The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-10

| the ls-inch pipe and three hours as the
average time-some run all night-this
would make a total of 2SS,0OO gallons of
water being used for this little item
alone When the total water pumped for
O town of that size should not be over
60o0,00 gallons in twenty-four hours this
waste is at the rate of over 100000 gal
Ions in twenty-four hours. Now take a
cold night when the people will turn a
stream loose-in place of turning the
water off at the stop and waste, which
Is always provided for that special pur-
pose-say 500 careless and inconsderate
people 'let the water run" who are too
indolent to go to the stop and waste to
turn 1t off.
We will take the one-quarter of an
inch stream to represent the cock which
Is turned on. We will take six hours as
the time same Is left running, each party
Will waste-criminally and needlessly
waste-460S gallons of water, and the total
amount will be 100000 gallons.
The cost to pump this water taking coal
and wear and tear alone, would be over
$50 to the company, and that Is not the
worst feature for this large demand
would have a considerable effect upon the
fire pressure should fire break out at
the time
In Chicago some years ago certain Sec
lions of the city were entirely deprived of
water for hours at a time for the reason
that parties between them and the pump
ing station We're allowing the water to
run to waste. Upon the floor of the AM
eriean Water Works association this
question has been discussed time and
again:
Many cities have expended large sums
to increase their water supply. but some
have put much less investment into meters
a,.1 fI.AA 4.
Would it not make this letter too long
for a newspaper article | could name
cities which are pumping less water to-
day than they did ten years ago, and the
population is six times as large and each
person is paying less for their water sup
ply. 1t Is just a question of the careless.
improvident citizen making his neighbor
pay for his negligence-as the society fell
low has to pay high price for his tailor
made clothes because some other fellows
don't pay at ALL
There is no question but the meter will
have to be the solution of the water
waste question. Why did New York.
Brooklyn Chicago Philadelphia and
other large cities have to adopt the
meter? Had they not done so they could
not have '.put in conduits, pumps and
mains fast enough to keep up the supply
"A wastefu habit grows"
1t Is all a question of the education
of the citizen, and experience has shown
that mankind is generally quick to learn
when his pocket is in question. | give a
short illustration here:
Some years ago at Memphis, when
meters were not much in use, a certain
livery stable-keeper, who was also some
thing of politician. had mis- water sup
Fly withou meter. He would say to all
his hackmen, friends and Others Come
to my stand and wash your hack when
ever you choose" l had this generosity
of our friend called to my attention and
| placed meter upon his service He sud
denly became very stingy with his water.
In Memphis and at Kansas City, Mo-,
! I advised friends, whom | know to be
careful people, to have meters put upon
their servises. Their bills were about S36
| year before the meter was put on, and
in most every instance the bill was re-
duced over one-haf under the meter sys-
tenn.
This s not my own experience alone.
i have had it told me by many water
works men as theirs also many Gus
toners When the average man has taken
up this question and given 1t little bust
ress thought, he Will at once see that
there are two sides to this matter. as
there ought 10 be to all questions
The majority of people have simply not
thought of the matter from an equitable
point Of view.
WILLIAM L. CAMERON.
Admission, Ala, June 9, 1904