16
t
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND, MAY 30, 1913.
FALLACY OF METER
THEORY IS SHOWN
Deferring Necessity of Putting
in Reinforcing Mains Is
Analysis of Situation.
GREAT COST IS ENTAILED
ttlille Work Will Have to lie Done
KventuHlly, Public In Mean
time Will 15c Denied Water
Which Will .o to Wntc.
MOSS-ROOFED HOUSES, RUBBISH SCENES AND LEADER IN PORTLAND'S SYSTEM OF FIRE PREVEN
TION CAUGHT BY CAMERA.
METER SITl ATIO.X I.V A MT
ISllbLL. Commissioner Lialy concurs
with ail hla water ennin.ei. lu
the ntatoiiient that meters would
merely slave oft temporarily the
construction of reinforcing mains.
Meters do not nuvke more
wuter. As mains are tapped by
new services and the capacity of
the mains becomes taxed rein
forcements ure necessary. Meters
curb water use und therefore
stave off temporarily the time
when the reinforcements will
nave to be built.
Mayor Albee opposes the meter
plan, saying that there Is no need
for a meter system. Why cur
tall the use of water merely to
add to the great volume now go
ing to waste at the hcadworks
and at the reservoir?
Commissioner Dlcck says a
city-wide meter system is not
needed In Portland, lie says it
would be an unwarranted ex
travagance. Two-thirds of Bull Run Kiver
goes over the hcadworks. One
third goes into the pipelines.
l'ortland never yet has been
able to use In a day all the water
the two pipelines could furnish.
The pipelines can carry 17,000,0u0
gallons more in 24 hours than
Portland has ever been able to
use in that length of time.
A city-wide meter system
would involve an initial expense
of at least $332,000 with an ad
ditional cost of 25,000 a year for
new services.
Counting purchase of meters,
their installation. repair and
reading, the average cost of a
meter system in l'ortland would
be more than 100.000 a year.
Water meters do iot make more
water. When a water main lias so
many users on it that Its capacity is
overtaxed nothing will do but the con
struction of a larger main.
If water meters are put on all the
services attached to that overtaxed
main, the users naturally do not use
as much water as they would other
wise. The lawn gets less water, the gar
den gets less, baths are not so frequent,
and naturally there is not such a strain
on the water main.
But the Water Bureau continues to
add new services to the main, and pres
ently it becomes as badly overtaxed
as it was in the first place. Meters
have not created any additional water.
And then what happens when the
metered main becomes overtaxed? The
Water Bureau has to tend out and lay
the reinforcing main the same rein
forcing main that was necessary a
short time before. And in the mean
time the Water Bureau has expended
a young fortune in putting in the me
ters. Reinforcing Mnina I'uvored.
As an example, take a main designed
to supply 1000 services. When the 1000
connections are made the main is serv
ing its full capacity. Additional serv
ices are put on and the main becomes
overtaxed. Keinf orrement forthwith
should be the plan of meeting the sit
uation, at an approximate cost of $10,
000. Instead, however, of facing the sit
uation in this way. it is decided to
curb the use of water from the main
by means of meters. Meters are put
in at a cost of $8200 $3.80 each for
original purchase and 2.40 each for
installation. The meters enable the
Water Bureau to put poesibly 60 new
services on the main. These 50 serv
ices use up what water is, saved by
the meter system.
Then come applications for more con
nections on the main. It is overtaxed
even with meters, for the meters have
made no more water. The only solu
tion then is the construction of a re
inforcing main the same reinforcing
main that was needed in the first place.
In the meantime ?S200 has been spent
lor metering. Would It not have been
better to have built the reinforcing
main in the first place and givo the
water users what water they needed
for their lawns and gardens?
Meter Cent Declared Wants.
Following this indisputable argu
ment through the entire water system
of Portland, it can be seen that a city
wide water-meter system is a big
proposition, involving the waste of
hundreds of thousands of dollars to
avert temporarily the construction of
reinforcements, which will have to be
built ultimately, even with meters.
