Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-09-19
MAY CUT RATE
OF CITY WATER
Board Wants Entire City
metered So as to Prevent
the Large Waste.
MILLIONS AT SCHOOL NO. 7
Discussion at Meeting Last
Night South AmboY Man
Gets Piping Contract.

Efforts are under way to reduce
water charges in this city and en-
courage the universal use of meters
over the flat rate system. The prop
osition was taken up about a year
ago and was pushed forward with
renewed vigor at a regular meeting
of the Board of Water Commission
ers last night. The commissioners
seemed to agree that meters should
guard every water outlet in the city,
so as to prevent waste and thereby
save money for the city and con-
sumers. Action was taken to sink
eight or more wells at the Runyon
pumping station, to improve the wa
er pressure about the Arnold hill
section by installing of new line in
West Side avenue and a contract
was awarded to John Quinlan, of
South Amboy, for carting and laying
suction pipes in the southerly leg at
Runyon. Several other subjects
were brought up for action.
The city water works is now on so
good paying basis that the water
commissioners feel they can give wa
ter consumers the benefit of reduced
rates. To that end Superintendent A.
H. Crowell was instructed to furnish
a report on water rates and estimate
the approximate cost of maintenance
of meters. He will probably render
a report at the next regular meet
ing.
Considerable Water Wasted.
Water waste is a problem that has
puzzled the water commissioners for
some time. 1t seems to increase with
the increase in ordinary consumption
at such an alarming rate that the
city cannot keep up with 1t and in
stall machinery and wells fast
enough. One Of the commissioners
stated last night, that If the increase
in consumption kept growing much
more another new engine would soon
have to be installed. Superintendent
CrowelI reported the water consump-
tion in public school No. 7 alone for
nine months was the big amount OF
3,414,000 gallons, indicating there
was a big waste somewhere. He rec
commended that all public buildings
be equipped with meters, so that the
board could keep tab on water usage
and check unnecessary waste.
The present minimum meter rate
sumers having meters do not use
that much water in year, they an
nually lose a small amount. 1t is
the intention of the water commits
-7.s-n ss-.i eFs g. to reduce the minimum rate
to make meters attractive to every
consumer and create a saving for
each one of them as we'll as the city.
The water department is very cour-
teous in dealing with meter users,
in that representatives usually in
form property owners and tenants OF
leaks and other waste when reading
is high, thereby saving them money,
despite the fact that they arc not
compelled to.
New Well Driving Apparatus.
The city's new we'll driving appa-
ratus will be used to install eight or
more new wells in the Deep Run"
section at Runyon. They may be
equipped with either wire gauze or
gravel screens. George Pfeiffer, Jr.,
has granted the board permission to
install gravel screens, such as he
uses, without payment OF royalty.
1t Is intended to increase water
= pressure in the northwestern part
of-the city by installing a twelve
inch tne along West Side avenue
from Hall avenue to Washington
street. Pipe was ordered for the
same.
John Quinlan Getes Contract.
John Quinlan's estimate for cart
ing and laying pipe of varied sizes
in the southerly leg of the water
system, follow. Pipe, 55 cents lin
cal foot, creosoted yellow pine, $53
per thousand board feet; excavation,
80 cents cubic yard. Other bids
follow: American Aerator Company,
of, Camden, Pipe, rs cents a foot;
creosoted yellow pine, s55 a thou
sand feet; excavation, 23 cents a
cubic yard. H. H. Holmes, of Jer-
sey City, pipe, IS cents foot, ere
osoted yellow pine, $50 thousand
feet; excavation, 40 cents a cubic
yard. Liddle and Pfeiffer, of this
city, pipe, so cents a foot; creosoted
yellow pine, $50 a thousand board
feet, excavation, 25 cents a cubic
yard.
Estimates for making alterations
and improvements to one of the
dwelling houses at the Runyon
CONTINUED on page 2.)