The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-18

THE CRoroN AQUEDUcT.-The annual report Of
the Croton Aqueduct Board has just been pub
hshed. ltwould appear, from the statements ap-
pended 10 IT, that the of the board has been
progressively increasing ever year the organi
zation OF the department, in 1912. The receipts,
for the year commencing the LIST May, 1917, and
ending the Both April, 1913, have been 1925, ISL So
beng an increase over the receipts of the prece-
ding year of So, 900 40. The expenditure for the
same period was 81 565 "A, which issan excess of
Sl7,l62 "a over the outlay of the previous year.
Of this sum, S34, l6 was expended for water
pipes and branches. The line of pipe laid down in
the city, during the year, reaches Every nearly five
miles; the whole length of pipe, embracing this
addition, being now about us miles.
The report, for the quarter ending the 3lst JULY
last, has also been printed and the receipts, as
compared with the corresponding periods OF former
years, exhibit the same gratifying evidences of an
increasing income-the total amount being 1897
03, which is an increase, over the receipts of the
corresponding quarter of last year, of $l4, S66 81
The inference drawn by the President of the
Board, from comparison of the various tables, Is,
that IN a few years the revenue would pay the en-
tire interest on the debt, and, with good manage
ment, contribute, in time, to;the discharge of the
principal.
The exterior and interior lines of the aqueduct
are reported to be IN good condition, repairs of
consequence having been made. The daily supply
Of water, flowing from the reservoirs into the pipes
is estimated, by the resident engineer, to be about
Is or Is millions of gallons; the actual consump-
ton not exceeding one-half of this quantity. At
tenton is again called to the enormous and wanton
waste of water throughout every part of the city,
which does not proceed, as formerly, in so great
degree, from the public and fire hydrants, as
from Offices, stores and public houses, where
it is used with the most lavish profusion IN sum-
mer and winter. No remedy is suggested for this
evil, and It is one which merits the attention Of
the board. The water, now uselessly squandered
In this way, might be benefcially applied to
cleansing the sewers and purifying the drains In
many parts OF the city. The noxious effluvia that
proceeds from the manholes and gratngs of the
sewers, in the streets and lanes abutting on the
Eas: River, and, indeed, in every direction, show
the necessity for such an application of it,
After recommending some alterations in keeping
the accounts of the department, which appear to
be greatly required, the report again calls atten
ton to the propriety of recognizing the depart
ment, tor the purpose of embracing IN Its super
vision all the Croton works, from the Croton river
10 and within the city, there being no longer any
necessity for the existence of two Boards, as the
work OF the Water! Commissioners is almost
finished In dong this, some remarks are made
on the future constitution of the Board, which
are well worthy of consideration. 1t is suggested
that the new Board be appointed by the Governor
and Senate, as the water commission was, SO as
to give ii degree of pemanence and stability in
office, which would not be the case If appointed
by the Common Council, whose political opinions
change almost every year. BY this means, the
mistakes of immature opinions, and the expense
of new theories, by an ever-changing Board of
Commission, would be obvlated The Board
would have principle of durability impaired
10 it, and would not be liable to the an
nual changes arising out of party politics. The
experience which the public have had of the
beneficial consequences of taking the power
of elecung the commissioners out of the hands
of the Common Council, by the laws of 1888
and 1884, is considered to be sufficient to
Justify such course with regard to the proposed
Water Board. The following observations, which
we extract from the report, are very just and are
applicable not only to the water department but TO
many others =
We have seen enough of this to Justify the conclu.
citizen out of Office without cause, at any moment,
you thereby enfeeble his resolution you sap the
foundation Of his moral you corrupt his judy
ment you make slave of him to the will Of some
person party who he thinks will protect and
iced him and you do all that lays in your power rob
him of his good motives his attention assduity and
zeal in the service in which he is engaged.
There is not department In the State that does
not equally suffer from the operation of this POI
htical intermeddrng The police, the post-oiiice,
the customs, thus become an annual scramble for
the loafers and Idlers, and the unprincpled
hangers on OF all parties; wonder, then,
that we, who are, In many respects, so far
IN advance of other nations, should be so far be-
hind them In these important administrative de-
partments. This, however, is not the worst re-
suit which is entailed by such an evil 1t destroys
the moral sense Of the people, and opens wide
door to every description of corruption and de-
moralization.
Wing PoLITIcIANs-WHIo MovEMENTs.-The