Smyrna times., 1912-04-17
TOWN COUNCIL FIXES UPON
NEW WATER METER RATE
ALL LARGE TAKERS OF WATER
WILL HAVE TO GO ON A METER
Rate of Five Gents Per 1000 Gallons
Fixed For Users of Between 5000
and 10000 Gallons Per Day

|
lar meeting Friday evening, with
all present except Councilman
Roberts, spent much time in discuss
ing the business enl of the Light
and Water Department, that is the
furnishing of its light and water
at a profit and not a loss, with the
result that all large places will
hereafter go on a meter. In the
matter of electric light takers.
meters are being installed all the
way along. At first it was deemed |
necessary to have all hotels, big |
boarding houses and factories on
meters and this move on the part
of the Light and Water Committee
has brought about an almost general
use Of the meter system in stores
and public places. In the past year
or so many dwellings have adopted
the meter system as more con-
venient and economical than the fiat
rate plan. The progress made in
the electric light plant has caused
members of the Council to take
keener interest in the matter of it's
water rates. which it has discovered
is being taken on in a number of
cases at less than the cost of pump
ing. To be true, Smyrna has
wonderful we'll of water and an in
exhaustible supply but members of
the Board who have given a study
to the question and compared rates
in other towns and cities have
come to the conclusion that the
Light and Water Committee is
letting its water at too cheap a
rate. In view Of this, sometime
ago, Council purchased two water
meters and put one at the Gas Plant
and one at the Ice Plant. A sur
prising result was shown. Friday
night, with the meter statements
before them, Council went into an
exhaustive study of the subject and
compared the rates charged in other
towns all over the country which
were from ten cents per thousand
gallons, up. Members of Council
were disposed to give every con-
sideration where the water was
used for industrial purposes and to
fix upon a rate at practically the
cost of pumping but not at a loss.
With this in view, a motion was
nut and carried that users of tOwr
water of between 5000 gallons
and 10, 900 gallons day, metel
rate cf five cents per THOUSAND
Gallons be charged. Users of wate
AT less than this will come under
different rate proportionately higher
vet TO be fixed by Council. 1t l
the plan of Council to put all larg
water takers on a meter and ever
effort will be made to adjust tn
rates on a fair and equitable basis
New Belt Purchased for the Dynamo
n. B. Grieves, Chairman of tn
Light and Water Committee inform
ed the members present that b'
one DYNAMO was now in servii
owing to one of the dynamo bel
being out of commission. he ht
sent tbe belt to be repaired, but tt
balt manufacturers condemned Il
belt as unfit for permanent repa
and urged Council to purchase a ne ne
one which will cost about ~
After discussing the subject al
seeing the predicament the toV
would he in if anything should na
pen to the only remaining pei
members of Council authorized M
Grieves to phone at once ana ora
the new belt.
ToTake up Street Work at Early D'
Chairman John P. Hudson of t
Street and Sewer Committee, So
he was ready TO build the macaoi
section of north Main street 10
new macadam road built by the lie
Court between Smyrna and Do
Creek Council fell into the pl
of giving all approaches TO TO
80 and prompt attention q
Secretary Grieves was autnor.4 .
to order five carloads OF cous
stone and four carloads Oh
stone at once.
Nothing Done in Sprinkler Matte
Council did nothing in the ma. ma.
of making arrangements tor lns.' :
ing the street sprinkler. IN = !
the subject was never mepslO' nloa
except that Mrs. W. II. p"s
one of our property wv" ~;
quoted as saying that Councl, e.. -.
raise a sufficient revenue loi
sprinkler by placing town artsd ed
dogs. Alderman Crow repor.su .s'r
March fines collected and tur
over to the Town Treasurer
amount of S11. Councii rno
after allowing bills Ito tne @
of $546. 49,.