The New York herald., 1876-11-07
IHH WATER QUESTION.
A Second Aqueduct Impera
lively Demanded.
THE CROTON BUREAU AROUSED.
Inadequacy of the Pipes to the Re-
quired Supply.
WHERE REFORM is WANTED.

The water famine struggles keenly with the Prcs
Dental election In point OF popular interest The
famine however, bids fair TO outlast the other excite
mcnl The Croson Aqucduct Bureau is bewiIdercd at
the loud oucry OF lack OF water and to do II justice
Is devising every means TO meet the want OF which
thsrcis so much bitter complaint The reporter Of
the HERALD could nnd nobody available in tho depart
mcnt yesterday except Mr.. Thompson, gentleman
whose suavity and condesce nsion duly apprc-
cated and who said ..The Commissioner is pressed for
time. Perhaps might answer In his stead.
RrroRrsR-wcll, Mr. Thompson. all wo want TO
know is vhc,hor We are V have any Immediate rolcf
from this water famines
Mr.. THOMSON "a handsome and imposing English
man. by the way-I really cannot II there is going
10 be any i'm mediate relief but will say that all
best engineers upon the Croton fields and lakes
and thcy arc not likely TO make mistake. They arc
our oldest and most trusted men, and whatever Is
within the capacity OF engineering skin to do will bo
dono by them. Bear mind this Is the greatest
drought in nifty years but now docking out OF tho
window, think see premonItons OF rain, and with
two days rain everything will look lovely and the
goose will hang aittudinum.
The reporter then LETT and won. In pursuit OF other
sources OF information.
SENSIBLE ENGINEER.
Hc found an engineer whose name Il is needless 10
mention and engneor said There ought never to
DO question this matter The old Croton no ucduct
GOOD enough twenty years ago. but tho necessities
Of this big city demand another Suppose tho
present aqueduct met with an accident where would
tho c,ty be? II would cost money, but why spend
the money now MS wcli as In ten years hencc!"
TANKS
On the high ridge OF Manhattan Island, extending
centrally upward from Forty street. and boar
ing away toward Fort Washington Il is necessary
for houschoders 10 have tanks for holding ply Of
water. as the high service pumps not to be ae-
pcndcd on in those months OF the year when the Gro
ton supply is low. Tho complaint made by those
people who OF the csterns that tho depart.
mt goes to work and adds without notice q sup
ply OF water TO tho old one-the new supply coming
IRON higher elevation than old one Tho gss OF
the trouble is hs-that the Croon Department in its
many laudable efforts rcctfy the distribution OF
water takes OCCASION once in while 10 put on heavy
head and send tho water coursng through the mains
indefinite mission. Water cannot rise beyond
source, as everybody knows but there is way. simple
80 might be saved great deal Of unnecessary
vcnonce and expense, and that is by lostng them
ply Is about TO begin. Take, for instance,
tank OF the character used in many uptown
holes around its upper inner surface AS long the
wster matntans ITS regular and accustomed flow every
thing IL but when tho Croon hends without
prior level has been high above the tacst houses
flowed because the rush Of water s great that tho
escape holes are overaxcd and the water cannot
| cape fast as IL comes in.
|
The cxertions OF the police yesterday were rewarded
stopping many sources Of wnsse probably the
tent Of lew millions OF gallons The traditions Of tho
Croton Aqueduct Bureau against its efficiency
wthstandins that Chief Engineer. Mr. Campbell, !,
one Of The most panstakinE mon living and strives to
i virz REcoxxKypxD
Last year General Porter advised that In order to
Eve the city an ample supply OF water twenty inch
pipe SHOULD DO laid Fifth avenne between Tenth and
nd M d0vw
nus TO sixty-sixth street main to be laid caoh
| sdo Of Fourth avenue from Harlem River to Forty
second street, connecting with the pipes each
(a the pipes the avenue between these points
having been taken up on account Of the Fourth
In the right direct'on, and Il II Satisfactory TO
know that his suggestion In regard to Fnh avenue
oe'Ds carried 0oI VINO "a 70 BLAME,
The Board Of Aldermen Is at the bottom Of oil
dSsh and and s'ss where who
plants.
II ID natural enough 10 such that citizens
should DO concerned about the for fire. The
fact shc mains OF sufficient size The size
and style Of buildings are constantly undergoing
cnangcs but tho supply Of watcr has fallen behind
tho times The pressure hydrants present ranges
being attached 20 mains Of six inches in diameter.
which are entirely too small to supply large engiues
Brosdwsy M % from % cS.mssrs 70 Canal Street. sna
| the section OF tho city bounded BY Canal,
South Firh avenue. Houston and Crosby streets,
tho supply has been increased since the change
from small old fashioned dwcllinxs Mercer street
| only ixinch pipe, and there IS number Of new
large sized buildings located there within few years
On Broadway therc thirty six inch main pipe used
to supply the lower portion OF the city, and II Is
nccted at Houston Grand Canal and Pearl with
side MAINS There is another extensive main on Mott
and both thcsc mains should be allowed TO be
tapped IN cases OF large lres
Commissioner KING, or the Fire Department, thinks
that unless large sized mains are placed throughout
ber could not be held responsible for an extensive
connagraton.
A good deal has been said about the OF Hudson
River water for other than actual domestic uses, with
view Of economizing tho Croton- Chief Engineer
Campbell not believe In using salt cxtin
guish frcs II It used would
sary to have as many moro miles Q! mains as arc now
new aqueduct The salt supply would have DO
pumped all tho time. People DO not seem to think
tina, the e q ss ~s as
instead OF being, as IN oden times the exception, and
II is impossible for the Fro Department 70 got water
into upper stories oil hu ndreds OF tho high
edinccs that are to be found In tho metropolis Salt
water would At first destroy merchandise, and bo q
costly luxury in the end
CORRESPONDENCE BKTwEEN COMMISSIONER
cAMPDKLL AND THE POLICE BOARD
The following correspondence between the Depart
cnt Of Public Works and The Police Board the SUBJ
ject OF the croton famine. made public ycs-
tcrday:-
DErARrxESr PUBLIC woRKsl
CoNMIssONERs OrYCB
NKw YORK. Nov g. 1870
General W. T. snirn, President Of Board Of Poice
Commiss ioncrs:-
this department IN regard to the waste OF Croten
water. The continued drought causes heavy draft
upon reserve westchester and Putnam counties.
unless ast relief from copous rains there
Ia prosper OF water famine. There IL very great
waste all stabes The washing OF vehicles pronb-
by ordinance aud the rules o. this department but
II has been permitted while water abundant The
present cxigcncy requires IL TO be stopped until tue
Anu dnfl nd fand
10 enforce the order without discrimination.
The forcc at my command is so small that the in
spcctors will be able VISIT all tho stables
whether the OF der complied with. May again AJAX
the aid OF the police force In visiting daily the stables
OF The CITY and In reporting promptly all violations OF
tho orderS Your department has already assisted us
materially IN saving water, and II you will extend fur