Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-30
WATER RECEIPTS
NOT Up To RISE
IN CONSUMPTION
Users of Meters Paying Often
Too Much, but Assessed
Account Shows Leak"

The agitation started by the expos
in the Martin and Watson cases. wher'
mistakes in bills for metered watel
were pointed out by the EVENING
STAR. has resulted. as Chief Engineei
Morris r. Sherrerd predicted. in &
deluge of complaints from the user'
| Of metered water. The volume of com
plants received up to date indicates
that O thorough investigation of tht
water department may be necessary.
Chief Engineer Sherrerd asserts thai
mistakes in metering of water are al
most invariably against the city. THAI
the city is b loser on the metereo
water accoun is not borne out by this
facts, as shown in the receipts from
the assessed" and "metered" water
accounts Tor the last ten years. Fol
the year ending December 81, 1909, the
total receipts from the combined serv.
ice were S1.029, 613. 10. while for the veal
ending December 81. 1900. the total was
$7li. 3oo.38.
This shows q gross increase for the
decade of 1912, 255.32, or about 40 per
cent. AT the close of the fiscal year in
1900 about 10000 meters were in use.
On December 81, 1903, the number had
increased to about $4,000. Although to-
day is June 80. six months after the
close of the fiscal year., the official re-
port Of the board is not yet printed.
Increase of 134 Per Cent.
During nat period the increase in
metered water income was about 1874
per cent. For 1900 the total receipts
were s30S. 490. "A, and for 1909 the
amount was $737, 459. 20, an increase of
s42S, 96S. AS.
The assessed water account showed a
decrease of $67, 1858. AS, or about "a per
e In 1900 the receipts from that
source were $S40, 012.95, and In 1909 the
total dropped to $272. 1880.
The decrease in the assessed account
is explained in part by the change
from the assessed to the metered ac-
count. The latter, however, Ia made
up in part by the fixed minimum
charge OF $3.50 a year charged for the
Introduction of the special high ser
vice fire protection system now at
tached to many large establishments in
the city.
tAo SOlobiiiCAo VI AiONOkO ~
water appear to be paying all, and, as
shown in the Martin and Watson cases,
more than they should pay, what Chief
Engineer Sherrerd says about the city
being a loser may, after all, prove to
be true
In 1900 the. stated annual consump-
ton was about $4,000, 900 gallons. Now,
according to Mr.. Sherrerd. 1t Is about
38, 1000, 900 gallons. That means for the
ten-year period an apparent increase In
consumption of about IS per cent,
| while the Increase in revenue seems to
be only AZ per cent.
Chief Engineer Sherrerd's prediction
was not intended as a compliment tt
the manne In which the EVENING
| STAR Is advising water consumers to
avoid being swindled through the
negligence or ignorance Of the paid
employees of the city charged with the
duty of a~scertaining, through the
medium If meters. what amount Of
water should be paid for.
On the contrary, Mr.. Sherrerd
seemed to consider 1t a rather foolish
proposition. I'VE all admit" he said
that the meters are not infallible and
that mistakes are very apt to occur II
their reading. That applies to the face
| of the meter, and not to the work o
the meter inspectors.
THE meter, like n other mechan'
ical device, will get out of order, ant
that is the real cause for complaint.
Try to Minimize Error.
I'VE are endeavoring. as far as pos
| sible, to minimize this cause of com
plant by removing all meters aftel
I've years of continuous use.
by hat time, and earlier in many
cases. continued Mr.. Sherrerd, 9Th
mechanism of the meter becomes
| clogged and refuses to register at all
| Such meters are reported by the in
spectors and at n G removed and sen
to repair headquarters.
1.-THE city, rather than the watei
| consumer, is invariably the loser II
these cases. Personally, / am of tn
opinion that all meters should bel re
moved for inspection at least n IL
five years.
This is being done, as far as pos
sible. at the city's expense II the metel
has been running in a tina
indicates 1t was out of order.
I'm almost every instance We fir
the meter correct except where it re
fuses to register at all. The city Is tn
loser and not the almost In
variably. Complaints come in n tn
| consumer is advised to consult
| plumber or have the examination mad
by the department. In that event, ]
the is injured. h case 1
| adjusted without any loss to him.
1--WE have found, however" continued
Mr.. Sherrerd, many leaks after tn
plumber employed by the city had re
ported everything in good condition.
abnormal increases In bills TO
rented apartments are always expected
The tenant. whether in a high-clasI
apartment or an ordinary fiat, is not
of course, as careful as the owne,
might be If he were the occupant.
There nave been instances her
tenants notified to leave an apartment
have deliberately kept their fixtures
running by way of getting square witt
the owner who was forcing them Il
vacate.
Where such a condition is suspected
or complained of, we make an exami
nation. Some Of the offenders. how
ever, are shrewd enough to remov
their continuous flow device when an