It is not a. question of available
water. Two-thirds of Bull Run Kiver
goes over the spillway at the Bull Hun
head works. The other third (and'
sometimes less) goe.s into the pipeline,
t'pon reaching Portland one-eighth of
the water piped in goes into the sewers
as overflow from the reservoirs.
"Never yet has l'ortland been able to
pot up a sufficient thirst to use all the
water the pipelines could bring to the
city. The most water ever used by
Portland In u. day wan 10.000.000 gal
lons. The pipelines have a capacity of
67.000.000 gallons, or 17.000.000 gallons
more than the city lis ever been able
to use in a day.
Water shortages occur in only a few
districts of the city. Ample reinforce
ments are being built Into the entire
northeastern part of the city which
will wipe out the troubles there. And
that leaves practically no district
without ample pressure, except a few
in remote parts of the city, at the ends
of long mains or on the heiglits.
. Is it economy to put meters on all
services in Portland so that pressures
may be improved temporarily in those
few districts?
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DALY LAW FAILURE
Repeal of Minimum Wage on
City Contracts Sought.
AMERICAN LABOR OUSTED
Man Sells Furniture Xot His.
Just after he had sold s:6 worth of
furniture for $150, J. W. Miller was ar
rested yesterday afternoon by Deputy
Constable MeOullough. who was a wit
ness to the transaction. Miller was
taken to the Courthouse and arraigned
before District Judge Bell on a charge
of larceny by bailee. JI. Jenning &
Sons appeared as complaining witness.
They alleged that Miller bought the
furniture last week on a contract, pay
ing a small sum down, and was trying I
to sell it to a eccond-hand dealer. j
Possibility of Municipality Being
Compelled to fleintburse Property-Owners
Foreseen Italians
and Syrians Ierive Benefit.
Another kink was taken in Commis
sioner Daly's Utopian ideals yesterday
when City Attorney laRoche sent an
ordinance to the City Council virtually
repealing Mr. Daly's ordinance as
passed last Winter providing a $3-a-day
minimum wage for all workmen
engaged by municipal contractors.
The change as proposed by Mr. La-
Roche is said to be for the purpose of
removing the possibility of the city
suffering a large financial loss by the
measure being held invalid by the
courts. The change as proposed would
exempt ftom the minimum wage and
the other provisions of the ordinance
the men engaged in street and sewer
work. There is but little other muni
cipal work that could be affected by
the ordinance. If the change is adopted
by the Council it will be virtually the
annulment of the entire minimum wage
issue.
Those who have followed the situa
tion declare that the system has not
done what Mr. Daly said it would do.
Instead of providing a $3 a day wage
for laborers it has enabled Syrians and
Italians to get all of the city's sewer
work thus taking the bread and butter
from the mouths of Portland laborers.
Aliena Derive RrneSt.
The ordinance requires that con
tractors taking contracts from the city
shall pay not less than the-city's scale
of wages for workmen. The lowest
wage for laborers is ?3 according to
the city's scale.
Syrians and Italians have averted the
minimum wage by banding together,
underbidding regular contractors and
after getting the contracts, doing the
work and dividing the profits. Each
of the workmen is a party to the con
tract or in other "words is a eon
tractor. No men are employed, so no
Z minimum wage has to be paid. Jt
is said that on some contracts the
men have netted less than 75 cents a
day.
Records in the city's department of
public works show that since March -'6
when the minimum wage measure went
into effect Syrians and other aliens
have procured all but two o'r three of
the sewer contracts. Out of the men
engaged In sewer centruction now. it
is said only about 8 per cent are Ameri
cans. The others arc Syrians, Italians
and Russians.
Point of Law Involved.
City Attorney Ialtoche says the
pulling of the teeth of the Daly ordi
nance is necessary for the protection
of the city. It is probable the validity
of the ordinance will be tested on the
ground that the City Council is merely
the agent for property owners and
ha3 no right to pay more than the
going wage for workmen engaged in
doing street or sewer work for the
property owners.
