The New York herald., 1876-10-14
HEMPSTEAD RESERVOIR.

TRIAL OF COMMISSIONER FOWLER BEFORE THE
BRooKLYN BOARD OF ALDERMEN-wAs THERE
DANGER OF WATER FAMINE IN 1870?
The Board of Aldermen OF the city Of Brooklyn mot
again yesterday afternoon for the purpose OF examining
The charges preferred against Commissioner William
A. Fowler, who has been suspended by Mayor Fred.
erick A Schroeder, on tho allegation that, whilo
officiating as member oil tho Board Of City Works, he
couspred with Messrs. William c. Kingsley and Abner
G. Keency tho contractors tor the construction OF tho
Hampstead storage reservoir, TO dciraud the city Of
Brooklyn. Preslde mt French occupied the chair.
There wcrc several democratic Aldermen missing when
the roll was called, among The number being
Kane OF the Sixth ward; Black, Of the Fourth ward
Donovan OF tho Twelfth Alderman Parker, OF the
Fifteenth ward, republican, was also missing. There
was but small audience In the lobby. The Corpora
ton Counsel appeared for the prosecution and Gcners
r. A. Pryor for Mr.. Fowler. samuel Do Mott, who
was Tho rst witness called testified tnat he Is lar
mcr and resides within 6o feet of tho Hampstead Res
eIvoir. in an eastcry direction from the dam; no
recolleclel tho nrst work on the reservoir was cut
ting aud brush; tho wood was sawed up and put
INTO the fuine; there no difference in that year
from uny other tho volume OF water In tho ponds
IN thut ucichborhood; year prior to tho
me Mt OF the work by Kingsley kcensy the volume
Of water in the ponds was tue same as u had always
been; year before tho work was commenced he saw
the astc gates oil the old Hampstead Reservoir open
for several days; at the same time MI smith closed
did not know that the visitors were city ofncials
witness did not know the date oi the cutting down OF
tho woods, but knew that was aftcr The water had
been OF tho ponus; saw the wood that had been
cut used subsequently, upon tho construction of tho
nune: witness believed that ne diG not get enough
Tor his land which taken by the city for the res
ervor
Mr. Ryder. a farmer, testified that no lived In
Jamaica; the volume Of water in Brnsley's pond near
his house In 1871 was about the same in other
years; bc the water low thero Tor day or two,
but IL iul again; he did not know what wns
the condition. ot the other ponds nt that :me; few
days later a number Of Carriages containing people
IRON Brooklyn visited the ponds; never noticed tho
water II just prior TO that visit that
In tho TALL ol 1871; it was dry year; the people who
called there didn't drink the wasto cato OF tho pond
had been open II would have been noticed then.
Samuel Combs testified that he owned mill near
tho Hampstead Reservoir. and that sometimes there
was decrease tho volume Of water; there was no
difference 10 the meter supply OF wstcr in 1s70.71.
John r. Cornell resided in Valley Stream IN the years
named; in those years there was drought, and the
water was short in all tho ponds named.
John H. Rhodes, Water Purveyor, testified that ho
reservoirs December l, lS69 IN the follow ing year
he was relieved OF the control OF the Rdgcwood Rescr
voIr by Colonel Adams; witness Tad nothing TO do
with the carrying out Of the resolution OF the ater
Board, recommending tho closing Of tho gates OF tho
reservoir mado experiments IN hts own house to
tho effect OF the closing OF the gates; there was
not the slightest difference in the pressure OF
water; knew what the effect would be II tho
gates closed during the night and opened in tho
morning; the rush of water would break tho pipes
witness opinion that the gates were not closed at
the time referred TO-
AT this OF the proceedings the Board adjourned
TO meet ut three O'Clock next Tuesday afternoon.