Buffalo is eight times much. With one eXccp.
| tion, Buffalo is the most wasteul city in the
United States in the use Of water. The exception
| is private company in Scranton. Pa, which
has a per capita consumption Of about $50 gal.
| Ions per day. II is to be noticed, however, that
| whereas the supply of Scranton is distributed by
gravity, that of Buffalo is pumped. 1t is need
less to say that il the private company of Scran.
ton were obliged to pump its water there would
| never be any such per capita consumption al.
| lowed
| This is one of several faults Of municipal
| plant-lack OF economical management. An.
| other is the seemingly incxhaustble patience
| OF the citizens. Many that have put up with a
| poor service, especially with an impure supply,
| even to the extent Of being a constant menace
| to the health Of the community, for several
| years, While some 'cranll will occasionally
| register "kick'' in letter in the daily press
| signing himself "Citizcn," more than that sell.
| dom happens and the criminal negligence the
| part Of the city government continues Troy
| n. Y, now claims the proud distinction of hav.
ing the largest typhoid death rate in the En-
| pire State and it is suffering and has suffered
for years from water supply that would be a
disgrace to Pekin. II the service had been that
| OF a private corporation, the company would
have been buried long ago by an indignant citi-
| zenship; hut as it owns its own plant, the SER
vice Of muddy and unwholesome water con-
| tinues.
| The question of the amount charged for water
| Is also an important one. It is often the case
| that the management of water plants is unjust
| ly criticised, because its rates are higher than
some other city These criticisms usually origin
| ate with those who have not examined into the
| question TO any large extent. Conditions vary
so in different cities that it is not always fair
to compare the rates of one with another. And
yet a comparison of rates is not without its
value and interest. The use OF meters is meet
ing with growing favor because the consumers
are beginning to realize that it is in their favor.
II meter ever cheats, it always cheats the COM
| pany and not the consumer. Water is one Of the
few commodities which is capable Of accurate
measurement.
| The following tables give the meter and what
Is called the fat rate schedules in thirty Of the
| larger cities in the country. The cities are
arranged according to the amount of the rate be-
ginning with the smallest amount charged
TABLE no. l.
Rates charged for water furnished through
meters. Prices computed on a basis Of charge
per 100 cubic feet, or $50 gallons.
| City.