Jf the city should require the pay
ment of the higher wage it is said
the city might have to pay back the
difference to the property owners. Mr.
IaRochc says the city should take no
further chances and It Is for that rea
son he recommends the changing of the
ordinance. The change is proposed to
last until a court decision is obtained.
MR. WITHYC0MBE TO SPEAK
Independence lay Celebration Ar
ranged for Columbia Park
Governor Withyeombe will deliver
the oration at the community cclebra-
. ".), '
1 feufca. feu&Kt
tion in Columbia Park, at University
Park and Portsmouth, Independence
day, Monday. July 5. The celebration
will be under the auspices of the five
Protestant churches of that community.
A committee of arrangements has been
selected, with five sub-committees.
Arrangements have been made for a
band concert by Professor McKlroy's
Park Band. There will be a grand
parade of organizations, including the
churches. Sunday schools, civic and
fraternal, with prizee for the best dis
play, and for baseball and sports in
the park of all sorts.
METER ISSUE PUZZLE
WILL YOTK UKtlUK CITY-WIDE
. SYSTEM. IS QIKSTIOX.
Mayor Thinks That From Technical
Standpoint Installation or Only
5000 Will Me" Settled.
Is the meter question on the ballot
at the Juno election one involving the
installation of only 5000 meters or Is
it the question of a city-wide meter
system? Afternoon water-meter pro
ponents are dodging the issue by say
ing it is only 5000 meters.
Here is what the City Commissioners
have to say on the subject:-
Mayor Albee From a technical
standpoint the question to be voted
upon is 5000 meters. The real issue,
however, is a city-wide meter system.
1 cannot see where there is any
grounds for anyone saying otherwise.
Commissioner Daly My policy is
city-wide meters, first, last and all the
time. I propose to put in -the 5000
meters within 10 months and to go
ahead with city-wide metering just as
fast as possible.
Commissioner Bigelow I consider
that the issue at the June election is
whether we will have general installa
tion of meters or not. - I certainly
should not feel at liberty to vote for
the purchase of meters if the measure
is beaten.
Commissioner Brewster Technically
the issue may not bo that, of a city
wide meter pystcm. I believe, however,
that the voters consider that it is and
will vote with that thought in mind.
If the meter issue is defeated I should
be opposed to metering, except where
metering is necessary to prevent waste.
Commissioner Dieck I take it that
the question is one of metering or not
metering.
Belle I rft Lot Hrinlis I -Mt.
Loiiis J. Bader purchased lot 3. block
34. Belle Crest, 'from Henry Oord. for
$1200. Dots 1, 2. 3 and 4. block 2. Nor
mandale, were purchased by A. It. Sieg
murid from Thomas Pftiu for' $1500. In
Jonesmore. Montavilla district, lots IS
and 14, block 14, were purchased by
Theodore Thomas from the Umdenatock
& Larson Homebuilders' Investment
Company for 132 5.
NEW RESERVOIRS URGED
J OLLY OF MK'I KltS POINTED OUT HY
CO.SKRVATIOX AVORKER.
Dr. Christopher O'Day Declare That
Vt Sum Should lie Expended
for Future Needs.
As a member of the board of man
agers of the Oregon Conservation So
ciety and chairman of its public health
department. Dr. J. Christopher O'Day.
who has made an exhaustive survey and
study of the Bull Run water shed and
reserve, says that Portland's business
at hand is the increasing of the reser
voir facilities at the headworks in
stead of a $500,000 water meter system
in the city. .
.The Oregon Conservation Society was
promulgated to conserve the natural
resources of Oregon, such as its lum
ber, water power and fish. Dr. O'Day's
interest in the campaign against the
meters arrives from a careful study
of the situation not long ago, when it
was proposed to run a roadway along
the southeast side of the reserve. The
society protested against putting in a
roadway. Others interested in pro
moting the road argued that only the
headwaters of the Sandy Kiver. would
be threatened by contamination and
that the Bull Run supply would not be
affected in any way. They also argued
there was enough water coming from
Bull Run to supply a city four or five
times as large as Portland. Dr. O'Day.
after conferring with Dr. Calvin S.
