Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-02

TO meet expenses, the Old schedule
was taken up and a readjustment
made along these lines.
We have arrived at a general rate
for dwelling, the equity Of which
leave for you to decide. In my judg-
ment no flat rate is equitable; for
example, family of six people would
obviously use more water than a fam.
lily of two living in similar place and
it does not follow that a family of
two can any better afford to pay the
set flat rate for such an area.
The question of setting d rate for
stores, factories, warehouses, etc. has
been gone into very carefully by the
department, and We find it impossible
to fix a rate to cover such places.
Men in the same line Of business are
paying all out of proportion to the
amount Of water used
Fixing rates for water consumed
except by meter depends entirely on
the question OF whether or not the
department head is a good guesser.
Although anxious to be absolutely fair
no department head is competent to
fix flat rate that is equitable.
Taking up the matter of meters,
I am absolutely certain that meters
can be purchased that will suit Homo
lulu's condition. AS | have said, the
trouble has not been so much the me-
ter as the work the meter is expected
to do, and if care is taken in placing
and looking after meters, do not eX
pect any trouble from such a system
in February the department had
working 1872 meters, today there are
installed and working $40, approx
mately 10 per cent OF services me-
tered. .-..
Il have made the statement that
the per capita consumption in Homo
lulu, 800 gallons, is enormous. This
statement is based on the fact that
the consumption Of water in Honolulu
is nearly three times the average con-
sumption in the states
The next matter of Importance in
the Honolulu water department is the
conserving of its supply. Mr.. Alex
ander, in a paper read before the So
efal Science Club also before the coun,
ty officials and invited guests at Rob.
ert Shingles residence. included IN
the conservation of the Honolulu wa
ter supply the 1000, 900 to 100000
gallons of artesian water used by man
ufacturers. The manner in which this
may be done in two instances has
been reported on by Mr.. Bromley,
chief engineer Of the department.
IN the case OF the Hawaiian EIec-
trio Company II VIII be to the adj
vantage of the governor to secure the
run Of water for The purpose Of in
creasing the pressure In downtown
district and for shipping, at the same
time allow the department to bette.
supply the Waikiki and Manoa district
from the Befetanis street station. In
the case Of the Rapid Transit Com
pany a main connected to their con-
dens6rs would conserve the water
from their plant, the cost to the gov
eminent being only that of installing
pipes and fitting. Taking up these
propositions would be to the interest of
the corporation and at the same time
would protect the community by con-
serving at least $500 600 gallons daily
of good pure water. Three and one
half millions is all the department
can handle. fa
"Pesides installing of meters to pre-
vent wastes of water there must be
considered the laying of mains to sup
ply water In Kaimuld, Kalil1f. Ma
noa, ID fact In all parts of the city,
we find hree-quarter inen service
pipes supplying 10 to 80 houses, when
they should be supplying one.
Anticipating the Manoa street i'm
pfovement, Mr.. kerchoff, the engineer
in our department, is now working
on a pipe system covering this Sec
ton. Two plans are being worked
out. One a double line, that is a
system for each side Of the street, the
pipe to be placed in the sidewalk
area; the other plan, the main to be
plsced in the street. "a
Summing up the situation, be-
neve the policy should be. first, allow
the department to assess the new
rates for dwellings,. After the first
payment is made and the rate then APP
pears too high or produces too great
a revenue, that rate may then be re-
duced on q percentage basis. Second,
increased rates for stores, ETC., 10 per
cent, or allow the old rates to stand
and Immediately install meters In such
places. Third, where the department
is sure that there is an excessive
amount of water used in dwelling
rather than employ inspectors to pre-
vent the waste that all such places be
put under the meter system."
Mr.. Trent of Toronto gave a short
talk on advertising. and on the To-
ronto annual fall fair, expressing the
wish that the Hawaiian band might
be feature at the fair some year.
Madame Holmes ara Puccini of the
BevaHi Grand OpeT1 Company sang
solos, and four of the company sang
the famous Rigoletto quartet, after
which there was g brisk sale of tick.
cts for the Bevani company's fare
well concert, which will be given at
the opera house Friday night 49,.
Harry B. Newcomb of the Water