Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-16
AGAINST HE METERS
Baker Kelly Thinks Salllary Reassas Should KeeD Then out

Thomas Kelly, the baker Is not m favor of installing meters in places where water is used solely for do- tmestic purposes, but he thinks the meter Ia all right where water Is con- sumed for commercial purposes, even though he does find one at his bake shop "The water rates suited the purpose when they were fixed years ago, but things have changed since,' said Mir Kelly, "and the conditions demands a radical change in the price. Put a meter in every place where city water is Used for commer- cial purposes. but keep away from the private residence and tenement block. Let us build another rascr- voir and then we will be sure of wa ter. while if We simply install meters and never mind adding to the sup ply. we have no assurance that we will have more. The only way you can add to your supply with meter in every house isfby using less wa ter and l have no hesitation in stat ing that don't think this would be for the public's good. There is no
  located close to abundant water sup plies and we can tap them and bring them in here at much less cost than we can start out to install meter in every house In town and employ men to look after them.
 This is a very important question and before 1t is disposed of finally I hope the water board will hear as many opinions on 1t as possible. I say remove every meter we have in private residences and tenement blocks, and give water to people at the regular household rates: continue the meters in the factories, stores, bakeries and at such places where you and and others are converting 1t into money and charge us u Hat rate, making 1t as low as possible, but not so low but that it will help meet the running expenses of the plant. Then let every consumer pay the same price and you will find that everybody will have plenty of water at a rate that will not be burden- some. If I want to use water to make money out of it there is no | than somebody else who wants it to quench his thirst and to maintain good sanitary conditions in and about his home. It takes time to right these things. The system was all right when it was adopted. but we have out-grown it and conservative conl- munities do not change from one thing to another in hurry. I be- lieve that every man who is handling this water question Is honest and act- uated by desire to do what Is best fr all and in time they will reach t,,nclusions which will come pretty mar the mark. It is hard to break away from system that has been in force since the water plant was built. but the subject has been aired so thoroughly for the past few years it would seem to me that those who are charged with the manage ment of the public affairs ought to have good idea of what Is right. Whatever they do hope they will not meter water for domestic use. was not in favor of that plan until I saw how it operated in other places. II IN d. TlSut WuCIG SuSu tuiuS iS necessary in order to get n sufficient supply of the right kind, hut in a town like this where we can have it in abundance cheaper than we can measure 1t and commence to econo- mize. it would be little short of crime. Making a liberal use of wa ter in the homes of the people will prompt many to use 1t sparingly and as a consequence many will prefer to go dirty rather than open the faucet. This will lead to sickness that in time will surely eventuate in epidemlcs of one kind and another, which in the long run will cost the taxpayers more than 1t would to give every body lots of water at price that will not hari- ship anybody"
 Many are waiting to see Superln. tendent Kennedy's report before ex- pressing an opinion on the question. because they think 1t will put the matter in new light and they don't want to favor or oppose meters until 1.l