The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-13
THE CROTON WATER.
HOW IT LOOKS IN THE DISTRIBUTING REsER
vOB AND HOW WINTER WEATHER AFFECTS

HOW IT LOOKS IN THE DISTRIBUTING RESER
voR AND HOW WINTER WEATHER AFFECTS
IT-NovEL OPINIONS OF CLEANLINESS.
Yesterday afternoon the writer found Mr.. Bird.
sail. the Assistant Engineer OF the Croton Water
Works. and asked him for pass to visit the Fifth
avenue reservoir. He said that no pass was
needed as the reservoir was always open during
the day for the inspection of visitors; but when
he was told that the reservoir had been closed iol
several days, he said that doubtless, the Keeper
was at WORK clearing the snow from the prone
made, and did not admit visitors because he would
not have time TO watch them. He wrote out an
order for the admission OF the bearer to view the
Filth Avenue and the Central PARK reservoirs
WASTING THE WATER.
In response TO questions Mr.. Birdsall said that
neither the larger reservoir in the Central PARK
nor the Fifth avenue distributing reservoir had
more than eighteen feet or water in It, Eacn
reservoir ia prepared to hold thirty-six feet o,
water since the winter began tne waste s OF water
amount OF water drawn daily from the reservoirs
has exceeded the average quantity drawn daily l1
daily last summer, when the public and
When the streets were washed, and when immense
amounts OF water were drank by our leverish
ter it about 1875. 100000 gallons. During last
winter the amount consumed daily was about
dsy Will we es was
90, 100000 gallons more than last winter. Tue
for Sas o be IN
weather during this winter than last;
there mas been q long succession OF days and
the water to run continually IN order to prevent
the pipes IRON oeing frozen up; Mr. Brdsail
water from the pipes has been to depete me
reservoirs leaving them the greater part OF the
ing drougtny summers. The people viii very soon
be reminded that ring IL come, and the guam
sncad BY sne auces being and the waste
OF the nuld being diminished
INSPECTING THE RESERVOIR.
When the writer reached the Filth avenue res
ervoir yesterday afternoon he found the door o1
the entrance to the promenade around the reser-
vOir was locked, and some disappointed children
and oonnes were bewaing the TACT. Turning
from that door the reporter pommeled the bar
man opened q window overlooking the stairs anu
said. as II he intended to settle the matter by the
crs are SS the ad not
affect the reporter, and very soon he was
fsrte Dsen no su
readily took in all the features or the reservoir.
There seemed to be nothing amlss. Nothing was
apparent which could excite the alarm or disgust
or the most fastidious water drinKer. The WAFER
IN thai compartment OF the reservoir nearest
Fifth avenue was almost covered with air. blown,
on The surface Of the water. me. sides
clean snow, but about half q yard above the WAFER
there was q bank Of sediment lett by the water
which mao SuOSlOeO lIOm tuuI mdTks lHlb beuls
ment was OF earthly appearance. and seemed to
contain NO trace OF vegetation. The surface OF The
water In the second compartment OF the reservoir
10 almost entirely covered with Ice, and the sides
OF that section are also attired with snow. The
promenade around and above the water IS won
deriuliy clean and Tree rom snow. The keeper
explained that no visitors mad been allowed at the
reservoir In Q week, lor the reason that they
would tramp through and make the snow dirty,
and In that place q disgusting slush. Now thae
the pavement Is clean visitors will again Va
allowed at the reservoir.
The water III the reservoir looks somewhat
dark, hut wnen taken in q glass 1t mas ialnk
yelo WISH green appearance reference to this
shade Of the water, made by the writer, called QUE
q remtniscence IRON the keeper OF the reservoir.
He Is. by the way, an old soldier who was
wounded during the war OF the rebellion. He
said :"Calking about the color OF water, like Is
to be q sort OF Drownlsh 1t seems 10 me to taste
better than clear water. Now, when l was at
place called Brandy Station, In virginia. win my
regiment, the water we used to drink WAS almost
brOwn-amost the color OF brandy. 1t was lul OF
this vegetable matter, aud the surgeons used 10
say that 1t was first class drinking water. why,
used 10 drink till my lnsdes ratified"
The writer learned In conversation with the old
soldier that there are now ABOUT eighteen feet OK
water In the reservoir and that the water Tell
about foot ana half from nve O'Clock In tue
morning until iour In the afternoon. The water
averaged twenty-five feet and TWO inches IN
depln during the month Of January, and about
seventeen ieet during February. During the pres-
ent month the depth vi water mas been about the
same IA during E0bruarV.