New-York tribune., 1873-07-22
THE CROTON QUESTION.
COMMISSIONER VAN NORTS PLAN FOR SOLV-
INC TT

COMMISSIONER VAN NORTS PLAN FOR SOLY-
ING IT.
AN IMPORTANT REPORT-A NEW STORAGE RESERVOIR
ToBE ERECTED AT BREwsTER's STATIONS, ,70O, 600,
600 GALLONS TO BE ADDED TO THE sUPPLY-A
LARGER AQUEDUcT REQUIRED-sMAIL AVERAGE
RAIN FALL OF 1873.
Commissioner Van Mort, of the Department of
Public Works on last Friday paid visit to the Gro
ton Dam and the storage reservoirs at Boyd's Cor
ners, and made personal inspection Of the whole
Croton Watershed. Chief Engineer Tracy, and En-
gneers Serrell and Campbell have been engaged,
since the complaints made last Winter, in devisng
means to make the supply of water for this city so
ample that the resources of the CIoton water REGION
the storage capacity and the means of distributing
water to the consumers shall not be questioned In
the future To that end Commissioner Van Mort
has been engaged in locating second storage reser
voir, and making other improvements,-which the
present drought and the possibilities Of a water
scarcity in the future seem to have made necessary
The result of his observations and inspection of
the region are embodied in report, the substance
of which is given below Inorder to facilitate an
understanding OF it map is furnished for the bene-
fit of the readers of THE TRIBUNE, showing the
whole region Of the Croton Watershed, the lakes
from which the three branches of the Crotcn River
draw their supplies and the location of the reservoir
at Doyds Corners and the proposed storage reservoir
near Brewster's Station.
COMMISSIONER VAN NORT's REPORT.
The inspection of the entire Croton water re-
on the lakes and with which connection
has been made for the supply OF water for this city
shows that with Unprecedented drouth IN a season
when heavy ran-fals usually occur, and a possible
drouth in the usual dry Of July and August the
supply OF water would have inadequate TO the wants
Of city If the large storage reservoir, located
BOyds Corners had been erected and provision made
for such an emergency The Department Of Public
Works, following the recommendations made by Chief
Engineer Tracy and Engineers serrel aud Campbell has
completed the purchase OF tract OF land the middle
branch Of the Croton River Brewsters Station
the purpose OF building another storage reservoir which
will amply supply all the needs OF this city in any
Of prolonged drouth.
The quantity OF water in the various storage reservoirs
and lakes is sufficient supply the wants Of the city
for six weeks rain shall fall and the city is for the
first time in its history, prepared to Withstand long
Of dry weather. -Four lakes in Putnam County
made tributary to the city waterworks This
reserve has not yet been drawn upon The reservoir
has sustained the demand, and still contains over 5OO
100000 gallons. As much more is available from the
lakes 3OOOOOOOOO gallons in all In reserve The daily
consumption until within the past week has been
95,OOOOOO gallons, but 1t is now reduced to about
92,CO0OCO, there being two inches water In the
reservoir July 20 than during last week. OF tho
s50OOO gallons GOOO0OO0 drawn from the reservoir
gallons from the Croton River 30 that the
supply in the and lakes is sufficient while the
river furnishes its present quantity, for more than
30 days.
The present supply OF water in storage is over 6Oo0
100000 gallons, which the reservoir for the building
Df when proposals will be received by the Department
few days. will hold 37Oo 100000 or over lOOOo
10000 gallons altogether This amount is stored fol-
OWs: