The New York herald., 1875-03-22
The Water Supply.

The question of the water supply is of great
importance to oil our citizens. 1t is generally
admitted that the present supply, if not alb
solutely insufficient, is inadequate to the grow
ing necessities of the city and that its immedi-
ate increase would be great public advan-
tage on the score of convenience, cleanliness,
health and safety. Mayor Wickham makes
two suggestions OH the subject to the Common
Council. One is that the collection and stor-
ing OF the water and the regulation of its dis
tribution should be subject to the control of
the Mayor and Common Council, and not be
left in the hands of the Commissioner of Public
Works, as under the law of 1871; another is
that the water meter system should be intro
duced, SO as to limit the consumption and
prevent waste The first Of these suggestions
may be acceptable enough, provided ~e can
trust the Common Council to take common
sense business view of the matter and
to act for the interests of the city
and not for the promotion of jobs. Whoever
may be invested with authority in the matter
of securing sufficient supply of water it is
certain that wise economy dictates that the
ply should be secured by the city at once, be-
fore the value of property increases, while its
utilization can be made gradual in accordance
with the growth Of the city and the increased
demand.
We entirely dissent from the Mayors second
proposition. The law OF 1871 providing for
the introduction of water meters is generally
considered a gross job; but, whether this
imputation be just or not. it is certain
that its object is one which the popular
voice will never approve. Under the water
meter system the price Of water would be
heavy burden on the consumer. There would
necessarily be an economy in its use that
would be likely to prove prejudicial to the
public health The water rate in New York
has heretofore been so reasonable that it has
not been in any case oppressively felt and the
citizens will not consent to give up the free
supply, at a stipulated charge, for the vexa-
tious and annoying system of meters. There
is, unquestionably, much unnecessary waste,
and this should, as far as practicable, be pro-
vided against and prevented. This wiuter-
certainly an exceptional one-the waste has
been great, owing to the habit of letting the
water run to prevent freezing. The steam
boat companies have left their hydrants open,
and factories and other business houses that
use large quantities OF water, as we'll as pri-
vate consumers, have done the same with
their faucets. The freezing of pipes and
by drants can be prevented at comparatively
small expense and with little trouble. The
main and service pipes, in the first place,
should be laid deeper than at present, and all
consumers should be compelled by law,
under the supervision of the Public
Works authorities, to protect their hydrants
and pipes from frost wherever they are ex-
posed. In the summer the steamboat lines
and other large consumers should be prohib-
tied by law from needlessiy wasting water
under penalty to be enforced by the De-
partment of Public Works. While waste
should be prevented the use of water should
be much more liberal than 1t is, and the sup
ply should be large enough to warrant it.
Water should be used in city like New York
as the most efficient street cleaner, and the
hydrants should be left to run as frequently
in the summer as health and cleanliness de-
mand, and in the winter whenever it would
be useful to wash away the melting snow and
slush. 1t would be very profitable job to
some person or other, no doubt to supply
water meters to the whole city of New York,
but the people would not willingly submit to
have their supply peddled out to them in
such manner. The true policy is to i'm.
prove the supply and the means of distribu-
ton, and not to restrict the use Of water and
to increase its cost to the consumer.