The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-07
NO NEED OF METERS.

NO NEED OF METERS.
The proposition for general metoring
! OF this city for water purposes has
often been suggested. From the official
standpoint there is no question but
that the providing of meters for all
water users in the city would be the
simiae the easy, and the thorough so~
luton Of the water question. But
what is involved in this meter propo-
sitionY First OF all, an expense of
not less than quarter of million dol
lars to install the meters. Next, re-
striction in the use Of water; for with
meters in and meter charges affixed,
residents viii not willingly use
tine water in sufficient quaint
ties TO keep up the fine appearance Of
the city. The landlords win not, for
example, pay for the use Of plenty Of
water to sprinkle the lawns and make
a beautiful appearance for their prem
iscs Even though the tenants might
be willing to spend the time to sprinkle
the lawns sufficiently, the landlords
would not permit it when they have
10 pay specifically for the water used.
And so it would be generally through
out the city. The application of a
rigid meter system and charge per gal.
used would necessarily tend to the
disuse Of water where it has been used
so plentifully in the keeping up OF
lawns and shrubherv which make this
city delight. With the meter sys-
tenn in and thoroughly applied, there
can be no doubt but that the lawns
and shrubbery in the yards of Salt
Lake would materially diminish. much
to the disadvantage Of the city and to
the deterioration Of its appearance.
The usual reason given by the Off
cials IN favor of the adoption of the
meter system is that it would prevent
waste Of water by the water-hog.'
This gives away the whole case, and
admits that the officials are willing to
punish nine-tcnths of the people OF this
city for. say. the ouetenth that will
waste or 'hog'' the water. The in
justice Of Furnishing nine for tho of
fenses Of one must be manifest TO
every citizen. Such ia not the genius
Of our institutions, and such is not the
method of community procedure. We
do not put shackles upon nine innocent
men in order that the tenth, who
may he a criminal. may also be
shackled. We punish the one who is
guilty. and let the innocent 90 free aud
unmolested. And so it should be in the
matter of water trespass, hogging,' -
or waste. Catch the trespasser or Of
fender, and deal with him with rigor,
but let the fair minded citizen, the one
who uses the water honestly and as
needed, go in peace. Do not afHict the
whole city for the trespasseo Of mere
fraction
In the past the ravages of the wa
terhog or water waster have
been in plain view in many parts OF
the city 1t would seem as though the
officials ought easily to recognize the
places where water is wasted and the
ordinances disobeyed. 1t is plain TO be
seen in various parts of the city in the
watered season, that certain places
waste water. They food their gar
deus, their lawn, and their shrubberv
| patches with water 10 mch an extent
that the water runs out on the side
walk and into the streets, forming
holes and destroying the fair use Of
! 4 III h,
! ter. Wherever this occurs, and it
! is In evidence more or less every year,
there should be IN immediate notice
served upon the persons so violating
the ordinances and abusing their
community privilege, that unless the
waste is Immediately stopped the wa
! ter will be shut of and Kept per
/ is paid. Besides the premises should
4 bc kept under surveillance 20 see that
no repetition Of the Oflense is com
mitsed. We have q large number Of
officials who inspect the city IN it's
various community phases at all hours
OF the day. We have a large number
/ of policemen, "a large body OF frenen,
/ besides thc officials and employees in
! great numbers IN the various depart
meuts All should be especially en-
| Joined 20 keep their eyes open 10 any
trespasses of this kind. and report
them 70 the proper officials, without
loss OF time. BY this vigilance. exer-
eised by the hundreds of people in the
city's employ there would he little
chance for N offender 10 escape being
found out And this is the solution
that we present for the prevention Of
waste. and for dealing with the wa
ter-hog.' Let all the city officials
and city employees keep sharp look
out for any violation Of the city