90 THE SERVICE CHARGE 



This indicates that for the f-inch meter on the largest ser- 

 vices normally handled by meters of this size, the service charge 

 will amount to i cent per 1000 gallons. With one-sixth of this 

 amount passing, which perhaps approximately represents the 

 average work of a f-inch meter, the service charge is equivalent 

 to about 6 cents per 1000 gallons. The table shows the corre- 

 sponding figures for all the sizes. For the larger meters the ser- 

 vice charge ranges from f of a cent per 1000 gallons for meters 

 working to the ordinary limit of their capacity, increasing to 

 an average of about if cents per 1000 gallons for meters passing 

 the smallest normal quantity which is taken as equal to the 

 greatest normal quantity handled by a meter of the next smaller 

 size. In other words, in a general way for manufacturing 

 meters the service charges adjusted in this way would vary 

 between f of a cent and if cents and probably would average 

 about i cent per 1000 gallons for meters working at normal 

 capacity. 



In connection therewith a manufacturing rate would naturally 

 be selected about i cent per 1000 gallons less than would be used 

 if these service charges were not to be collected. 



With this procedure followed, the water works could always 

 let the taker select the size of meter. If the taker selected a 

 large one, the works would be insured of a return for it commen- 

 surate with its cost and with the probable general cost of supply- 

 ing the extra mains and connections required in connection there- 

 with and of standing the extra losses of water by leakage and 

 under-registration that also must be anticipated. In other 

 words, the water works plant would have no objection to the 

 installation of large meters in any number if the takers were 

 willing to pay for them. This the Committee believes is a logical 

 condition for the best interests of the business. It can only 

 be secured by the use of an adequate service charge. 



If any taker has a meter which is worked to the limit of 

 its capacity, that is to say, one that is supplying more than the 

 ordinary maximum assumed for that size of meter, the effect 

 would be that such a taker would get automatically a small 

 discount on his bill, because the service charge for that meter 



