The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-10
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
SUBMITS ITS REPORT
Commissioner Biddle Re-
views Public Work.
QUESTION OF WATER RENTS
Existing System of Long Usage Gould
Be Changed Only by House Own
ers Installing Meters.

CTS installing meters.
The report of the Engineer Commits
sioner of the District for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1903. was submitted TO
the board late yesterday afternoon.
Much Of its text has been published, in
the columns Of The Times during the
past few weeks One important item
touched upon. however is the water
rent schedule and system. which has
been subjected to much adverse criticism
by prominent taxpayers. In regard 10
this Colonel Biddle says:
The law provides that the water rates
shall never be source OF revenue other
than as a means Of keeping up a supply
of water. but shall constitute a fund
exclusively for the maintenance. man
agement, and repair OF the system of
water distribution. This system OF dis
tribution Is maintained entirely from
the revenues Of the water department;
the United States does not pay any part
Of the cost Of keeping up this branch
of the service.
Basis Of Water Rent.
For over forty years water rents
charged dwellings have been calculated
on the basis of the width and height of
the house This basis hae therefore be-
come established by long usage and Is
generally knqwn throughout the Dis
trict.
Recently complaints have been made
that the rates are not uniform. and that
they are excessive. as evidenced by the
balance to the credit of the water fund.
'.This balance has been decreased $40
600 during the past year on account Of
laying new trunk mains. work on the
new pumping station. etc. The current
revenues are inadequate to provide for
these betterments, aEd were II not for
the surplus accumulated this necessary
work could not be done without Great
ing a deficit in the water fund. The
balance on hand. together with the sur
plus of each year, is not more than
sufficient to cover Improvements pro-
jected. It would therefore be inadvisa-
bic to nix the rates, even If possible. so
that the collections Of one year. includ-
ing assessments, should exactly meet
the ordinary expenses. without making
any provision for emergencies or 10 en-
large and improve the system.
f,As 10 a change in the basis OF cal
eulating water rents, It would probably
be possible to devise a more intricate
ard costly system that would make
nicer distinctions between houses of
different dimensions. assessed values.
exposures to fires Any change. no mat
ter upon what basis, would be open TO
objections. There is only one way known
to the Office OF doing this, and that is by
the owner OF the house installing a
water meter and paying for the amount
OF water actually used The Office viii
bs very glad to have owners install
peters If they desire to do 50. but the
Commissioners do not wish 10 force the
use OF meters upon owners Of dwellings
who do not want them. nor to change
customs until there APP
pears to be a general and well-founded
demand for It.
The Service Extended.
During the year eleven miles of new
water mains were laid and thirty new
fire MIGRANTS erected. Plans have been
for a water tower and watch
mans lodge adjacent 20 the Reno reser-
yoir. and It is expected that the work
will be completed during the present
supply water to premises above the |
s5O-foot level. the present reservoir not
having a sufficient elevation for this
purpose.
In the year LAS additional buildings
were connected WI the public water
system. making r-r 'ent number 49,
249. Two M arf dfty-five new
meters were tsLd trr present num-
Der being la
For Tie yeal a and one |
half miles of Sc aea ,structed. |
Of which, Is miles n4l1 ewers.
Work upon Il sposal !
project has progress liable |
rate. The expenditure - a 3 ac-
count Of completed to |
s, 233, 092.A. The apprOpr fas
on account of work IN pr,
gate 81. 1856. 900. The estima
the system is 81, Il
s asked for in estimates for H.
year. II the necessary money i.
)riated, the system should be con
BY the end Of 1905.
Improving Sidewalks.
within the year the prices paid +,
cement walks were Si.0t and sl.u pei
square yard, the latter price on streets 4
In the county not provided with road
way pavements. The prices this year
will be 81 and S1.15 per square yard. re-
spectively.
I