Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-05-11
. SOME LETTERS ABOUT
: WATERWORKS SYSTEM.


Punish the Water Stealers.
EDITOR Reflector: have read
with interest the able articles on
they water system Of Abilene and
the arguments furnished by the com
missioners apparently to show tnat
we need meter rate. It may be that
every man, woman, youth and baby
in town is using an average Of three
and a half barrels Of water day
hut some Of US would like to have
some figures more definite. In the
statistics published in the scientific
Journals the average for manufac-
turing towns is given at only l4V
gallons a day. II we are using three
and half barrels something Is
wrong. It may be that the water
ommissioners and their assistants
have been unable to find out how
much water each Of the 500 families
in the city Is using and to prevent
The waste Of water but it seems that
businessmen could manage some
how to make check up that WouIu
really check. Just what the three
commissioners have been doing for
three years, each on salary Is not
stated. We supposed this was one
Of their duties. When 1t is remeHm-
bered that my part Of town, tne
north end, does not get any water
mart Of the day in summer and only
y little at any time there must De
loose management. Other towns
seem to get along very well with
the flat rate and check up the users
OF water. -,
The meter rate it is said Will
rrao+Iv reduce the amount Of water
used If SO it will reduce the pump
ing daarges somewhat but II the
water is cut down it will cut down
the income and those who DO use
II will have to pay the bill. Inat
NAV as we'll be conceded at the be-
ginning. The first thing it will DO
will he to cut down the use OF water
On the lawns. Sand Springs has
enough water for & city of bO,OOO;
Tan times as much runs into the
river as we use, so the only saving
possible is in pumping. The same
number Of employees would be nee
essary-the only saving would pc
x fuel This could not cut much
f,ynre in the ultimate business OF the
avatem The lawns of Abilene are
the admiration of every visitor ana
they are attractive largely because
SO much good water is used lavisnly
upon them. II we go to skimping
on water and allow yet more OF II
run into the river out Of stinginess
in pumping It for on our city's lawns
we shall exhibit a rather cheap
spirit and it will have a material
effect upon the city's attractiveness.
The water belongs to the people OF
he city-why should they be afraid
Of using 1t when there is plenty
and more than we can possibly use.
It would be good thing II water
Ytas furnished free for lawns at
public expense and make the city
vet more beautiful. No city that
"a on a meter rate and is in the same
climate as Abilene has lawns that
are worth looking at and they can
not be kept presentable with
skimping Of water. Meters are US
ualiy put in because water Is scarce
which does not apply to Abilene.
II Is probable that many persons
viii pay less for water than now at
the rate proposed put others VII
nav much mors-snd they win sim
Div not use water In such large
Quantities II the commissioners
would check up the users and re-
arr4neo the rates 30 that those con-
cerns nat get more than they do
serve for the money paid SHAH pay
: rate that Il fair there would Be
no dlfnculty. II We pay y out q
the taxes It nesns that the rail-
resds and personal property owners
win pay their share, Il We pay Il out
Of water rent alone there Vim Be q
shining Of ne whole burden 70 TIE
Tafuf Users alono A fun nrerti-
esnsn II fhs naitsr onsht % vi
nass before .hs 1ilr eaisil % ins'
rev 1.teas io slil, mere money i1|
ia 4rr r i.s.E 49, n1'sr .s'.