Annual Water-Works Reports.

Annual Water-Works Reports.

Zanesville, O., year ending March 31, 1893 ; Pius Padgitt, secretary of the board of trustees. Population, census 1890. 21,147; date of construction of water-works, 1840; source of supply, Muskingum river ; tmthod, pumping to two reservoirs on elevated sites; distribution from reservoirs and one standpipe; pumping capacity, two engines, 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 gallons respectively; one engine to supply high service, one engine 5,000,000 gallons capacity; total receipts for the year $50,744.14; disbursements, $48,328.10. The new pumping engine, 5,000,000 gallons capacity, erected April 9, 1893, and put into active operation June 8, 1893, has since then pumped all of the water used, except a small portion raised by the old pumps during February last. Concerning meters, we can but repeat what was said in our last report, that “ experience with the u»e of meters is as yet too limited to enable us to form any decided opinion as to the ultimate results, but all the indications point to the conclusion that these results will be eminently satisfactory to both the works and the consumer.” The placing of meters practically ceased immediately following the bringing of the injunction suit against the meters of the water-works by H. H. Sturtevant. That suit was brought to obtain a decree of court restraining the trustees from charging and collecting mote than four cents a 1000 gallons for water passing through a meter or other measuring device. It was the object of the trustees to fix a meter rate that would yield a sum sufficient to pay all the expenses of running the works, with a possible reasonable surplus to be used in cases of emergency. To attain approximately this lesult the rate was fixed at six cents per 1000 gallons. We were and are still of the opinion that to furnish metered water at the rate ot four cents a 1000 gallons would bring financial ruin upon the water-works department. It could be done without disaster to the works only by increasing the water rents of unmetered private consumers. This we did not propose to do, and rather than be compelled to resort to such a course we adopted the policy of placing no more meters and continuing the same old assessment plan.

On the 25th of February the hearing of the injunction case of H. H. Sturtevant against the Board of-Trustees was begun in Common Pleas Court, and Friday, March 10, the court delivered its decision against the claims of plaintiff. * * * The Zanesville water-works, like all other well conducted water-works, has an established minimum rate for domestic or family consumers, and on this minimum rate are based all other rates. The object being simply to produce a revenue sufficient to run the works with a reasonable margin for incidental or unusual expenses. The minimum rate of water rents in this city is $3.70 per year for a family of four persons. * * * On this basis all other rates are established, with a view' of simply producing revenue sufficient to maintain the works and keep it in a safe and reliable condition.