CHAPTER II.

WATER AND GAS.

Public debt of Berlin-Redemption of debt--Water-supplyUnder public company-Taken over by Corporation-Sale of water by meter—How introduced-Mr Gill's experiments— Success of the Siemens meter - Final adoption of meter system-Tenement dwellings convenient for its use-Favourable results of introduction-Statistics of water-supply-Prevailing cleanliness—Meter system in other German towns· Lighting of Berlin—Gas-supply by Corporation-Lighting of streets-Petroleum light in parks-Statistics of gas supplyElectric light.

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WHEN it is stated that the annual expenditure of the city is about four millions sterling, it is to be kept in view that this expenditure includes all that is raised for the support of the common schools, the public hospitals and the care of the poor. On the other hand, as has been said, the city receives whatever profits are made on the water-supply, on the gas-works under the man

B

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PUBLIC DEBT OF BERLIN.

agement of the Corporation and from sundry other sources. In the 12 millions of the city's debt are included the capital amounts standing against the various establishments—namely, against gas-works, water-works, drainage-works, cattle - market, slaughter - house and general markets and against school and other institution buildings. Nearly the whole of this debt has been incurred in connection with operations sanctioned within the past twenty years. The tendency for the present is towards an increase of the total, through further improvements that are going forward in different departments; but, at the same time, an annual sum of about £280,000 is being set aside out of the municipal revenue for the redemption of debt. No doubt a larger sum will be used in this way in proportion as any increase is made to capital expenditure. It may therefore be said that the total present debt of the city is in the way of being wiped off in course of thirty years. For a city like Berlin, growing in wealth as in many other things, this cannot be regarded as a very unwieldy burden. Indeed, all things considered, Berlin, in respect of its

CORPORATION WATER-SUPPLY.

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total financial obligations, stands more favourably than Edinburgh which is by no means one of the most heavily burdened municipalities.

In the matter of its water-supply the German capital affords many instructive points. Like Edinburgh it was served, till recent years, by a public company. It was not till 1873 that the Corporation took the works under their own control and great public advantage has followed from the change. The supply is brought from two large lakes-the Tegel to the north-west, and the Müggel to the south-east of the city-the one fed by a tributary of the Spree, the other by the Spree itself about nine miles before it reaches the city. It is obvious that, gathered in an extensive plain, this water must necessarily undergo a complete process of filtration before it can be regarded as fit for domestic use. Accordingly, the water-works (Städtische Wasserwerke) embrace enormous structures for this purpose. These have been greatly extended and improved since the water-supply was taken over by the city. As delivered for consumption, the water is of good, wholesome quality, while the sources are

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OLD WATER COMPANY.

regarded as amply sufficient for the wants of the city, even if it continue to grow as rapidly for the next two or three generations. An increased demand will, no doubt, require additional works and filtering stations, but it will not for very many years compel the Corporation to seek new sources of supply. The most noteworthy feature of the subject is that in Berlin the water is now sold to the inhabitants by meter just as gas is sold. Experience has shown that this system has proved a great public benefit. It may, therefore, not be without interest to observe how the meter system has come to be introduced, as well as to note the results which have been obtained.

The company which formerly supplied Berlin had a concession under which it was entitled to charge an assessment of 4 per cent on the rental in name of water-rate and it was obliged to maintain an unlimited supply. Its works, however, were constructed only with a view to a moderate growth of the city; in 1865 it began to find that the demand was growing largely in excess of the supply. It was evident,

WATER-METER SYSTEM.

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consumers.

however, that great waste was going on and that, if this could be properly checked, it would still be possible with the existing works to meet the wants even of a greater number of But to prevent waste was found to be practically impossible unless some selfchecking method of distribution could be devised. In such circumstances it occurred to Mr Henry Gill, the manager and engineer of the company-an Englishman who had been at the head of the water department since 1856 and who, to the great satisfaction of the municipality, has held the same position down to the present date1-to suggest the introduction of a meter system. No doubt the increased demand could have been adequately met by the erection of new works to make enlarged use of the sources of water at command. But this would have meant ruin to the company. What was required by the necessities of the case was, not more water, but a proper and reasonable use of that which was available. The history of the company, as Mr Gill himself

1 Mr Gill is since deceased.