METERAGE AT BATTLE CREEK.

METERAGE AT BATTLE CREEK.

SINCE 1890 the number of water taps metered at Battle Creek. Mich., increased from 1,237 in that year to 1,710 in 1899—making an average of seventy-five percent, where meters are installed and forty per cent of water metered. The meters in use in the city are of the following types: Crown, 1,099; Lambert, 204; Thomson, 192, Neptune, ninety-two; Nash, fifty-four; Mersey, forty-four; Empire, seventeen; Worthington, four; Westinghouse, two; Gem (three-inch), one; register on elevator, one Of these 1,501 are rented at an annual cost of fifteen per cent on cost, and 209 have been sold at cost. The meter rates are seven to thirteen cents per 1,000 gallons—the minimum annual rate being $3. All new takers must put on meters, as well as all who change or add to their pipes or fixtures. Supt. Brigden, in his review of fhe financial results of operating the system during 1899, gives the following figures: Income from water rates, $17,909.36; income from rent of meters, 13,030.78; proper charge for use of 838 hydrants, at $45, $15,210; proper charge for city hall, engine house, schools, water troughs, flushing sewers, etc., $600.— total, $30,750.14.— Operating expenses, $10.000.11; interest on total cost at four and one half per cent, $12 303.70 — total, $22,303.81. Net gain by operating, not allowing anything for depreciation, $14,446.33; surplus in hands of city treasurer, $11,752.70. During 1899 there was in useatotal of 9.40 miles of water mains— the amount expended on this item in that year being $5,261.59 The total cost of construction from 1896 to December 31, 1899, has been $273 41.5.71. This includes, among other expenses: Land (near pumping station), $1,000; pump well, $2,790.88; inlet pipe, $8,774.81; suction pipe, $1,092.56; pumpinghouse and chimney, $5,714 71; pumps and attachments, $14,561.45; boilers and attachments, $3,106.15; standpipe, $7,077.30; mains, $169,704.38; service pipe, $22,487.35; engineering and inspection (1886 to 1889 only), $2,464.82; office expenses (1886 to 1889 inclusive, $655.68; meters (rentals deducted from construction account up to 1896, inclusive), $14,976.34; driven well near pump well, $879.48; Minges brook (including land), $19,303.38; experimental filter, $77.53. The following figures, taken from 8upt. Brigden’s clearly condensed statement for the years 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 are interesting:

Street valves (1896, 1897, 1898, 1899), 244, 252, 267, 284; public hydrants, 800, 312, 826, 338; number of meters and registerin use, 1,237, 1,847,1,515, 1,710; percent, of taps metered, sixty-eight, sixtyeight, seventy-one, seventy-five; per cent, of water metered, forty-three, forty-three, forty-three, forty; number of taps or services (not including taps on account of paving), 1884, 1971, 2,124, 2,277; number of park fountains (public), two, two, two, two; public drinking fountains, six, six, Bix, seven; operating excuses, $7,647.74, $7,108.80; $7,612.45, $10,000 11; expenses charged to pumping account, $3,835.47, $2,912 58, $3,301.86, $3,610,78; cost of coal used, $970.00; $636.30; $1,040.00; $1,218.54; water pumped iu million of gallons, 184, 219, 270, 308; average water pumped per day (gallons), 505,000,600,000, 740,000, 844,000; average cost per 1,000 gallons for pumping expenses only (cents) 2.1, 1.8; 12, 1.2; average cost per 1,000 gallons for total operating expenses (cents) 4.2, 3.2, 2.8; 8.2; average cost per 1,000 gallons for operating expenses and interest at four and one-half per cent on total cost (cents), 10 3, 9.0, 7.2, 7.2; Estimated population of city,15,400,16,600,17,000, 17,600; water used per day—per capita (gallons), thirty-one. thirty-six, forty-three, forty-eight; water used per day—per tap (gallons), 268,305, 345, 371; level of water in lake below gauge, Decembers! 10.3, 10.9, 10.2, 10.1; rainfall (inches) 37 54, 30.28, 81.90, 30 63; annual rainfall in the locality (inches), —--thirty; receipts for water(including advance on applications) $12,224.28,$13,955.72, $17,909.36; receipts per tapon number,$6.19, $7.08,$8.14, $7.87; average receipts per 1,000 gallons for metered water, (cents), 10%, 10, 12, 12.5; average receipts per 1,000 gallons for unmetered water, forty to forty-five per cent, of total free or wasted extra leaks (cents), 6.1, 6, 4.2 4.5; receipts for licenses, $25, $25, $25, $35; duty (coal used while running), 35,000,000, 37,000,000, 42,000,000. 36,000,000; duty (total coal used), 26,000,000, 30,000,000, 36 000,000, 32,000,000. Supt. Brigden’s digest is drawn up and published in such a manner as to afford at a glance all necessary information—on which he is to be congratulated. The source of supply for the system, which is owned by the city, is Goguac lake; 360 acres area; watershed, one and one-half square miles; maximum depth, eighty feet. It is possible to feed the lake from Minges brook; drainage area, fourteen square miles; two Blake compound, duplex, condensing steam pumps, each 2 000,000 gallons daily capacity; pressure sixty-five to eighty-five pounds; average lift of pumps, about 104 feet; standpipe, seventy-five by eighteen feet—top, 200 feet above business part of city; bonded debt-, $60,000.00 at four and one-half per cent, interest; and $30,000 00 at five per cent.