New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-29
RECKLESS WASTE OF CROTON.


PRUDENCE IN TIE USE or WATER THE ONLY
MEANS or AVOIDING ENORMOUS EXPENSE TO
InE TAX-PAYERs-REPORT OF COMMISSIONER
CAMPBELL.
The report OF Allan Campbell Commissioner
OF Public Works ior the second quarter of 1876 gives
much space u the consideration of the wner supply of
NcwYork. The most important paris OF the report de-
voted 10 this subject IA follows:
Since the date of my last quarterly report have made
Il personal examination OF the lakes and RESERVOIRS IN
Putnam County on "hlt ~, u, cry mus uSpnu LOT
of drOuth. Putnam County contains seEertl i.nes
na;urs basins which have required ouiy small expense
for dams ami outlets To MAKE thclr waters AVIAN,
Ia he same re- gIon al an expense OF $4,000, and
other H. ia progress, the estimated cost oil whch -
$75OUOO The combined storage capacity OF these sew
crsI reservoirs natural and artificial, which may be-
drawn upon az needed, will b. about SOOOOoOOOO OF
~ The Cfotop furnish only oncthird the quantity
sumcl-a condition of things which has more than once
from the lakes just descr bed the
long period Of 100 days contingent dtouth atoSether
bevond the range probability AZ the city increases
In uopulaton additional reservoirs may ne constructed
a, re sougccs of the Crotou SO that there can be
cause for Apprehension the elementary question OF
Abundance OF pure water Tor city o. vast proper
The secondary though important, question 1T conduct
ing this suI ply much OF II may be uecied to
the city, IL matter OF dollars and cents and O. soulful
Fortunately the good condition OF the existing a4ac
duct and s capacity amply to supply the prescr poIH
iation have been proven, thus alloldng sulconl TIN
for a careful Investigation To the proper means To
meet tua Wauta OF increasing population and grow
ing commerce. The heavy debt OF the city and tine bur
deus OF taxation, already very OucrOus call especially 1T
this time for the exercise OF wise economy in under
taking works OF improvement ut the public expense;
and though no method OF economy can he considered
yise which should put limitations upon an adequate aud
even supeabundant supply of so necessary element
water yet II by and proper regulations eNtrLva
gance and reckless waste can be avoided and thus post
ponc even for "a few years the enormous OF
aqueduct IL scarcely be doubted that such course
would be commented by the taxpayers and Dy every
intelligent citizen.
In my former report called attention TO the subject
of waste abuse CrOtOn water, aud Is only at
regard thai | wish TO be understood as treating
the subject approaching fully the fact that liberal ana
ABUNDANT supply in large city Is essential to
IL health. and prosperity OF its inhabitants, aud
to ne protection OF property against fire.
A. 'he time the CrUton Aqucduct was projected IL
sunpu ed that 10 gallons per day for nuaDitdnt
would liberal allowance, and probably in tine earlier
years after liz completion that proportion not
ccedrd Ihe ratio per capita has gone On increasing,
until now IL 90 gallons daily, or more than double the
original quantity. This 10 have been the history
of many other c les OF this country, aud may be
counted for by tie modern imprOv ements in dwelling
houses the rapid Increase III shipping and manufactures,
the establishment II fountains the demand for
sprnkIng, &c, all o. which has been accompanied by
TRe following table compiled from authentic sources,
shows the present daily sumption OF per capita
in various cities oi the Unsed states and Europe: