The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-14
The City Water Works. .

In some reflections on the management
Of tho Richmond water works, the News
Leader sheds the radiance OF its kindly
light upon our darkness. * s
Evidently our morning coi1temporary
has been seriously misinformed regard
ing some important detuils OF this ar
gumcht. For instance, its assertion that
householders are charged for water,
whether it is used or not, is met by the
assertion that premises are not charged
for the use Of water when they arc
closed and vacated, If notice Of the va
cation is sent to the water department.
Therefore, 1t is optional with the con
sumner to pay or not while he Is absent
from his home. Many well-to-ao patrons
*of the water works prefer to leave their
water on while they are absent for the
sumner as they would rather pay the
comparatively small rent than to be
troubled with remembering to notify
the department to turn the water on
again In time for their return. AS TO
the mposibility in many houses OF get
ting water on upper floors while faucets
are open on the lower, which The Times
Dispatch asserts as another grievance,
the fact Is said to be that that matter
He can have any size water pipe he de-
sires. The average owner selects a half
or five-cights inch Pipe. II is simple
matter of common knowledge that when
a half-inch faucet attached to n half.
inch pipe is open on n lower floor, it is
impossible for the water to rise above
lit. We believe as strongly as anybody
can IN holding city officials and mana
gers of city property to strict account,
but unquestonably it Is true that these
people are severely blamed many times
when the fault really Is on the careless
ness, neglect or ignorance OF some cit
lien
holder may have the water cut off from
his premises whenever he pleases, and so
summarily check the flow of the water
rent But why should he be required to
this. when there Is water-meter on the
premises which faithfully registers every
gallon of water consumed? If no closes
his residence for u period OF time, he Is
not required to cut off the gas In order to
stop the gas bill. But unless he notifies
the departmenteto cut off the water, he
must pay the monthly minimum charge.
whether or not any water has been used
during his absence. This is a trifling
matter, however, and. Of course, Is not
chargeable to the active management Of
the department, but to the city rcgula-
tons.
AS for the supply Of water In the third
story of buildings UP town, the trouble
is not altogether with the pipes, but In
rurt surely with the pressure. Formerly
in Leo District householders had great
trouble in getting supply Of water on
the second and third floors OF their res
idences but as soon rs the stand pipe
was put into operation bountlful supply
was forthcoming, although there was no
change in the size of the pipes,
1t may also be remarked that the defect
l. in pressure Is not chargeable to the ac-
tive management, and nothing in our
former remarks was intended to reflect
unon the management, which, In tho
main, has been good, Our simple purpose
was TO show that under municipal opera
| ton of the water works of Richmond,
! both in the matter of supply and the
| quality of water, had not been conspi-
| cuous success,