Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-06-02
THE WATER RENT ISSUE.

the bar in the common Couii@t
n;ght to witness the proceedings OF
the Joint session called to take action
in regard to the proposed increase
nv the Alexandria Water Company
over the. present, rates charged by
tb,t corporation. Comparatively
few persons, however, attended
although the directors of the Water
Company were on hand with their
attorney, Gardner l.. Booshe.' Inc
latter presented the claims OF the
company for more revenue from
water takers of the city in order TO
meet the expense of the construction
of the dam at Bancroft and for PIP
;np water from that place to the
reservoir, distance Of Sin miles, lay
ing of new mains in the city, etc.
MIR. Boothe incidentally referred to
what he regarded as unnecessary
structures upon, the part of the press.
recently. especially in comparing the
board of directors of the company to
the Kaiser, regarded as the most
execrated man in the world.
We listened carefully to his state
ment throughout, but failed to see
why the takers of water in Alexan-
dr1a, from whose. patronage the
company has grown into its present
proportions, should he expected to
meet the expense of constructing the
dam at Bancroft. or the cost of pip
inc water to the reservoir. This
seemed to have been plainly implied
bv the speaker.
Comparing the board of directors
of the company to the Kaiser seem
ed to have been a serious reflection
from MIR. Boothe's standpoint, but
when it is remembered that for over
half a century the Alexandria Water
Company has had its own way in
everything, and has boldly detied
anyone who has had the temerlty to
question some of its rulings, the
figure of speech used by the Gazette
was not out of order.
The Alexandrians composing the
board of directors of the Water Com
pany arr among our best and most
esteemed citizens. and nothing per-
sonal was intended by the Gazette.
There was one statement which
must have amused all present. The
Gazette had referred to the late
BENJAMIN Hallowell. one OF the chief
promoters of the Alexandria Water
Company, who manifested an inter-
est in the poor man and fixed his
water rent at six dollars per an
nun, which. should the petition of
the company be granted, will be
doubled Mr.. Boothe acknowledged
that the good Quaker had played his
part in the early history OF the COM
pany, but that the rule whereby
rentals should governed by the gran
deur of the house watertaker might
occupy had long since been found il
logical
Strange, for over half century
this plan was insisted upon by the
Water Company and there was no
appeal from their fiat. Hence a
man who had no one but his wife in
his family but who resided in house
renting for ten or twelve dollars
month was forced to pay at least
eight dollars year for water, while
his next door neighbor with a dozen
in his family, who. by reason OF his
circumstances lived in house which
rented for an hundred dollars a year,
paid but six dollars.
Benjamin Hallowell. as is we'll
known, was the first President Of
the Alexandria Water Company. He
was of Il philantt,ropic spirit. and
always meant well. He was a friend
of the poor, and shortly before his
death, in referring to the part he
played :! bringing to The birth the
Alexandria Water Company he said:
1.-THE hydrant Of Cameron water
that is now in the Market Square,
with the evidence and intention of
my valued friend. Robert H. Miller,
which. l have understood, vas shared
in by the Water Board, are more
grateful to, my feelings, and more in
harmony with my ideas of the fitness
Of things than would be a monument
of marble"
Mr. Hallowell must have supposed