The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-07-09
Say That Low Water Rates
Are Barre's Only Con-
cession to Them MI
CITY WILL CHECK Up
WATER CONN ONS
For tSss@.lne Being, Meter
ing of Whole System Is J,
Held in Allegiance nj

Granite manufacturers and city coun.
: cillors met at city hall last night in a
, conference over the proposal, contemplate
ed since August, 1913, to place the water
/, service in the stonesheds on a meter ba-
c sis. Thirteen mem bers of the manufac.
turers' association were present to lift
their voices against anything that con-
, formed either in shape or theory to
I meter. Figurstively, it was the organ
lied protest of more than 100 manufac-
turers, but as a matter of fact. it was a
hearing in the case of Alexander Duncan
vs. the council.
The very least that the manufacturers
did was to bring about a deferment of
the sweeping meter program advocated
by Engineer F. H. Crandall of Burling-
ton and it may augur veal or woe for
their cause that after the joint confer
ence was over the council voted to in
struct the water department to check up
every water connection in the city. do
mestic and manufacturing services in
cluded, with a view to ascertaining lust
how much equity there is in the present
method OF assessing water rates.
The burden of proof in the case for
the meters was with the water commit
tee, the floor of oratory with the pro-
testants. That the meter is the only in-
spector that can rightfully claim any con-
siderable degree of success in the water
waste prevention campaign was the meat
in the arguments offered by the water
COMMITTEES, members of which put for
ward, incidentally, plea for more rev.
enue in that department on the ground
that water plant valued at 1868 600,
with yearly income of S23, 900, de-
Quoting revenue from the city. schools.
hydrants, etc. leaves percentage of
seven and three-ffths on the investment
with which TO pay interest on the orig
inal bonds amounting to per cent. and
therefore pitifully small surplus. Elim-
nation OF waste and a much desired in-
crease of revenue were the two princi-
pal and most practical reasons given for
carrying out the meter program.
Against these reasons were arraved
the argument that by installing the me-
ters. the city would be withdrawing the
only concession ever granted the manu-
facturers and that an adequate substi-
tute for meters can be employed by re-
adjusting the rates on domestic and
manufacturing connections and closer in
spection of the entire service. Mr.. Dun
can of the North Barre Granite Co. and
II. J. NJ. Jones of Jones Bros. summed
up the manufacturers attitude bv claim
ing that the council has set out 90 raise
$4,000 per year on its water revenue
and that the manufacturers must pay
the freight, even though tons Of water
are trickling over the dam 20 waste dur
ing nine months Of the year.
II must not be supposed that the man.
retired because their supply OF
arguments was exhausted. Mr.. Duncan
had deplored the possible necessity Of
sending streaky tombstones abroad be-
cause Of prohibitive wster prices for
washing, long before the debate was fn-
shed George H. Hoyt had predicted
trouble with keeping the meters free
rom freezing in the winter time. W. A.
lane Of Grcarson & Lane had reminded
he council that a private water COM
'any had once dropped a pipe into Jail
ranch and sold water 20 the polishers
or s.. or slo less than the present rate,
wen though the company bad been IN
he water business for profit. And 80 on.
There was a surieit OF argument and
rgumentation.
Manufacturers present when the nav
r called the conference 10 order includ.
4 stephen Rizzi of Rizzi Bros. e.. ".
icMillan. George H. Hoyt Of Hoyt 4
iilne. Alexander Duncan. George strait.
n. James T. Marion Of Marion 4
lLeary. Secretary n. T. Hinman Of THE
ssociation. James :. Milne of Adis 4
iilne. II. u. stevens. ". A. Murray Of
be HARRISON Granite Co. Robert Q Ne.
'onusll. II. p NJ Jones and W A. lane.
he resolution of August. 1919 empow.
-iuC the water committee to proved
ith the work Of meterinr. giving man.
iacturina plants first preference. az fast
} fnsnces would permit. and with
lew ultimately 30 placing the entire
fstem on the same hasis. was FIRST read.
hen came a retieW - Engineer Cran-
,u's fusiugs. in which he suhrn .ttef
utativs seheduk for meter assessment..
fter that ths failaer Of purchasing
ANY meters IN the fan ~ Igia. only -
inter them. with the citv losinr So
terssf naansy on the Investment. wss
.rlored &iderman Cook. for fss oo~.
itiee. reported observations On tns
vikings 81 dourstic ard msnufacfur.
2 meters nlrraiv Installed
Replying 20 ths ssstemrrt ~ ~.
~ that thr urir a6Htinnsl nssistart
e9p8 N the stttem = e. - u,rfsr~a
'uia y nrtsf reaaaf. Wr nfr~an
srnurte5 fhs tsiiaf ti.sf ans rsr rous
rHr fhe terrrtrTF raEHIar'r Hs
nurif fha rfr shgld haze rffv ~
, marafaefurere nna ienrr Niem te
fr sals tstnaessinn 8am wntrT rnsns
urfuian hsaE ~ WF sHnss nnf uth~a
y rurnf .e1ra asrrs af tle indn-auarss
srrf risunfasfr-frs - u1lfsifs tosns
unrrian ssft ttf r,arafasfurrrs hase
q fr hn1g tiar aen efTeFts. ten- ha8
frran6 nf server fnsa llatiu-a anE
W taen af~r-Iaf ta makr ra#tfr n*
-rsrnarts - So stntf HnFs rf hsntth
rlanrsr arIaurd tt1f so rrsaintter
frruzf rrn rns raHs ir ftn.s ~
irfk faas afta str ratn asra~tnaaHf
{ r1r nsffas tts rrfersse wFtnks 81