White, secretary of the State Board
of Health, suggested that the plan be
opposed, granting even that the situa
tion was true. He declared the time
would come when Portland would
reach the proportion of needing the
waters of the Sandy, as well as of Bull
Run.
"Kor that reason the waters of the
Sandy should be protected,"' said Dr.
O'Day yesterday. "Now, this is where
the meter proposal has a bearing. In
my judgment if $.".00.0(i0 or any other
sum is to be spent it should be spent
toward building an adequate reservoir
rather than in putting in meters. The
big question in time to come is that
of adequate reservoir facilities. Putting
in meters would only tend to cause peo
ple to let the city grow less beautiful
through a scanty use of water; less
clean and less sanitary for the same
reason.
"Not iong ago, under the auspices of
the Oregon Conservation Society. I read
a paper giving the statistics of Pitts
burg, which go to show that Pittsburg
spends hundreds of thousands of dol
lars annually just to take care of its
typhoid cases.
"Those statistics are a warning. Lot
Portland spend the money that would
go for needles meters for building
reservoir facilities so that we shall
always have plenty of water available
and make the use of good water in
viting. With this bountiful water sup
ply we cannot afford to stint its use
hy the impracticable way of installing
maters, but. rather, should make pro
visions for using and having available
the water that is there to be ued."
CARD. OF T1IAXKS
CAMPAIGN BRINGS
DECREASE If. FIRES
Number Lowered About 150 in
Corresponding Periods of
Five Months.
PUPILS AID IN PREVENTION
Mr. end Mrs. Dayton Tlyman wish to
thank their many friends and relatives
for their kindness and sympathy dur
iik.r their late bereavement.
"Arson Squad" Already Has ISroug-lit
About Throe Indictments Work
of i:ilniinntin Hazards Is
Well Inder Way.
Remarkable results of a campaign
waged for about three months past by
captains and lieutenants of the I'""lre
Bureau to eliminate unnecessary fire
hazards in Portland, are shown by the
fire alarm records at the City Hall.
The story of results la told in the state
ment that for five months of this year
(lacking nine days), thero have been
only 502 fires as compared with 660
for the corresponding period of a year
ago.. Since January 1 there have been
only 14 false alarms. In one month of
last year there were 27 alarms of this
.kind.
The work is under the direction .of
Kire Marshal Stevens who does this in
conjunction with his duties as Battalion
Chief. Ho lias to assist him, all the
captains and lieutenants of the Fire
Bureau who are serving also as deputy
fire marshals without extra pay.
Tiie fire prevention is being gone
about in a scientific manner and the
prospects are that in addition to cutting
the number of fires nearly in two the
campaign will result in a great saving
of property and possibly life.
Deputies Study Klre Prevention.
The deputy marshals hold schools at
the City Hall twice a week. At these
they hear lectures by experts on fire
prevention and fire fighting. After the
school sessions the marshals go out and
see demonstrations of fire prevention
In buildings or on docks. In a scientific
manner, the causes of fires and their
prevention are studied. The schooling
and the actual inspection work is done
as a part of the regular fire duties, the
men being subject to call at all times.
They receive no extra pay for their
work.
The whole plan of the new system
is fire prevention rather than fire
fighting. The theory upon which they
are working is that "an ounce of pre
vention is worth a pound of cure."
Among other things being done by
the deputy marshals is the inspection
of houses throughout the city. This
includes the inspection of chimneys
and basements. Home-owners or the
majority of them at least, welcome the
inspection inasmuch as it is gratis and
may prevent a fire.
The deputies inspect chimneys to ee
that they are in good condition or
whether they are liable to set the house
on fire it the chimney should catch
fire.
Gasoline Storage la Watched.
