New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-18
M1TER SUPPLY AND WASTE.

Mr.. DOughcrty'S report as Commissioner of
Water Supply for the quarter ending on June
30 last renews the reminder that the extern
sion of the meter system meets popular dsap-
proval. but renews also the earnest recOmmen-
daton that such extension be persevered in. 1t
was not to be expected that the public would
welcome the Introduction of meters. Long eX-
perence with the vagaries of gas meters has
made it regard such devices with diSfavor
Moreover there has arisen an idea that meters
are introduced for the sake of increasing the
city'S revenue and that therefore they will in
crease the cost of water TO the public This
idea is erroneous. Meters are introduced not
for increasing revenue but for decreasing
waste and the effect is generally not to in
crease, but to actually decrease the cost of
water 10 the public The popular objection 10
the requirement that consumers shall bear the
cost of putting in the meters has IL better
foundation, and Mr.. Doughertys suggestion
that the charter he so amended as to put the
cost the city is worthy of careful consdera-
ton.
Primarily the meter question Is one of bust
ness methods. People receive their water sup
ply almost precisely as they do their gas or
electricity. Nobody expects to get gas without
a meter No one would agree TO Il system under
which he would receive gas without a meter and
be charged Il lump sum for it. based on an aver
age estimate, no matter whether he used much
or little. There is universal recognition of the
equity of measuring the gas which is used and
OF charging and paying for what is used and no
more. The proposition is that water shall be
dealt with in the same way. Why not: If We
are TO have business methods in municipal adj
mlnistration supplies should certainly be dis
trlbuted and sold as method:cally and as accu-
rately by the city as by private corporation
| The objection to the meter seems to implv
either a misrepresentation regarding its effect or
else desire TO waste water or to get it at less
than its legitimate cost 1t will be observed
that the gas meters are supplied and installed
! by the companies, without cost to the consum
ers' ana continuance of the analogy would re-
Pure 1hat the water meters be thus provided
by the city.
II Is Impossible to emphasize too strongly the
! desirability of having at all times an abundant
| supply OF pure water for the Use of the neople
| so cheap that no one not even the poorest will
feel constrained to stint the legitimate use of if
But IN that there IS not one ota of Justification
for the wasting of Il single drop 1t would he
| bad policy to adopt Il system which would cause
the people 10 battle less Frequently or which
would impel man to make his morning abli-
| tions in a basnful instead of tubfuI of water
But IT is an equally bad policy to tolerate \ sys
| TEN under which people are careless of 1rinpin,
| taps and leaking pipes In many house Won
| may find faucet which constantly tiyes M g.
| sage to small stream of water. The water
| runs into n basin or tub and sinks into the
waste pipes and causes no Inconvenience where
fore the householder does not care but lets the