Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-02-21

aerful asset for the city and well worth the
money expended. But at the same time that this
additional expense must be borne. one of the
city's largest customers has been lost through
The city Of South Amboy constructing its own
water works.
The fact that there is this extra expense with
loss of an important source of revenue, and in
view of the fact that Perth Amboy's water rate
is lower than most other cities of this size
makes the request for an increase reasonable.
The only question is as to the manner of making
the increase.
The water board proposes to jump the mini
mum rate from 81 per quarter to Sc per quarter
at the same time the minimum of water used is
raised from 500 cubic feet to 1900 cubic feet.
Above that figure the consumer is to pay fifteen
cents for every 100 cubic feet of water con-
sumed. This means that under the present rate.
If a person uses but 500 cubic feet of water he
pays only SO per quarter and for every 100
cubic feet Of water he used over that amount he
must pay additional at the rate of fifteen cents.
Under the new rate proposed by the water
board he would pay SO instead of 81 as the min
imum charge only whereas the consumer could
use but 500 cubic feet for the SO charge. under
the new rate he can use 1900 cubic feet for the
minimum So charge. In other words. the addi-
ttonal charge of fifteen cents per 100 cubic feet
does not begin until after the consumer has
used 1900 cubic feet of water whereas now the
additional charge begins after he has used 500
cubic feet of water.
But the records show that only ss3 houses
out of $500 get along with but 500 cubic feet
of water in three months which constitute a
a 49, a~y -o, Q . N ,ar
ter for their water while under the new rate they
would pay 81 more, or a total Of SO for their
water.
The records further show that out of the $3.50
dwellings,, 1,147 use 1000 cubic feet of water
These people at present pay So for the first
500 cubic feet that they consume and at the
rate of fifteen cents for every 100 cubic feet
over 500. AS they use 500 additional cubic
feet they pay seventy-ive cents more max
ing a total of s2.75 per quarter that their
water costs them. Under the new rate as the
charge will be 50 for the first 500 cubic feet,
those who used but 1000 cubic feet of water a
quarter would pay So, the same as those who
used only 500 cubic feet. an increase of twenty
cents per quarter.
Besides the two classes already mentioned
ilNA oAC . NAAA "a - ~
500 cubic feet of water in a quarter. These
people now pay So for the first 500 cubic feet
and fifteen cents for each additional 100 feet or
total of $3.50 for the quarter. But as the new
rate allows 1900 cubic feet of water for So,
.hese people would get their water fifty cents
cheaper than they do at present.
But after 1900 cubic feet the rate of fifteen
cents for each additional 100 cubic feet begins
to apply under the new rate so that while at
present the consumer who uses 1000 cubic feet
and pays 50 for the first 500 and fifteen cents
per 100 cubic feet for the additional 1900 has
a bill amounting to s4.25. under the new rate of
SO for the first 1900 cubic feet of water and
fifteen cents for each additional cubic feet he
would pay but 1915 which would mean a reduc-
ton in his bill Of fifty cents per quarter.
So it would go up the line. so that the con-
sumner using 10000 gallons who at present pays
per quarter would. under the new rate,
pay s30.T5, a saving of s1.75.
It is apparent, therefore, that the contention
the aldermen that the increased rate falls
heaviest on the little consumer is correct. 1t is
not until the consumer uses 1900 cubic feet or
more that his bills become lower. But as more
than half of the 5.22O dwellings taken from all
parts of the city as an average. use 1900 cubic
feet or more the new rate would benefit the
greatest number of consumers taking the city
as a whole.
II the other ordinance of the water board
reducing the rate from fifteen cents to thir-
teen cents for each additional 100 cubic feet
used over 1900 cubic feet were put into effect
it would mean 1856 per quarter for the con-
sumner of 1000 cubic feet against $4.25 at
present and instead of 1915 as the water
board would have 1t stand. In this case, how
ever. the increase to SO as the minimum charge
would be the same for all consumers under
1900 which. Of course, would hit the small
consumer the hardest.