Evening journal., 1913-11-14
COUNCIL UP.
AGAINST new
WATER RATES
Want Supply Furnished to All
Consumers at the Same
Price
WOULD LET ALL
HAVE METER SERVICE

Following the regular session of City
Council last evening conference was held
in Mayor Howells Office between the
members Of Council and the Board of
Water Commissioners for the purpose Of
considering the now water rates which
viii be put into effect the first Of the
new year by Tire Water Commission.
The conference, which was heId at the
request Of Council, was held behind
closed doors, and no one was admitted
except the members of each body. II
was ascertained that Council unani-
mously faVors the water rates now in
effect and sre strongly opposed to the
new rates as proposed by the water
commissioners. The councilmen also ia
yored the issuance Of bonds to the extent
of $4,000 for the purpose of installing
meters throughout the city as far as can
be done with that amount of money. No
definite action was taken toward ar
ranging for this loan last evening. but
Council feels that when the new assess 4
ment system is in operation the city
will have sufficient revenue to install
meters all over the city.
The purpose Of the conference was to
enable the councilmcn and water com
missioners to get together and consider
the subject with q view of arriving a
some definite understanding relative to
tho water rates.
The members OF Council believe
that the present rates should remain
in force until there can bo definitely
hNed for al tinio tho cost OF supply
Ing water for the city. IL being thcid
! unanimous opinion that water should
be supplied TO the citizens or the
city ct cost price at was pointed
out that the small consumer OF wa
ter, such as private homes, stores
and the like are now compelled TO
pay more for water than the big
consumers the manufacturers. II is
lcleimed that under the proposed rates
manufacturers viii got water at less
than cost, and the Councilmen be-
lieve the rates should be fixed on an
equitable basis. The water commits
sioners believe that the manufactur-
or should not be charged sS much
for water as the domestic consumer.
as the low price OF water Is an in
ducement for manufacturers to come
10 Wilmington.
Council decided TO have confer
enoc with representatives OF the
manufacturing concerns and see
what they hare to say upon the sub
ject.
The members Of Council unani-
mously condemned the sliding scale
OF rates as proposed in the new rates
Of the water board. Il was, claimed
for instance that domestic using
1000 cubic feet Of water or less
would have to pay for 10 at the rate
OF Is cents per 1000 feet. whereas
the manufacturer using 100000 cubic
| feet Of water or less would be charg-
ed only So cents per 1000 cubic feet,
very material difference IN the cost
10 the two consumers. II was point
cd out az the meeting that under
such an arrangement the mannfac-
turer could open spigots i'm their
( plants at night when the inspectors
arc not on duty and let them run All
night, then shut them on in the
morning, thereby consuming far
more water than they needed, yet get
ting it at much reduced rates. SIM
ply because they had practically
wasted il and used a great guam
( tity.
Records OF the water board show
ed that in July of this year. there
we're $500 meters in service in this
Continued on Page Thirteen.