The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-15
METERS AND WATER-Hoas.

iarly known AS the water-hog, We find
in a recent number of the Oregonian
that the same trouble exists in Portland,
and that paper makes the following edi-
torial comment upon the situation:
Installation of meters will cost nearly
| a million dollars, but the saving of waste
will be worth the money. At the rate OF
| city growth the water that is wasted Will
be sufficient for many years without eX-
| penslVe additions to the service. So the
| thing ie about as broad as 1t Is long. with
| the gratifying knowledge that the water
| hogs must cease or pay.
There has been talk from time to
time in Salt Lake City of a general
meter system Superintendent Holiday
is reported to favor it, doubtless on
the same general idea as expressed in
| the Oregonlan. There is no doubt but
the installation of meters everywhere
would give the water department the
chief control of the situation, and the
waterhog would have to pay or quit
But is it worth while for Salt Lake City
TO take this extreme step at this time?
We do not think that it is. We believe
that with proper vigilance a few ex
amples can be made Of water hogs, so
that others will be deferred from their
depredations We do not believe for
one moment in Furnishing the whole city
because a few water-hogs make arti,
fetal scarcity in their neighborhood Of
the water supply. We think, as we have
said before, that the true remedy al
this time is to lay for the waterhog,
catch him, and make him pay roundly
for his offense, and then watch him
until the officials are sure that per
manent cure has been made. In this
connection we may call attention to the
insane folly of the Smoot organ, which
directly charges that the Superinten-
dent of the Water Department is able
to make a famine in such parts of the
city as he desires, and that he does SO.
All such talk as that is the most vi
cious rant; the making of such a charge
is simply the expression of an impla-
cable antagonist, who scruples at no
sort of falsehood to make an attack,
and who is restrained by no considera-
tions Of truth or fairness in making
false charges.
Superintendent Holiday has given
fair notice to the people of this city.
He has talked candidly and openly
about the situation, has called upon
the people to do what is right with
regard to the use of water, has as
sured everybody that there is water In
plenty, if it is used with moderation,
yet sufficiently for every need. In view
of this fact, and in view Of the for
bearance of the Supervisor towards al
water users, his evident determination
to 90 to no extreme unless absolutely
forced to do so, is poorly rewarded by
such vicious and outrageous charges as
are made in the Smoot organ.
1t has always been the case in this
city in years gone by, very much more
than now, that the use of water by the
citizens here has been much restricted
in the hot and dry season. Six years
ago was probably the very worst sea
son ever experienced here, during the
final year Of the Morris administration,
Since then the water supply has been
better in every way, and the restric-
tions have been in no wise irksome.
But a good many do not like to be re-
stricted at all Superintendent Hob
day tells them plainly that they need
not be restricted if they will be rea-
sonable, and that he will proceed Wig
orously against the water-hog. We
think with this done, that there need
be no more trouble the present sea
son.
The distributing system for water in
this city doubtless needs in places to
be remodeled. The American party has
done a good deal of this, but has not
been able to do il all. The relaying Of
the main and surface pipes has been u
good deal of the order of catch-as.
catch-can in wrestling, A piece of main
would be put down in the old days, to
serve the immediate purpose of the res
idents at that time. Then additions
would be made as the water users be"
came more numerous, and in a large
number of cases the original pipes have
had to be taken up and larger ones
put In their places. A great deal of
this enlargement. both of mains and OF
service pipes, has been done. A good
deal remains to be done, but on the
whole the city is in very fair condition
as to this, and is improved every year
That, however, is a subject aside from
the main issue now, which is the sup
preston Of the water-hog and the ques-
tion whether we shall be obliged to
put in meters TO suppress him. AS we
have said we do not believe the meter
to be compulsory at this time, and hope
that it will not be for many years.
Doubtless, however, the time will come
when we shall have to have meters
everywhere, just as the Oregonian is
urging them for Portland: and when
wa In tbep absolute onpity will bo oS.