Evening journal., 1913-08-01
WANT CITY
WATER RATE
UNCHANGED
Real Estate Brokers Tell Com
miSSiOnerS Raise Would
be Injustice
DEPARTMENT LISTENS
BUT DOES NOT REPLY


ested in the ownership of real estate
appeared before the Board of Water
Commissioners this morning contend
ing that If the commissioners put into
execution the proposed new water
rates service on the meter system that
the owners of real estate would have
to pay the same price as under the
old rates and get but half the amount
Of water The real estate brokers de-
clared that the department was not
running behind financially, in fact
each year handed over TO the city a
substantial surplus and that there
was no necessity for making the in
crease in the rate.
Leave the rate as il is" was the
request of all of those present
Under the old rate on the meter
system the property owner pays $3.50
year, representing discount in ad-
vance upon installation of the meter
the rates emitting the consumer to
300 gallons of water a day.
Under the proposed schedule a
charge of IS is to be made for the in
stalling of the meter. This amount
must be paid 4 the subscriber does
not use a drop Of water. For the pay
ment Of S. additional the consumer
will be entitled to $50 gallons OF
water. He pays the $40 but gets only
half as much water for the money
]. Bail Peirce. president OF the
Real Estate Brokers Association
opened the conference today by in
| forming President Poole, and the
other members of the commission,
the purpose of The meeting. He said
h.
against the proposed new rate from
members of the brokers association,
as well as from brokers not be-
longing to the association and per-
sons who owned real estate.
He said it was contended that the
department was self supporting ano
| turned over a substantial surplus to
the city each year and one that had
been increasing each year.
4 When asked by President Poole If
he was sure that Mr.. Peirce read
from the reports OF the department
/ for several years back. which he said,
proved his assertion.
In conclusion. Mr.. Peirce asked that
the old rate be continued.
Henry Hopes, as chairman of the
committee representing the Real Es-
tate Brokers' Association, said the
chief objection TO the new schedule
was the changing of the meter rate.
He said the change meant a great
increase in the charges. The con-
sumer would have TO pay $40 for
water worth So. He declared that by
the new system the commission would
receive $50 for a meter which did not
cost more than SIS to install. The
way he arrived at this was by placing
the life OF a water meter at 16 yeara
at a yearly charge of So. He said it
had cost practically nothing to keep
meters in repair in the houses in
which he had installed them.
Mr.. Hopes said he could not bee how
/ the move contemplated by the depart
ment could stop the waste of water. He
said thft ii the depaument was not
making enough money the water rate
should be raised and the fact announced.
Mir. Hopes said the real estate of the
city paid almost all Of the running eX-
penses of the city, and was already
bearing burdens which were unjust. He
referred to the recent assessment Of
property. SAYING the assessors had taken
from Tom" to pay "Dick."
He requested that the old rate be
retained.
\ William ]. Fisher agreed with what
Mr.. Peirce and Mr.. Hopes had said, de-
rlaring that the new rate would put a
penalty upon the use Of water, when It
should be as free as the air
He said he did not see why any
change should be made in the presen5
system He fixed meters, he said, and
thought they would guard against
waste.
A. b. Moore. who appeared as the
only member of the committee ap-
pointed by the Chamber of Commerce
to appear at the meeting. said he ap-
lpeared in a dual capacity for he was
also a real estate broker.
Mr. Moore said the Chamber of
Commerce had not yet committed it.
self upon the question. He declared
that the new rate meant an increase
Of So per cent and was an injustice.
He thought that in justice to the own
ers of property the department should
give 500 cubic feet of water as mini
mum for the old charge of $40 less
the fifty cents discount. He told Of
the need of the workingman for plenty
of water when he had worked all day
lin a foundry or factory or any other
dirty work, for preservation of his
health.
Il am not complaining" said Mr.
Moore, but / ask you not to expert
ment with us in such a drastic man.
lner."
He expressed the opinion that a
lcampaign of education carried on
Jointly by the brokers and commits
sioners would result in stopping the
waste Of water. and that notices, be put
} lup in bath rooms and on all spigots
, calling attention TO the careful use OF
water.
} President Poole expressed the opin-
, ion that this was a good idea.
At this juncture Mr.. Hopes called
attention to the fact that the depart
ment turned over to the city s77,733.0S
in 1910 and 1911
! Peter j. Ford said that the most un
fortunate man in Wilmington was thu
, one who owns much real estate.
"If there is any real wealthy man II
/ Wilmington who owns any considerable
real estate | do not know him." Mr.
/, Ford declared.
4 "A wise man of Wilmington. who ha
: much money does not invest it in rea
4 estate because ne could find more profit
p able investments" declared Mr. Ford
, AIR Ford said that unfortunately h
had lots OF property but could not &c
3 rid of it. He declared that the poo
property owner and not the wealth,
t man of the city pays the expenses.
t When he asked Mr. Poole what thi
t charge for 50 a meter meant he was toll
. II wac tie capacity Of overhead charge