Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-01
DRY AND FANCY GOODS

systems use meters. In Providence s.
per cent. of consumers have had meters
put in az their own expense. l think
chat here as elsewhere the use OF
meters would be a good thing for con-
sumers and for city. Two-thirds o.
w4al is wasted in this city. The dam
in this; city ut It's present height is
capable OF Producing 1880 horse power
for about four months Of each year.
There would be two months Of each
year when power would not be over
$3.50 horse power. and in days of this
time it might lie less than 200O horse
lower.
On oss-examination by Mr.. Heath:
Some kinds OF industry could proiira-
bly, US" water power here to ll.3oo
hcrSc power for four months of year
;li.d supply the deficiency by steam for
eight months. Cotton business could
thus be carried OIL, and almost any
business except paper and pulp maxi
ing. TO put III such Il supplementary
steam plant would cost from $50 TO SO
per horse power. Calling it $50, such
a plant would cost S150.000. Further
canal development would be necessary,
as the present canals could not profita-
bly use much more power than at pres
emit Cost of sucn 4 canal, to give
$500 additional horse power for eight
months. would be about $50 per horse
LOW en- Thus it would cost ut least
$5r0. 800 to put il the supplementary
steam plant 50 that 1890 horse power
could be used at the dam throughout
the year. Il takes about 800 horst
=, no tlr ~ tho nllInniI
station To run a steam plant to do
this work would cost $4,000 or Sl1,OOp
yer year. Should not say an auxiliary
steam pumping system is necessary
here. There IS not really d duplicate
pumping system here. If one pump
should break down. the other could not
do the work required in the II hours i'll
which tie pump can run under the
lease. III getting my estimate of the
per capita of consumption here | di-
vided 900 600 gallons by l3.G00 popuia-
ton. If 1890 people at the Insane hos
pital and 1000 rural population are tn
be deducted from this 1900. the waste
would be much larger than ] stated.
Unless under meter system there VIII
be ag r.at waste in every house. \
system of inspection would prevent
much Of this waste. \ daily use of Ga
OGO gallons ought to be enough for In
sane hospital if 1000 people are there.
The daily use at Togus is about 800, 003
gallons. ! measured it three times.
last week. The fire pressure there is
about 30 pounds. It would be poor
pressure without the pump. Do not
knew Of any Maine ease where inspec-
tons. without use of meters. has cut
down consumption one half In Boston.
inspection has largely cut down con-
sumption. We cannot be sure that the
waste here is III the services or in the
Distribution system.
Saw some waste ut Togus. where a
twO-inch pipe WIS letting water run.
This would be about 100000 gallons
waste in u hours. Think GO gallons
Per capita should bo ample daily coll
sumption for Augusta. There are about
1900 takers in Augusta. 1t would cost
about $4,000 to put in meters here.
That would not result in any Immediate
gain to the district If cost Of power
; was to be the same as under present
lease. The reservoir furnishes the
usual degree of efficiency. With pres
ent use it would not hold over two
days supply in winter. An accident
! to the dam would not mean water