The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-04
The Brooklyn Water Question.
TIE SUPPLY AGAIN SHUT OFT-HBrORY or TB
DIFFICULTY.

Inc citizens OF Brooklyn considerably agated at the
present time In relation TO the water works, and viii
therefore be Of interest TO detail the facts relating tho
subject, so that al who read may understand the true
merits Of the case.
On the 10th Of June, 1855, Messrs welles Co. con-
racted with the city Of Brooklyn to build tho water
workshat portion east Of Baseey pond to be open
canaat tho specified price OF a for the whole
In the progress OF these works. and consultation with
eminent engineers such John Jarvis formerly chief
engineer OF tho Croton water works. John T. Clark, for
merly State Engineer, and James P. lakewood,
chief engineer H the Brooklyn water works,
and by the advice Of many Of the largest
property owners Of the city was decided that the open
canal mpracticabe from It's natural liability
and o. psSn
occason-and the drifting Of snow In the winter
It then determined by the Commissioners 10 subst
Commissioners applied TO the Common Council under the
law Of 1857 Tor their sanction TO incur expense Of
open canal which was denied Another proposition was
afterwards made for authority 10 expend $500 900 for
small round barrelcd cuvort In place Of tho largo con-
thereupon made to the Legislature by largo number Of
the prominent taxpayers Of the city for authority 70
change the open canal TO covered conduit and TO extend
the distribution throughout the city, compliance with
which the Legislature passed law authorizing change
from canal to conduit at cost not exceeding 5000 900,
and for extension Of the distribution In the city at
cost not exceeding like amount This law was passed
the 10th Of April, 1850 The Commissioners then
tracted with Messrs Welles Co.. substitute closed
conduit Of the capacity Of forty millions Of gallons al
increased cost Of $3.50 00 and also by petition OF large
number OF property owners ior the extension q the
pipe laid under the former contract did not reach The
Commissioners made contracts for the delivery and lay
ing down of pipes amounting to some 500 600 in value
large portion Of which pipe has been delivered and laid
The Comptroller declined TO pay the drafts for said in
crease Of the Distribution and also for the increased cost
Of the substitute conduit the ground that the law of
1850 authorizing the same was unconstitutional may
here be remarked that Wclles Co had nothing what.
to do with tho increased MISUNDERSTANDING neither
furnished the pipe nor laid them down.
In the contract with welles Co for the change from
canal to contu provision was made for the of the
The Comptroller having declined to pay anything under
this contract Messrs Weles Co. relieved from their
Obligations, and hence the suspension Of the pumping
engine ut Rdgew0od Reservoir.
The Commissioners applied for mlandamus some three
weeks since to compel the Comptroller 70 issue bonds in
pursuance of the law Of 1885, and obtained peremptory
order directing him to ISSUE the same.
The Mayor and City Clerk understood nterpose no
obstacle to the issuing OF the city bonds TIE sole and
only objection therefore, the part Of the officers of the
city, originates with and is carried out by the Comp
troer.
AS the recent decision Of Judge Lott upon this
question became known the contractors set tho engine at
Rdgewood in operation for the purpose Of eevating
ter into the reservoir; but tho Comptroller having
communication to the Common Council at their last meet
ing, In which he states that lie had taken necessary
sures to appeal TO the general term and the action Of that
body ho Common Counci in declining to sanction the
contracts (by which all difficulty would In the opinion Of
OF counsel Contractors, ren0ved),
the contractors have again ceased pumping and the
CINE remains inactive There some four feet of
water in the reservoir which sufficient to supply the
city for, perhaps eight ten days at the farthest
The Common Council having, In an apparently liberal
spirit, appointed special committee to confer with the
Commissioners and contractors the committee met seve
raj times with the Commissioners, and at Of their
sessions the following correspondence took place.
oT1cn BROOKLYN BOARD WATER coxxEs'oxsns,
Messrs wEILrs 4 Co.. Observation-Disclosures
give written answers % the following quesions:On
including Baisseys pond after he shall have been
cep,ed BY The Water Commissioners and furnish water until
- Also, On what ,sms viii you turn The works
President pro tenn JOHN Mn,sr e co Sa%TSS
Chairman of Special Committee of Common Council.
OrYlcE wELLEs ( Co.,
FULTON STREET, sEosksfs Wssns
To rnE BoAnp or WAFER COMMISSIONERS Coxxr-
Of the 2s instant was received and
You AJAX on what conditions will you over the works
y o. and 5 pond after the same shall
water until such acceptsnce.
Also On what ter1ns VIII turn the works
F + ,ssS we make TIE oeys propos,ons Cor III.
sruc,on q ne water pumping water The
Of eompsnsAon default he paf. Of the
i os
and Including Bsisseys pond ely vim pay the
per cenage which they shall hold the faithful
sr sssssi s sy
70 tho city mmeday We only res s
right Of access to complete the unfinished portions Of the
II addition, we submit third proposition
* o By ne p ~0f s
.y rs.aning T. Is lands what would construct
$ %o 6 s s % E
Ss r hs contract Of Juno TO- 1856 the city sssqnns ds un
The committee made preliminary report to the Com
mon Council on Monday night last and asked for power
views fully the report is herewith appended, to-
gether with the resolutions offered substitute by Al
derman Strong, and which, had they passed, would at
once have ended the whole difficulty
The Special COMMITTEES appointed 70 confer with the Water
Worssin relation supply q water or ne Brooklyn
and also on such ohse matters in Herewith as might
NIT TO honorable body the result Of such conference and
Your Commiee have had interviews with the Com
an sa as ss KY S Gs
n Of Se s anS % s0
time past ocasoned great anxiety in the minds Of the
Your Committee deem their duty in view Of past relations
between this Board and the Commissioners express their
have every Of he city
suited the senmeso this Board the act OF 1850 would not
now exricstsd would not have arisen sa u ~'A nc Guy
ss ,1s S cs@pos
which The had made the
Oh conOu BalSeevB further extremity
as Rs's s "a G daily Rs
% saassns sss
that the bonds should be issued your committee hope
igaton will not carried further only will the
city IN event have the legal expenses incurred on
both sides but the contractors will obtain pretex aung
the city for damages arising from tho suspension the works.
and the citizens win be still exposed to the risk Of having
pumping stopped.
The contractors have submitted the following propositions
comm tee neither Of which they stand advise
the Board 70 accede to- tAre given above.l
nothing pecun!ary be gained by appealing from
Judge Lott decision TO the higher appears evident
your committee The city derives already the
supply Of water to the citizens. and in some shape
must provide for the continued pumping, besides iu
creasing the revenue by providing additional meaus
Two, therefore, of the objects sought by the con
tract Of 1859 essential elements OF the work The third
the substitution OF conduit for the canal though dsapproved
OF BY this Board at the outset has progressed far that
arrested now Judging from all past experiences the city
hence We cannot do better than suffer to be completed
Athe same time that committee advise the Board to
forego opposition to The provisions of the OF 1852 they
weud recommend immediate compliance the part
original contract which provides for the delivery the city
the reservoir and works this side of and including Baisieys
pond This step would obvae all fear the part
of the daily supply which many Of them
nave and paid for would also place In the
hands Of this Board the duty which Of right should have
k