The chimney is examined carefully to
soe that there is no way for sparks to
get out into the framework of the
house. After a few chimney fires, it is
said chimneys become dotted with holes
where mortar is burned out.
Attention is bing paid to the storage
of gasoline. Many cases have been
found where this explosive has been
kept carelessly and might cause disas
trous fire. Theaters are being ex
amined to determine the safety in case
of fire. The theaters are visited by
the deputies at irregular intervals and
the theater proprietors are required to
comply with, every phase of the theater
ordinance regarding fire safeguards.
Hubbish stacked in basements or
other places where it migrit catch fire
from any one of many causes is ordered
removed by the deputy marshals. lit
spections of buildings are being made
to see that ail safeguards such as fire
escapes, standpipes and sprinkler sys
tems are in proper condition.
An important feature of the work Is
that of education in the public schools.
During the last few months. Fire Mar
shal Stevens has addressed about 15,000
school children. He explains methods
of fire prevention in homes. Each
child is appointed an assistant fire
marshal to make inspections in his own
home. This work has brought good re
sults. .
The marshals now are making maps
of all the buildings in the city show
ing all exits, firo escapes, standpipes,
windows, doors and other features
which might be essential in fighting a
fire in that building. This is something
entirely new in the fire-fighting line.
Another feature of the work is the
investigation of fires susoected of be-
;z Honor of Memorial Day
This Store Will Remain
Closed All Day
Monday
See Tuesday's "Oregonian" for Our Page
of Removal Sale Specials
IS07
teis
Tm QuajlitV Store op Portland
nftK. -Si jcUv. -Moi-t smi AUtr 8U
lug of incendiary origin. An arson
squad comprising Captain W. A. Clroco,
Captain F. W. Itoberts atid Lieutenant
K. J. Treese has been assigned to the
task of investigating all suspicious
firos. This work along with special
investigations conducted by Marshal
Steveiia has resulted in three indict
ments for arson and in the breaking
up of an "arson ring."
Good work has been done in the pre
vention of false alarms turned in by
persons desiring to see fire machines
run. All false alarms except one hnve
been traced down this year. In many
cases arrests have been made and the
violators have received all the way
from J10 fines to six-months sentences.
The work is the first to be under
taken on a large scale in Portland. The
results stand out in bold relief in the
records of the Fire Bureau operations.
New lines of activity are being framed
almost daily by Marshal Stevens and
gradually as the present work is com
pleted the activities will spread to new
fields.
PAVIIIG STORY IS DENIED
MR. HOI.nuoK !VS III-: IS OT JO
iiiui:r m adxam i:r teo.k.
PISGAH HOME NEEDS SEED
Appeal Is Mtide for Jto Sacks ttt Po
tatoes to Plant.
"Mother" Dawrence, of the Pisgah
Home, is calling on friends of the Jiome
to assist in securing 30 sacks of pota
toes needed to seed the five-acre plot
at the home. Unless enough seed pota
toes can be obtained to plant the plot
Mother Lawrence's "boys" will have to
go on short rations part of the coining
Winter, for it is to their potato crop
that they have been obliged to look
each Winter for a large proportion of
their supplies.
The "boys" have already prepared the
plot ready for planting and have plant
ed 10 sacks of potatoes that have been
contributed.
"We have never failed to have
enough potatoes sent us for seed be
fore," said Mother Lawrence yesterday,
"bat it begins to look a bit discourag
ing this year. Any friends we have
who can help us in this stress will need
to act soon or it will be too late for
us to plant potatoes."
Anyone having potatoes which they
will donate to the Pisgah Home for seed
Is requested to call up "Mother" Law
rence at Tabor 2492.
"WINNING BOYS" IS TOPIC
Dean of Chicago Association Schools
to Speak at Y. 51. C. A. Today.
J. M. Artman, dean of the Chicago
association schools, will speak at the
3:15 o'clock meeting at the Young
Men's Christian Association today oi
"Winning Boys." Mr. Artman was in
the party of Kastern association secre
taries that arrived in Portland yester
day after the conference of employed
officers at Asilomar, Cal. Ho is consid
ered one of-the authorities lit his par
ticular line of work and is an able
speaker.
