Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-19
ate as the above items will warrant,

rate as the above items will warrant,
but it is not justified in it's continual
clamor for lower rates without any
other consideration, while at the same
time, if on fiat rates, it is perfectly
Indifferent to waste, leakage and
abuses Of water privileges, not
seeming to realize that the gallons
wasted cost just as much as the gal
Ions needed and used.
Users are Careless.
''It is the writer's private opinion,
however, that the average consumer,
while he understands what gallon
represents, is good deal at sea as to
what the quantity really means when
indicated nterms Of thousands The
thing that appeals to him, in fact
is the size Of his bill, not
quantity, no matter upon what
basis it is figured. In view of
the fact that practically all the me-
tiers installed have cubic feet registers
and that the Office labor would be
much simplified by use of cubic foot
unit and for the sake of universal
standard and to make ready compari-
son easier, we think the cubic foot
unit preferable, as 100 cubic feet is
three-fourths Of 1000 gallons, the
change in rates is easily adjusted
Thus 40 cent rate under the 1000
gallon unit, becomes a 80 cent rate
under the cubic foot unit
The Minimum Rate.
I'm the maintenance and operation
| of the plant, there are certain fixed
charges which must be met, no matter
whether the amount of water pumped
| be great or small. To bring water up
to point of delivering it costs a GER
tain amount; and it costs a fixed
amount ITO maintain pressure alone, to
read meters, keep accounts, etc. This
is what is known as ready to serve
charge. Some consumers use but little
city water and in many small cities
and towns you find, for example, thai
Mr.. B., although his house is well sup
piled with fixtures, has a we'll, and
his meter registers only a small
amount Of water. If he did not pay q
minimum rate, the city would get
practically nothing from his account
and yet would be compelled to have
always ready for him a constant sup
ply of water under pressure at his
premises Therefore, definite mini
!
is guarantee from each consumer
that enables the plant to furnish wat
err up to certain point without loss.
Kepford on tuberculosis.
Perhaps the best impromptu tall
given since the convention started was
/ that of A. F.. Kepford of Des Moines
of the State Board of Control OF
Tuberculosis His remarks were
very brief and intensely interesting
He strongly advocated law requir
ing the registration of citizens infect
ed with consumption so that the Off
Gals could keep such people unde
surveillance He also was in favor o
law whereby dairymen, whose cow
should be condemned for tuberculosi
would be remunerated to some extern
by the city administration for the los
of their animals.
Hon. John Mac Vicar of Des- Moines
in an able address on "Suggeste'
Changes in State Law" strongly III
held the Des Moines city administrs
ton He said that while some change
in the laws might be beneficial i
some localities that the Des Moine
: plan was right just as it was On
Of the points made by Mr.. Mac Vica
, was that the fault did not always Ii
with the laws but frequently with tn
officials who applied them.
The other paper of the afternoo
/. was by DR.. B. L. Eiker of Leon o
Sanitation and its relation to MI
inequalities" The address was il
] tensely interesting and drew the kee1
, est attention of the hearers. Til
4 lengthy discussion that followed gay