Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-03-24

The key which turns the water on
or off in the service pipes to consum-
ers. has been working since Friday.
The new Water Board gave notice
that delinquents would have to pay up
IN accordance with the provisions OF
the law, the alternative being the
shutting off of the water supply. Sec
rotary Ross Chew has been directed TO
carry out these instructions.
On Friday an official of the Board
was sent out with a key, and turned
the water off from several subscribers
who had previously been given notice
that they were in arrears and must
settle. He was at work yesterday also.
The good effect of this course had
already been manifested.
Yesterday was a busy day at the Of
fee OF the Water Board. Persons to
whom notices had been sent called TO
pay their water rents, and there were
included in the number several whose
supply had been cut off. At the close
Of business hours the clerical force
made a comparison with the business
done on the same day last year. They
found that they had made out and col
lected four times the number of bills
collected in the corresponding day Of
1900.
They took p~ardonable pride in Civ
ing out the statement, inasmuch as
their force numbers but three, and
the former force numbered four clerks
and one collector. In addition, the
present force was required to make out
the bills as they were called for.
Persons who use water are expected
to pay promptly. An inspection of the
books has revealed a surprising sit
uation in regard to delinquents.
Some have been permitted to run for
ten or twelve years without paying a
cent, and the rules Of the Board with
reference 20 cutting off the supply have
not been enforced.
1t is estimated that the total amount
due for delinquent water rents during
a period of six and a half years, ap-
proximately, will reach the enormous
aggregate of SIS, 900. In one book de-
linquencies aggregated between five
and six thousand dollars. It is esti-
mated that the d~elinquencies will reach
about six per cent. of the total water
rents. The revenues from the Water
Works have been estimated at $780,
a year.
Secretary Chew is at work upon a
statement showing the d~elinquents,
and the amounts, which he proposes
to transmit to Council at it's next reg
ular meeting. The report will also COW
er other facts touching upon the con-
dition of affairs in the office when the
present Water Board took charge. 1t
will doubtless be a very interesting and
valuable document.
There have been reports in circula-
ton to the effect that Messrs. Marshall
and st. Meyers, two of the Republican
insurgents, were disposed to return to
the regular fold and had so intimated
to the Republican members of Coun-
ell. The report is untrue. 1t is sur
prising that it was given credence in
view of the fact that the three insur-
gents are bound by the obligation of a
solemn oath to stand with the Demo
Gratis.
The bill in support of the applica-
ton for a writ of mandamus was a
subject of general discussion yesterday
by persons VINO have been watching
the political battle in the City Build
ing. Several attorneys expressed the
opinion to a Register reporter that it
was entirely unnecessary for the pur-
pose of sustaining the Republican con-
tention, to cucumber the bill with a
lot of matters which cannot possibly
have any bearing upon the real point
at issue.