The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-28
WHAT THE CRY ESCAPED.
The Water Famine that might have Come
upon us but for the Foresight of Mr..
Tweed-The Purchase or water Rights
for the Crotou Auneduct.


On returning to the city afcr an absence Of
three days at the upper sources Of the Croton river
uoon onicial business, find that statement has an.
Feared In one or more d'y newspapers charging
Mr.. Tweed, Ia, Commissioner Of Pubiic Works.
with receiving from the city treasury sct0oIO for
water rights to furnish an az ltlona supply Of water
TO the Crotun Aqueduct, whic rights lie had bought.
for S25OOQ. Tic statement Is, within my KNOWLEDGE
untrue, and unjust to him
believe It is known to many tina, became en-.
sireer Of the Croton Aqueduct u May last, bv ap.
pointmcn, Of Mr.. Tweed, with whom was very
slhtly acquainted, and without solicitation on the
part or myself or my friends. Upon assuming the
duties OF the oice, he directed me at once to make
a thorough cxamin1t on OF the sources Of supply
OF water, and report Il to him with the suggestion
OF measures which might be necessary to prevent
the possibility ofa deficiency, such ne was threaten.
cd during the last year, and which would have len
the citv practically witlont wafer IL the drouxht
had lasted Tor fortyeight hours LONGER than
u 90 found Tat dam had been
r-rt'y ,crmTHici across one Of the couau
cnis of the troion liver With view TO reserve the
waters which passed throuyh n In nnods. IL
was not IN CONDITION 10 rt used duriny tie rresent
season, and, indcci. II completed, could furnish
eupplv until The auumual rains srould MI the reser
Vor ma e bv the dam. I also ascertained that the
Saicr of several kcs in Putnam county might he
dr1wn INTO the Irnton river an furnish adeqn1te
supply Tor the city during any drought thu, might
reasonably be cxrcctcd. These 90 situated
that cnnuccicn with the Croton could he prepared
with gro1t rur itity, and their purchase could be ef
lectcl ~ reasonable price, reported the facts 10
NJ. Tweed. An examination was at once made to
ascertain whether thete were any moneys IN
der the control Of the Department which
might be used for the purpnse. II was found
that there were none. Mr. Tweel thererpon di-
rected ne 10 make the purchase Of any such water
rights IS deemed necessary to insure the city A
suniccrt supply OF witcr: to do 1t ~ cheaply a.
could, md he would furnish the es.iry means to
cay for them, and turn them over TO the city NJ the
price mii whenever the proper lctisloton could be
procured for their purchase. | nccordm ,lY made
th" purchases aud had the waters turned into the
Cro;on river above TIE Croion dam. The quantity
supplied from tIcse sources hns for several weeks
yiried num thirty to sixty millions OF gallons per
have been lelt without water.
The water aiken l. Of tic very ru-cs, 10 be found
anywhere Most Of the lakes are chiefly supplied
" snin-s ana iheir waters ase az veg Great purb
and trdnsp iryncy TJc purchase AZ t2jo(O sup
nose rc.ors 10 that Of the wator ri .Gts of Lake
Gicgd. | made the purchase. received the money
from Mr. Tweed 20 pay for IT, and took tie deed in
Mr. TNr'l's n1wn, and len u for record In the
Clerks Office lie never saw the lake, did NOT gnd
believe t1r7 not nov kno y, who owned Il. ani |
kuuN i.e FEVER saw TIC decd. II WIS purchased NJ
what Jol vel roaao able price, AMI viii view
20 - 10 to tAc ci'' a. TIE sam, prize, and thc result
o Gle purchase j. tlt the ci'y j. now supplied with
srch ~ ahuY lance NJ water It has oniy h1i tor
m az ears pat during wri sr1s ne.
EDWARD n. TRACY.
Cin. El-i's.- ~ the IrOtOu AqIyIuct.
NEW NOIN Sept. %, $50