Excerpt from Report of the Sewerage and Water Commissioners for the City of Saint John and Parish of Portland, for the Year 1857

With reference to the Water Rate, the Commissioners have so far adapted the scale of charges as equitably as it was possible to make it bear on the property and its mode of occupation. No greater difficulty exists in Commissions or Companies entrusted with the management of W ater Works than in apportioning the various charges for water. Scarcely any two places, that we are aware of, adopt the same mode of rating. In Great Britain, the charge is principally on rental, allowing water for domestic pur poses - extra charges being made for extra uses; in Canada the charge is, we believe, on rental, without reference to purposes, so long as the premises are used for dwellings in Quebec, the water rate recommended to be charged last year was 2s. On the pound, or 10 per cent on the annual rent; in Montreal the rent is about the same. In Boston, they place a property tax of 10 cents on the $100 valuation, and a charge for every purpose the water is used; in New York, there is a property water rate according to the frontage and height of buildings; there are various other modes some companies charge so much for each tap used, &c. It will be impossible for us to perfect a scale satisfactory to ourselves until the street pipeage is extended - and we can ascertain the kind of property and tenants we have to rate. The charges of the V1 ater Company were very unequal in some cases - and with long estab lished customs we found it hard to deal. Had the works been al together new and no water charge previously established, we should have been spared much of the difiiculty we have had to contend with in our Water Assessrnent. Compared with the charges made by the Water Company, we have reduced them in more instances than they have been increased. The premises numbered for assessment for the present year was 1237 - 2000 families on an aggregate the whole rate therefrom of this number, there are about 1000 families supplied from 700 service pipes. The whole amount of Assessments paid at the othee, for three years, on 3lst Decem ber last, was 53. 11d. The Rent Roll of Agreement Custoniers, which includes supply to Shipping, Steam-boiler35' Factories, Hotels, the, amounts for this year to 7e. 6d.

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