The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-12
THE WATER SUPPLY.

Meeting Yesterday OF the Committee OF
the Board OF Aldermen on the Uttlizn-
ton OF Salt Water for the Extinction
OF Fircs-lmportant Evidence OF Conn
missioner Hcnnessy and Professor
Cha dler.
The special committee OF the Common Council
appointed to consider the question OF utilizing
salt water for the extinction OF fires and for use
ior sanitary purposes held an adjourned meeting
yesterday In the committee room OF the Board of
Aldermen.
Chief Engineer TRACY, Of the Croton Aqueduct
Bureau repeated his former state ments insisting
that the Croton watershed can supply all the
needs OF the city by the laying OF additional mains
&c. The Fire Department now are only short at
high points, and not even there II sufficient pipes
are laid. The Department Is really deficient in large
mains and that's all the trouble. II we have q
dry season for six or eight months, and we want
to prepare for It, all that is required Is the build
Ing OF more storage reservoirs. The watershed
we've got Is equal to any possible requirements.
The plan OF tapping the Hudson at Poughkeepse
Is too expensive and is entirely unnecessary. As
for supplying salt water, Mr.. Tracy very posi-
tive that for the same or less money Croton water
could be supplied for every possible purpose. No
pipes were wanted for salt water The best way, II
salt water must be had, Is to have it pumped
through hose by force pumps placed on the steam
ers and ferrybOats on the East and North Rivers.
The storage reservoirs have, he said, capacity to
hold 200,00O,0O0 gallons more than we shall ever
have need Of In 1870 the average daily supply Of
water into the city was IS, 900 gallons; in 1871,
s7oOo,O0O; in 1872. 91,OOO0OO. During January OF
this year the supply was 1Ol 100000 gallons;
in February, 1o4,OOo,OOo gallons daily; this in
creased consumption of water was owing to
the extreme cold weather. people letting the water
run to keep their pipes from freezing The reason
why our Fire Department find 1t difficult in some
parts OF the city to get water sufficient to quench
large fire is owing to the insuliciency of the mains.
The Croton Aqueduct cannot supply to this city
moro than 1O4, 900 900 gallons daily. II the city con-
tinues to Increase In popuiation at the present
Nothing short OF an earthquake could do harm to
the aqueduct. The new mains lately laid are made
Mr.. JAMES s. HENNEssY, Fire Commissioner,
gave it as his opinion that there was not deficient
either oflciay or personally, that there had been
deficient supply OF water AZ any time. In reply
to questions I Of Alderman McCaferty he said that
very large rss W Were pro- ssRns at
the same time at each extremity OF the city.
Se% n YORK to sss1@e fos So serious us
.u character as that at Boston The Fire
If new 70 IN
New York firemen went to work at fire in quite a
different way to the Boston fremen. He recon-
80 that in case OF fire the river water could be utl
lied. To certain extent that was the case now.
but the plan might be greatly extended with much
benent. He strongly opposed the use OF salt water
with the present fire machines The machinery
was OF very delicate character, and the salt
would greatly deter1Orate it,
Professor CHANDLER, Of Columbia College, ana
chemist to the Board OF HEALTH said that he had paid
city. He had great confidence in 1.-THE Croton," and
thought 1t was amply sufficient. He had gone into
figures in his Investigations and he gave the fol-
4 n
The CrOtOn water shed was $3.50 square miles. The
rain fall averages about fifty inches. The rain fall
gallons. To bring 1t down to a more cor
rect average. 500 600 600 gallons per day was the
shed. There was, however, much that was lost by
evaporation; and what was not lost in that way
came into the reservoir, and it would therefore, be
include the new one at Fifth avenue that holds
holds ss,ooOooo the reservoir in Central PARK ark
that holds l,O0o.o0o,OOO. That was suficency
for supply Of ov a. least ten days The
gallons. Then there will be supply for thirty
three days with very liberal supply; for q small
time In view OF these facts 1t was very advisable
| to make arrangements to store water to last
water on the water shed to supply all the water
that would be required in this region, now or for
t time to eSme. But storage reservoirs were
able for New York. There There was usp'' little
prejudice about using water that had
received the DRAWINGS OF large cities. lie be-
heved, however, that q running stream has power
OF publication and the water purihes itself. He
had had occasion to investigate this subject in the
water supply to Albany. There was an objection
to receiving the water from the river because 1t
had received the drainage Of Troy. There was,
however. no necessity for any objection. The Gro
ton water might contain twice the impurities 1t
does and yet the water be very healthy. He was
strongly impressed that 81 spent in increasing
the supply of CrOton was worth more than $40
spent in any other scheme. The salt water could
be benefcially used for sanitary purpOses-as
cleaning the streets and for water closets. He was
very strongly opposed to the Of water meters.
1t was as important to health to have no more re-
strtctiOns upon the Of water than upon the use
OF air and II water was charged by meter the effect
would be to limit the use OF 1t. There large
class OF our population who could not arerd to pay
for water IL they knew tnat they paid for the guam
tity they used. He knew that the effect Of using
water by meter for manufacturing Dur
poses was driving manufactures away from
the city: He knew OF several instances
OF this. There was one case where IL would have
cost manufactory $4,000 per year for water in
New York, and. therefore, they established their
mandatory in the country. This fact was fire.
damaging the interests of New York. He thought
that the suggestion OF Alderman McCaferty was a
very good 0Ne that, on leasing the ferries by the
city, there should be stipulation that each boat
should have fire engine and that each boat should
be subject to the control OF the Fire department
under certain contingencies.
The Committee then adjourned until Friday next
at eleven O'Clock.