New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-26
OBJECTIONS TO TIE HAMPSTEAD les
ERVOIR
ARsENE HOUssAYE.

HEARING OF CITIZENS BEFORE COMMITTEES OF THE
COMMON COUNCIL ADDRESSES AGAINST THE
COMPLETION OF TIE RESERVOIR BY SAMUEL
HUTCHINSON, A. A. LOW, GEN. STEWART l.
wOODFoED, S. B. CHITTENDEN, A. L. BAYLIs,
AND OTHERS.
A large number of the citizens of Brooklyn
assembled in the chamber Of the Common Council last
evening, where the Committee on Law and the Com
mittee on Water and Drainage Of the Board OF
Aldermen had met 10 hear any communications or
addresses in regard to the Hampstead Reservoir
Among those present were Gen. stewart L. Woodford
A. a. Low, s. 3. Chittenden, E. L. Backhouse, Harvey
Harrington jeremiah p Robinson, A. i. Bayhs, C. D.
Shepherd Samuel Hutchinson. cXCOntroler Schroeder
Thomas Kirsea, DeInas Barnes, Henry L. PierrepOn
ex-Regisler Mclaughlin, Col. \. C. Keeney OF Kingsley
Keeuey storage reservoir contractors, and Pres
Dent Palmer and Commissioner Fowler OF the
Board Of City Works. Alderman Strong, acting
Chairman of the Law Committee, called the meet
ing 10 order He said that the two Committees for
which he spoke were there to listen to what the peo
pie had 70 in respect TO the proposed completion OF
the Hampstead Reservoir 1t was the earnest desire OF
the Board promote the best interests Of the people and
having interest on the subject they stood perfectly
free to act Remarks the subject were then invited
Samuel Hutchinson the hTst 10 respond He said
that he set out with the belief that there was no need Tor
reservoir TO hold more than the present one he eX
planned the position of the water line Of the sand agu
ing that drOuth of six months which was I'M oSSDic IL
this would not deprive Guy ia
state of the waterwOrks of sufficient supply OF water
The reontrances which had been made came from every
ward in the city, and embraced all classes every one
agreeing TO resist an increase Of taxation
A. A. Low said that after the very courteous invitation
of the Committees TO the people OF the city 10 express
their views on subject in hand he felt II incumbent
Oh the sgners remOnsaDces to give at least some
general REASONS for their attitude. he had felt good
deal of preudce in regard TO the work from the begin
ming The contract had been awarded il TIE lace oi al
offer publicly made by responsible public man. Tor
much less price than the contract contemplated IheIe
was very honest belief on the part Of the citizens OF
Rrooyn that the amount awarded Tor the work was more
than ought TO paid The time seemed to be very unpro
pitious for extending public works IT they were not
nressiuclv needed. The Board of Water Works knew
better than individuals whether the Work should 90 Oh
but the speaker himself felt that the extending Oh he
ctvs obligations should be avoided There was no SAFE
for property now wherever property was brought up
for sale it was sold for much less than its worth Ihere
were many lots OF property in the city which he should
dacIne a. riffs because Of the enormous load OF taxation
upon them The population OF the city was diminishing
because the taxes large and even yet increasing
For reasons the speaker felt that the wofK so
not 90 on
Cen woodford was the next speaker. He said, among
other things: Agreeing to the suggestion which you
made In calling the meeting to order, trust that shall
say nothn tending revive old disputes or awaken old
nreuces But to consider this question other than In
the light of the various incidents that have preceded IL
wond be impossible for just determination could be
arrived at The project OF storage reservoir had ts
origin in An act Of the Legislature, made May l. 1870
Thai bin cave certain additional powers TO the Board or
Water Commissioners 1t authorized the Common Coun-
ell 10 approve plans and specifications for the consruc
ton of reservoir specified no limit TO the money 10
be used leaving that TO your local legislature believe
that the great evils which alct our body polite arise
mainly from one cause. They arise from legslating
.lo, .innl nf Z ha
state Applause1 They arise also in this that the good
citizen who TOO lazy TO go to the polls 70 correct
there [Appausel Whenever we shall reach the tlhe
that Brooklyn outlook for its reef except the
baot-boxes every will be compelled 10 20 10 tAe
baOt-boxes; and Brooklyn, selfgoyernlng VIII iheSl.
ably take care Of herself lAppause In june OF tnal
cations In July Of that year the WORK was appIoVeu
approved az ne result OF .on
Of the Board Water that the entire en
nense should exceed II 100000 And every man IN
ms cty is bound oy that contract Long APP
niause1 In February, 1871, the second D was lissc'
Tins bin prooded that the cost Oh inc "0iA 'Ouu NO
am not here criese the fact that me contract was
let for this sum when there was much lower Dd am
bound TO presume that the motives Tor TINS were good
one Of two things is evidentelther inc MdeI boau m
derstood what they wanted 20 DO or tney ud NOT %
Ioaking AZ il one way they incompetent; and look
Ing IL the other way they were iaise 10 int, s,
thcy ought impeached and In any other country
THAN ours they would have been turned neeh anu me-
OF Oce Applause Why ,9e law give o snfary
10 spend more. II "a dangerous tendency, nhu.r te
democratic form 10 assume arbitrary pow ra M"
whether il is In the enforcement OF Fedora
law Cr a local statute Wherever the once odeIs
aSs heyond The letter of tine Jaw the people ia their
MAJESTY should r4 mp and punish them They had no
moral they had legal iIght 10 enter upon wOIK una!
tbe rnev what h would cost and when they found that
II wout cost than the appropriated they were
bound as public citizens and officials 10 s'op tlenl ucH
and there Appiause.l But w 10 the Sil oi February
is75 they had spent 81 900 Of which al had been
maid 10 he contractors except $1,000 Added 10 inns
poare Vas a contested claim Of 5000. Now,
gentlemen, until this very serious question can pe
determined, Is ~ not better that you HHouu
take no action There Is not IN tAls IA"
as il stands that which authorizes the expenditure OF one
FIRST L. there NOT sufficient water sIppyt Second Are
yo, able 10 pay Brooklyn place OF residence, uoi
o bnspess You collect large taxes upon per
sonal ron.ty Therefore as matter OF fact the taxa
tion nj this community falls almost entirely upon the