Saxaphonn solos will he given by
Stanley Baker and J. W. Palmer, for
merly boys' secretary here, will sing.
Sunday-school workers, teachers, lead
era of boys' clubs and other organiza
tions have been invited especially to
this mectinflr.
Submiaion of Technical duration u
IJnglnrera Only ua;a;rated to Wood
II lock. Men, sajm Commiaaioner.
County Commissioner Ilolbrook has
denied emphatically the truth of a
published report that ho is a party
to any plan to take recommendations
as to the types of pavement for Mult
nomah County road.t and for awarding
of the bids, out of the hands of Jtoad
maiiter Veon by referring all the bids
to the Oregon Society of Engineers
for tabulation and rciommcixlatlon.
"There is Jutt this much foundation
to it." said Mr. Holhrools. "Kcprtnen
tatives of wood block pavement com
plained that our specifications, which
require an extra grouting on top of
the concrete foundation, practically put
them out of the running because of
the crtra. expense. These specifications
are those used by the city. They as
sert that Just as good a wood block
pavement can be laid under specifica
tions which do not require this extra
grouting.
"We told them to submit their own
specification!! and that they would re
ceive full consideration. I also sug
gested that in case It wrre m-cesHary to
scttlo the point as to which typo of
specification was best. I thought tho
only way to do It would be to rtfer
it to a committee of eiiKimers. It Is
a technical engineering point, and one
that only engineers who have had ex
perience with wood block paving could
decide. .None of the rest of us has
had any experience in thin regard for
the ccunty has never laid any wood
block pavement.
"That is all there is to the atory.
It may not be necessary to call Buch
an engineering committee. Hut In. an v
event, the sungestion applied only to
thlB slight technical point In the wood
block specilt.ations and not to speclti
iations of any other type of pavement.''
P0ST0FFICES WILL CLOSE
lcln crier, of Mall to lie I'eer To
morrow, Memorial Daj.
All of the postot'fice brandies and the
central posloffico will be open on
Monday until noon, excepting the
money order und Havings departments,
which will not be opened at all. that
being the official Memorial day holi
day. The parcel post and stamp win
dows will be open until 6 o'clock. Two
deliveries will be made downtown and
one in the morning in the outer dis
tricts. The usual collection service for
holidays will be followed.
it has been decided that on Juno 11.
when the. postal employes aro to par
ticipate in tho Hose Festival, all of
tho offices will bo. closed and there will
bo no diliveries. Parcel post and
stamp windows will be kept open all
day, however.
Tht total area of Russia in B.TiOri.eo.j
90tiH:" miles, and that ot boutri America
TAILORING SALE
Special !
Inducements that will compel you to dress up for the Rose Festival, June 9-10-11
v ' a : c
1 am now inaugurating unc vi
I iil m.i ninpnim i i iwwwnwa)annManqi'W'.i i n i
the biptrest sales in the history
of my business at a season of
the year when price reductions
count for something If you can
appreciate "a worth-while" of
fering be here tomorrow or
Tuesday.
Two Days More!
Monday and Tuesday
Only My $30, $35 or $10
Suitings
Made to Order
Tlir-e hUitiiiKK include Knglif-.h.
!ri.h and Scotch Worsted and
Tweed. Tartan Plaids, stripe
and Fancy .Mixtures in Cheviot
and CasHiinerti, and All-the-Year
Kouud Weights of llluo Serges.
BEAR THIS FACT IN MIND All garments are mae to your order in my own building,
under one roof right under my eyes, where I personally watch every little detail that
makes for better clothes. I dont' depend on any foreman I'm on the spot to watch every
detail. My large sanitary shop is equipped to turn out a suit within "24 hours," if you so
desire. No extra charge for this extra service.
RAY BARKHURST
Portland's Leading Tailor i
Corner Sixth and Stark