Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-10-04
WOULD METER
PUBLIC BLDGS.
Considered by Water Board
..Watsr 10 Unpaid For.

general use of water for the best in
~terests Of all concerned, Superintend-
elt A. H. Crowell recommended to
the Board of Water Commissioners
last night that all houses containing
two families or more and all public
buildings be metered. He suggested
installation of q large meter at Run
yon to register the amount of water
pumped and maintained, as commits
sioners have often declared, that
waste would be curtailed and con-
sumers would benefit IL meters were
generally used in preference to the
fiat rate.
Superintendent Crowell recon-
mended that it be made compulsory
to install meters in houses Of two
families or more. He set forth that
it was only proper that all public
buildings In the city be metered and
that the various departments be
charged for water as individuals are.
He declared that the furnishing of
free water was only another way of
diverting funds of city departments
away from the proper channel and
therefore an unfair burden was be-
ing placed on those who paid for
NotOAs 4iO hlaiuLoAhCo thdt W Plo-
mote the general use Of water sup
ply, the most certain way was to
make 1t as cheap as possible and to
attain that end the city, through its
various departments now served
without cost, should bear their
equitable cost of the water con-
sumed. He held 1t was not more
proper for the water department to
pay for water consumed in schools
and firehouses than to pay for jani-
tor service In those buildings.
School No. Z Is the only building
of it's kind that has a water meter
and according to figures, as compiled
by Mr.. Crowell in his report, the
school consumed water at the rate
of $4,000 gallons a day last year, or
~3,414,387 during the year, causing a
consumption of thirty-fve gallons a
day for each pupil in the building.
The total cost for the water was esti-
mated at $409.72. Mr.. Chowell stat
ed the ~janitor had blamed the large
consumption upon a faulty valve.
The commissioners held such a
consumption for one building to be
exceptionally great and discussed
ways and means for curtailing waste.
Commissioner Grieve made q motion
that the Board Of Education be noti-
fed of that part Of the report con-
corning schools, with a view Of Sc
curing that boards cooperation to
stop waste in schools. 1t was sec
onded. Similar action was proposed
to stop water waste in irehouses
and will probably be taken up with
! the Board of Aldermen as soon as
definite statements concerning water
consumption can be procured.
According to Mr.. Crowell's esti-
mates in his report, the average cost
of maintenance for a meter per year
is forty cents, exclusive of the cost
of reading. He declared ninety per
cent. of meter difficulty was due to
sediment in pipe lines and not to
any fault in mechanism. His report,
giving detail figures on cost of me-
tering public buildings, amounting
to a total Of $1,263, was received
with thanks and filed.
City Surveyor Mason was author
lied to advertise for bids for laying
1900 feet of twenty-four-inch water
main at the extension on the south
shore and also to advertise for bids
for purchase of approximately 5000
feet of two, three and four-inch pipe
to be used for air lines on the last
lot of wells installed at the Runyon
pumping station. Mr.. Mason sug-
gested that about 500 feet Of the
twenty-four-inch main extension be
laid. in a trench so that the pipe
would be level with the top Of the
ground, in accordance with wishes
OF owners of land over which the
line Is to be extended. He suggest
ed the pipe be laid in a trench and
surrounded by clay to prevent de-
terioration by chemical action in the
marshes. His suggestion was adopt
ed. Nj. Mason reported that prac-
tically all of the necessary rights of
way for the main extension had been
procured.
Upon suggestion of Joseph E.
Stricken, acting as attorney, the
board passed a new set of resolu-
tons authorizing condemnation pro-
ceedings to ecure land of the R. G.
Packard Company for main extern
sion. Resolutions previously passed
held r. G.. Packard as the owner.
Mr.. Stricken learned a corporation,
r. G. Packard Company, held the
land in question. The form of reso-
lutions drawn by the attorney was
accepted and they yer unanimously
adopted. The subject was referred
to the real estate committee for de-
cision as to whether it should be re-
ferred back to Mr.. Stricken or to City
Attorney C. c. Hommann.
The board extended permission
for property owners in West Side
avenue to tap into a new ~twelve-inch
main being constructed there and
decided to place a four-inch line in
Laurie street, a distance of 200 feet
west from West Side avenue. A Pc
tition received from Frank Roznicki
and sixteen others, asking for a
main extension in West Side avenue,
was referred to the pipe committee
and surveyor with power. The COM
mittee and engineer conferred dur
ing the meeting and decided on the
Improvements as outlined.
Surveyor Mason suggested that
the upper portion of a spillway dam
at the Runyon pumping station be
removed, because 1t was in danger
of falling. The commissioners de-
cided to make an inspection at the
pumping station and view the dam
in question.
Hereafter il the city decides to
make changes which might deterior-
ate in any way the water supplied
to consumers, notification must be