The New York herald., 1874-11-25
A KNOTTY PROBLEM.
The Question OF Obtaining q supply OF
Pure Water for YOnkers-Mnss Meet

The Question OF Obtaining q supply OF
Pure Water for Yonkers-Mnss Meet
ing OF the Citizens Last Evening.
Tue people OF Yonkers, Westcnester county, have
been Tor some time past and are still endeavoring
TO solve the problem as to the most judiclous
means be ADOPTED Tor insuring to their youthful
city an abundant supply OF good water.
To this end various schemes nave been pro posed,
and widely divergent are the multiplicity OF vie VS.
expressed through tue local newspapers and
otherwise 10 regard to the relative merits
or demerits Of the plans suggested. OF late,
however, the vexed question had settled down
TO choice Of utilizing either the Sprain or the
Grassy Sprain two small streams which meander
among shaded dells and over miniature cascades
for miles through the picturesque territory which
forms the eastern boundary OF the corporation
indicated. Which OF the two sources named
would prove most advantageous Tor the purpose
OF supplying o storage reservoir OF sufficient
capacity to contain water enough Tor the wants OF
$4,000 people was the next important query and
cne which elected much discussion. 1t must
not be understood here however that
Yongers contains $4,000 inhabitants or even
q moiety OF that number but me work to be ac-
complished will be expected to benefit future
generations as weii as the present, anq II the
millennium does not dawn ere couple or decades
YonKers. according TO prophecies OF real estate
SPECTATORS and others, will boast OF even more
numerous population than that above alluded to.
TIE GRASSY 5PRAIN
was objected to on account or Its bed being
q deposit OF peat or muck, which. 1t was
tain extent impure and unwholesome. while
an additional objection was raised on
:" 700 ~
storage reservoir capable of meeting the wants OF
$4,000 people In orper to settle the quest on OF
the character oi the Grassy SpTaiE, the commits.
sioners caused q portion OF the water to be ana
lyzed by Professor Chandler, OF Coumbla College,
and he after number OF scientific tests, pro.
PURE AS THE CROTON
TSse as ,n ~ tine aERAap
perlmented with the water, have formed a differ
ent opinion to that Of Professor Chandler, espe-
Cialy one OF the results 0 these experiments was
that after the water had Deen filtered through one
thickness Of felt and two thicknesses OF fItering
sherry VINE. As the Introduction OF water into the
city VIII entail IN expense or some sG00060 the
should insure to themselves and their postenty
wholesome quality OF the Indispensable element.
Since the Board OF water commissioners have
decided 10 locate the storage reservoir on the
THE POPULAR OPPOSITION
to that decision has been Increasing daily. Last
evening, IN pursuance OF call. the wealthy and
influential residents OF the city assembled In large
numbers at RadIord Hall for the purpose Of con-
suiting ~ to the best means to be adopted IN the
premises and to respectfully protes, against the
Grassy Sprain Tne meeting was organized by the
choosing Ol William Allen Butler chairman, and
III. +. Rowe and j. q. P. Holden secretaries.
The Chairman addressed the meeting at some
length, explaining the object for which tney had
assembled adverting to the impor rtance OF OBTAIN.
ing . supply OF pure water which, he said, affected
the
HEALTH AND COMFORT
OF every man, woman and child IN the city. lie
also gave account OF the legislative enacrments
authorizing the expenditure OF s6oo,ooO
Sr ss wa,er HHpnS s ;
Board Of Water Commissioners Tor the care
and pains they mad taken wniie endeavOring to
discharge the important duties desolvlng upon
them, but argued that the people had q cOnstitu.
tional right to peaceab,v assemble and determine
what best conserves their own vital interests.
They were all willing to pay literally Tor plenti-
lui supply OF pure 2ter, bnt It Deho0ved them TO
know whether the water or tEe Grassy Spraln,
which 1t was proposed to bring into their houses,
Professor Bartlett, formerly OF West PUlnt next
addressed the meeting and IN the course OF his
remarks SAID that on reading the Plans OF the
engineers he nau been very mucn disappointed
with the result. Since then lie mad gone over the
ground. and come back sallsfied that
A GREAT MISTAKE
had been made. The commissioners may be right
and he wrong, but he was desrous OF avoiding
the muck bed OF the Grassy Sprain possiUle. The
question for the citizens was how TO avoid this
muck bed. Everybody knows tnat certain polsons
lurk IN morasses which ueiy the most critical
the sprain River II properly utilized would be
sufficient TO supply YOnKers ior twenty years to
come.
Addresses we're also delivered by Mr.. G. Liv.
tngston Morse, Mr. l.. H. Keyes and others, and q
series OF resolutions dserse to using the waters
meeting adjourned at Iate hour