The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-16
WATER METERS AND RATES.

If Mr.. Miller, the city commissioner
in charge of the water department,
follows the plans he has in mind, and
sees to it that all the water used by
Topekans is metered, one result will
be the ruination of many fine lawns
and parkings in the city which add
so much to the towns beauty and at
Effectiveness. Under the water meter
rates now charged 1t would only be
possible for the very rich people to
keep their lawns and parkings in prop
err condition during the dry spells of
summer. Even the flat rate of So a
lot for the summer season. which Is
now charged, approaches the exorbi-
tant 1t is SO high that many people
who would now like to maintain we'll
kept grass plots and thereby enhance
the looks and value Of their homes
and property have to forego their de-
sires in this respect. And Mr.. Miller's
plans would put countless others in the
same boat.
There are not many cities in the
country that are so laid out that their
residents can turn them into veritable
parks Topekans do have this chance
but they will not be disposed to take
advantage of it, if they are going to
be forced to pay too fancy figure for
the water they need for this purpose.
No indications have come to the front
this summer that the large volume of
water which Mr.. Miller says Tope-
kans have been using, has interfered
in any way with the fire pressure. If
there have been any complaints along
this line, they have not been aired.
And Mr.. Miller's plea that the great
quantities of water used has necessi-
tated the running of the water plant
to it's full capacity is not of much mo-
ment No good reason can exist why
this plant should not be run to its full
capacity Presumably that is what 1t
was built for. If it's capacity is not
large enough to supply all the reason
able needs of the citizens with water
it should be increased.
Then, too, in the matter Of meters,
the cost of them has to be borne by
the consumers. This does not seem to
be right Similar public service util-
tiles, privately owner, the gas and
electric light companies, for in
stance, install their meters free of
charge. But the publicly owned
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lacking on every possible kind of
a charge on its patrons, including
50 deposit for each meter that is in
stalled. No good argument has been
presented as yet as to why this de-
post should be made. 1t is almost an
insult to the citizens to insist that it
| is needed to make them pay their
water bills. The gas company does not
demand any such deposit. and no COM
plant has ever come from 1t that it
has trouble in collecting the money
due It, People would either have to
pay their water bills or do without
water and it is not difficult to figure
which alternative all of them would
take.
Many opportunities would appear to
be at hand for a revision of the
methods of administering the water
department to the benefit of the whole
people of the city without making
things more burdensome for the water
consumers, or large portion of them.
But If Mr.. Miller insists that all the
consumers should have water meters
he should devise some sort of a plan
whereby a fiat rate, and a reasonable
one. can be exacted for watering
lawns.