New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-18
A DEFICIENT WATER SUPPLY
cA111NG rnR A NEW AouEDUCT.


COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL NOW CONVINCED OF IT'S
NEcEssITY-TnE ARGUMENTS OF THOSE WHO
FAVOR ITS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CONDITION
OF THE CROToN SYSTEM
Tho condition of the CrOton water supply is
now exciting great interest in the city The aqueducJ
at present bringing daily NewYork between 65,o00
600 and 81 100000 gallons, quantity which docs not
meet the demand and consequently the water In the res
ervos gradually lowered from day TO day, and unless
abundant rain soon, there is imminent danger OF
scarcity OF water such as Ncw-York has never known
The water In the has been reduced TO depth
OF II feet In 1869 it fell to feet As the sides OF the
aqueduct are slopng the contents Of section at the
bottom one foot in depth less by thousands OF gal
Ions than section of similar depth near the
top. Therefore it is evident that the iurther
the surface OF the water is below the Top
Of the walls, the faster the water is drawn on
The present aqucduct with ITS systems of reservoirs
considered TO be the best in the world was built by
eminent engineers after long and eful deiberauon
and was at time supposed TO be sufficient in every
way for the clys wants for generations to come But
the growth Of NewYork has been unprecedented It's
population has increased rapidly and its Importance
as great manufacturing has been so largely ex
pandcd that the supply Of water by means Of the pres
ent aQueduct is admitted TO be inadequate TO the de-
Tnand, even when the rainfall is sufficient
The reasons which, il Is asserted, make the building
of a new aqueduct necessary have accumulated ID
number and force, until even Commissioner CampDeIl
has altered his opinion positively expressed in his last
quarterly report that the immediate construction OF
new aqueduct not advisable. He said yesterday III
conversation with a TRIBUNE reporter, that he had
changed his mind for many weighty although
he was st convinced that sparng use OF Croton
on the part of the people would make possible
q postponement of the work until more
convenient day al have consulted many gentlemen"
said the commissioner who. taxpayers were deeply
interested in the question and seemed TO be the gen
eral opinion among them that such step was necessary
10 welfare OF the city, even ~ great cost 1t has also
been my experience that the people do not object TO eX
pendtures which necessary and honestly made.
think best TO put the cost Of aqueduct at $50
oOQaOO rs there Is much doubt in mind that 1t
will reach those figures and IL the people know the
truth beforehand be accusation OF dispo
si:lon conceal It, There is no doubt that the capacity
of the Croton water shed is amply sufficient as source
for NETWORKS supply for all time to come Tie
only problems to be solved the proper storage of the
water and conducting Of to the city The Croton River
itself often gets very low and this Summer it has almost
dried up Since % there have been only four days
that the has flowed the dam ct CrOton Lake
To keep the city supplied have drawn from the
voiT lakes in such have thought best using
the water as economically practicable, and always
with view "A possible extended drouth. Besides the
lakes which belonged to the city, have purchased the
water in other lakes and ponds, cut openings in
Tire tops dams from three eight feet deep and
drawn off the surface water for use At present
negotiating other lakes ana pOuds Tor the same
purpose fnd best to gel The water in this way Tor
although under the law could seize H. having con
satisfactory and the time when the water is most needed
will be consumed. BY these means when necessity re-
through all future time, especially if additional num-
Der storage reservoirs are built At present we are
building BrewstCrs station which viii h0d
4O00OO0OOO gallons or as many gallons as an INC resi-
of the reservoirs together We are huyng ON ts W9ik
fore II is completed. The necessity OF new aQueduct
has become evident TO my mind for the reason
at
interests and be spsring OF the water Others l
sonable expense preferable suffering for what
can be so easily supplied Next Spring will into the
mates to be made and win lay the matter before the
proper authorities As TO the present fear of water
famine cannot that any one TO blame that such
fear exists, that there is possibility OF such an &c.
cunencc. This matter OF new aqueduct is only 81
recent agitation and such matters require inc greatest
deberation and care IN coming TO conclusions. THINK
present state OF thnes, because beheNe hy nave ~
class, deliberately wasted the water and think much
future trouble possible tTOuhle-COud he avCrted
ty saving use, by all the citizens, OF The Croton
water"
the storage reservoirs. The trouble was that
the building Of reservoirs had kept pace with the de-
Iencdied when the BrewstCr's Station Reservoir Is
finished. The building OF new aqueduc'. with its own
such comparative scarcity OF exists an
impOssmlty. The present system, when the Byewstefs
station Reservoir is finished win kcepa supply hand
OF s0O0OOO000 gallons, and new aGncduct, with Its
third and render the supply certain at all times.
Among the additional Arguments IN favor OF a new
aqueduct and additional reservoirs which urged by
those In favor OF building them Immediately IL the cnnsd-
Grafton hata great portion OF the upper part OF theci mas
been covered with high houses, built with the cXrcca
ton Of an ineXhaustbc supply OF crOtCu tat they are
rented upon that basis that people consent 10 I'VE seNc-
raj stories from the ground and pay high rents, ~ on
that basis. No other supply Of water IL is argued is
counted on other can be had IN some portions Of the
city without Immense labor and cost ana la Other lor-
tons other supply be had 40 all The very life OF
NcWNOIE its safety nom fires, it, advantages as place
Of residence its prosperity business center al de-
pend upon the CrUtOH Aqueduct II any accident which
would require a considerable time for repairs should
happen that aqucduct al suc time as this the great
cst trouble and distress would follow.
Another argument presented 10y those IN favor OF new
aQueduct IL the clam that with IL the water supply
wOujd De purer. Summer after Summer the lakes from
which the present supply is Drawn beCOwe low on &C
count Of excessive demands upon them The nearer
the bottom the water Is which is drawn off fOI the
city impure 10 is Impure matter II is asserted,
j. constantly drawn of which should be allowed time 10
settle. With aQuedCcts, the surface water nom one
Of reservoirs could be used while the others were fill
iug up.
Those who favor the project say, also, that what ap
pears TO be waste OF wafer necessary To wash out the
sewers of the city. Owing 10 the faulty system upon
which the constructed, great quantity Of
water necessary to carry of the tth that collects IN
them. What therefore waste they claim IL
necessity. The former Commissioner OF Public WORKS,
Fz John Porter IN lis Last report 10 the Mayor on this
subject said All water goes into the sewers, ami the
mole we can afford 10 let through tine aud
private drains the effective render our sewerage
system. The introduction Of meters would cause people
10 economic 10 such degree as e mJufe the public
health, and would be plan mat woGld inlet an injury
upon dcnsoly populated city that would be nctcU-
Liable. The importance OF full supply Is too great 70 be
dependent upon one aqucduCt, and another should be
built entirely away from and independent OF The present
that ~ Of an accident 10 one the other might
moi be affected by It,"