New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-19
CAUSES or THE SHORT WATER SUPPLY.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER CAMP
BELL.


BELL.
! To the Fdft0r OF The Tribune
SIR: | am induced by the numerous COM
plants OF citizens and tho comments Of the public press
in regard to the limited supply Of Croton water in this
city, TO make " official statement" on the condition
of the wafer supply and the Of its present nita-
ton In my report to the Mayor for the quarter ending
June 80 the general question Of the water supply was
discussed aud statement made Of the works completed
and IN progress 40 the of the CrotOn for storing
water in order 10 meet the demand when the natural
now Of Croton by Of drouh fails to furnish
sufficient quantity In that report 1t was stated hrst
that the aqucduct has sufficient capacity TO afford lib
eral supply TO the present population, II meNcusabie
waste can Dee avoided; and second that the water
shed u the Croton Valley has area adequate. with
proper storage its drainage ana by tine aid Of additional
conduit to meet the druand Of the city for generations
to come also stated that the steady and rapid growth
OF New-York would call either for the early con-
stuicton OF aqueduct, the maximum capacity OF
the existing one having been reached, taking The rate Of
present consumption guide, resort to meters TO
restrict tho USE the latter remedy being in my opinion
objectionable iu many respects.
Although the public generally are aware of extra
ordinary drouh during the past summer, 10 Is pr badly
not known that from june until the present time, a
rcrod OF over four months the droUtn m the Croton
valley and its tributaries has been unrXampod within
the past fifty years since June - water has run
over the CrOtuu dam except for tie short space OF four
DAYS. The Croton River itself has dwndicd TO the
dimensions " brook. and resort has necessarily
been had 10 the art cal reservoirs 80 Boyds Corners
and to the natural lakes Of Weschcstcr and Putnam
Counties During this period OF unprecedented drouth,
4f70oOO,OOO gallons of wafer have been drawn from
fine water stored MP IN these basins. AlthOu we bad
every reason 20 anticipate relief from Summer showers
and Autumnal aus the attention Of the department has
been unrcmitug procuring such additional supplies
a, could by any possibility be commanded. Lakes
haro not possessed by The city have been purchased
or leased tLer outlets cut down. and large volumes Of
water thus lied to the Croton River These purchases
and works while aTDrdiuE Indispensable relief la tho
plseut extremity viii forever rpmaln useful ana nee
es,fy part OF the water system OF The city The rain
fall us O., ei,crcd Ia Putnam County. from June % ihe
present time has been follows: I'm June, 10 inches
I'm July 3i2 inches; I'm August 100 inches; ia s'ptcm
her 52I inches; IN October q daysl, ~ inches The
September rains may De -td 10 have been entirely
absorbed Ly the plrch,d tarh AS only ourourh of au
inch was drained into the receiving basins. The COM
blucd storage capacity OF thc single artificial reservoir
vet completed and ~ the tural lakes possessed by the
city. including those recently acquired, D. about 5o'O
100000 gallons.
ON taking charge ~ tn.s department IN February last,
found an additional rr-eryor In course of construction
on the middle branch of thr tro0n IN Putnam County
which had recently been uut uulcr contract, but upon
which comparatively htnr work had been done. This
work Ia progress but - months VIII he required
for lts completion u will hold 200 600 ~ gallons
which, I'm addition 10 tine amount previously stated VIII
insure an "Hil'' '"Pr' '''' '" " .''''' ~ '"
to that through which pass ~. shall urso ltS
completion the earliest possible d. Oher reservoirs
can and must constructed The Of tno Croton
rs Tho city grows IN extent aud population. IL D. the
49,, , t,. i..,,rt,,.,,.t ord d.. bp.d .,oui b, held
"''' W 80. ....,..
responsible 'pr The great tTHt u see lI ''''' ""''
are started and completed, not only I'm good tme' bn'
.,, ,,. 49,. ,,,I,t- az tu,I,,ult. .upriv shall
'''"'' "" '" l ~ Co.,
arise. EIhbotdle ana ''I'I" S'N''s' W wv ,''''
watershed we've made fcW years since by the 'r"t'
-'P''"" ~ '' ., g. a., t.,....,,,.,
Idc maps ana I't"iH' NV v" "'' o." Wv ''
from which new dams ANA reservoirs can De IhW''t'l
and nut under contract FROM time 20 time, ~ required
rrpnrt 10 the Mayor after describing the region ut the
s,irrc. of the 1rotpu that be cause for
opurpli,u.i,n gs t. the elementary question Of an
abundance Of purc water "a city Of vast proportions,
aud add that from t source the supply must como ~
thc most available aud economical.
I'm NY report discussed briefly "a" question ol new
auueduct aud gave my opinion u favor or -u'h q WotA
lu urriercucc q resort tO system or meters 10 U
platcl every house M order 10 restrict Inc Use OF
,,trr Ii &C., pressed the hone tuat m Wow Of the present
burdsn,OuC taxation Tie great expense OF AH duul''uA
auurutt might Doe postponed Tor a lt" years, ! wv
at-cd that early steps should be- taken 10 prepare for
p ru.ru,to n Of such a work, and the ucAt season can
pr,t,rIy b. devoted 10 the necessary survey and prrpa
| -unutpn ! estimate tine cost % new dqurdicl! IN
Guiding the accessory works az reservoirs ana ul'rl"
ming pipes, at S2pOJO 900, and the tine Tor us com
picuu 40 Tour years INC cry Will nj lue ",
ms ptinI' nave IH'i ''a'H S' "'" u" l"t 49, -.
required ior this Improvement believe TIE tIrs oi
Ntw-Iork will chccfmy bear the cost IN Wow "l the
t..r.0t. which I will uubrI. provided hC