The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-06-14
MAYOR LINDSAY
HAS FACTS ON
WATER SUPPLY
Water Meter System
Shows No Conservation
of Supply

Az lne New pOTI CiCS NOuI4Cll
meeting of June 5th, Mayor W. c.
Lindsay subscribed to the Council
the following rather indefinite data
affecting the alleged value of the
water meter as q factor for con-
serving water.
"The Mayor, by very close IN
specton and investigation is daily
and nightly checking incoming and
outgoing supply of water to reser-
voir. By July 1st., the Council and
the public will be offered some very
conclusive data affecting the guam
tity of water conserved by the wa
ter meters installed a year ago.
Prior to any considerable eXten-
sions on the city water palnt-it
would be advisable for the commit
tee on the Water Departmer4. to
inform itse.f of the normal sur
plus OF water at the city's COM
mand both summer and winter"
Your reporter had occasion to
call upon Mayor Lindsay yesterday
at his office, and made bold to ask
him. if agreeable, to enlighten the
public a little more definitely on
Just what he meant by the fore
going paragraph,
Il mean just this said the Ma
yor-"Ever since the first water
meter was installed on our system
more than ten years ago-there are
not more than 100, or d few more,
on the system now-I have consist
emily opposed adoption as a means
for conserving water, because, IN
fact, it does not conserve water to
any appreciable extent, where wa
ter conditions and flat rates are
ae liberal as obtain in Newport;
and for the further reason that it
is unjust to place one user on d
meter base of payment and his
neighbor on a non-meter basis of
payment.
Twenty seven years ago when
our water plant was constructed, 1t
was built to take care of popuia-
tion Of 5000 people. We have
reached that number now-and
henceforth, as we expand in popu-
lation, we have got to either in
crease our supply of water, or
abridge its use.
Nov, do not misconStrue me.
There is no present shortage of
Watcr-We have water enough for
every reasonable domestic use and
fire protection, with the possible
exception of water for Sprinkling
the streets during the hot summer
monthS-and we can produce wa
ter for sprinkling purposes close at
hand, and at small expense, with
out effort hardship, or plant ~
privation, "a we have heretofore v
Approximately, tWo-thirds of
the water meters installed We're af-
fixed to the water takers 50 en-
numbered a year ago, and the bal
ance during the winter and spring
months just past. The advocates
for the water meters have vocifer-
ously insisted and claimed that
great deal of useless waste of wa
ter would be conserved by their
adopton-and particularly 50. if
the meters were installed on the
lines of the largest consumers of
water Few meters are affixed to
the individual family takers, aS it
is alleged by the "meterites" that
The small family takers would not
consume beyond their allowance
measure calling for excess rates,
and because their consun ton
would not reach the excess figure,
no saving of water would be ex-
pcctcd from them, cor increased
revenueD.
"A year ago at this time there
were about 70 meters installed on
the largest consumers of water. To
etfectuate d ~aving of water, the
City Council about the first of
September notified each of those
Cortinre,- on page fve)