The New York herald., 1876-03-18
THE WATER SUPPLY OF NEW YORK.


As the safety and health OF the city Of New York is
at present under discussion permit mo to suggest a
few thoughts having these vital requisites
To preace the matter;-
First-It Is conceded that there is a deficiency OF
water both IN quantity and force to supply tho wants
or the people, the OF manufacturers and TO quench
alarming fires or TO check conlagrations
SecOnd-That the water for some reason is impure
causing ill.health.
Third-That the construction Of buildings as in gen.
eral practice-that is as ordinarily planned and exc
cuted-cntice, feed and encourage connagratons.
These three great issues cover the whole ground
and the people OF New York need critical advice and
counsel from all quarters how to apply effective
remedies
First-As to the deficiency of water, your city
engineers report that 800 600 900 gallons OF water arc
wasted daily the Croton dam This being So It is
of importance that tho proposed aqueduct to
deliver water into the city yor should be COM
menced and completed with the utmost energy (salt
water arrangements are all bosh they may do for
tmc but people Will soon get sick OF the annoyance
and expense OF the whole arrangcment( This can be
accomplished within two years at an expense not ex
ceedng $50 900 per mile With the addition OF bridge
and high level aqueduct expenses the whole be
completed millions OF dollars less than estimated
by your city engineers, II judIciousy managed. The
at any time 10 explain fully and l hope, satisiae-
tory. This, then, It Will be conceded, will
give plenty OF water and settles tha. qucs-
ton. But while this extra aqueduct is in prepa-
ration, New York may be largely injured by
migration or epidemcs To make prompt and inn
mediate relie propose 10 remedy the lack OF force
well as quantity in the present downtown works by
creating great subcrranean cisterns, tanks under
the pubic grounds TO be ed by the gravity pressure
from the present This idea have borrowed
from the great tanks Of the Greek empcrors created
TO supply Constantnopie with pure and ample sup
ply OF water in the days o her glory and spendor I
shall give synopsis OF the great works that
ancient ciiy) From great tanks by the use of pump
ing works, stand pipes high level tower reservoirs &C.
at one two or more points on the high backbone or
the city, make flow Of water sufficient to keep the
pressure in the present service pipes (ths be
arranged by gates &c.h at high level at all times
end during conhagrations, to with extra power
so as 10 give ample supplies both in force and
quantity. This remedy be prepared so as TO
be applied within three to six months at cost not cx
ceedng ST. 600 COO the preseut service pipes will be
amply sufficient Sh lew additions and II will be neces
only at to construct the tanks under pub
lie grounds, tho towers and the pumping works. II
sueeS ponon ena money = secured % VIII assist 70 see
done within four months OF ne downtown section
July next and would advise operations 10 u s.c.o
diately commenced on the ground lately occupied by
the City Hospital in City Hall Park, Centre street,
in the construction OF immense crypt like tanks en-
gne houses and towers for stand pipe and high level
feed works When this section is completed the
pants OF high places down town receive their
ply OF water without the aid Of local pumping at
enormous saving of annoyance and expense.
correction at the fountain hcadat the storage
volrs and more particularly at the distributing
voirs Analysis has proved that the natural Croon
water, uncontaminated, is among the purcst the
globe The law should powerfully protect the prescr-
walton OF this purity whether on the mountain side,
the valleys or the streams in the interests of the cti
zehs OF the State under heavy penalties. (Sce how
the Greek Empire ancicnty protected the sweet
which supplied their great cty.)
If this is done the Croton water will be sent the
distributing reservoirs in the city uncontamnated.
Now a word as TO tho distributing reservoirs. Tho
n of auO Ena
more OF hygiene or at least put In practice than the
people OF the present and arranged their water
ages under IN great subterranean tanks IL Is
well known TO sanitary that exposure OF
rest to the open air high temperatures tends to pro-
mote the growth OF deleterous life and matter within
our reservoirs No wonder we have in our modern
luxurious homes dphtheria, cholera infantum cholera
morbus and other dsbia,ing and destructive tom-
paints.
Nature, to give pure water causes rapid flow with
waterfalls and rapids TO aerac and purify the ordinary
living streams and for the cooling sweet waters OF the
sylvan springs "a subterraneous provision Is made by
ftering through pure, confined and darkened laby-
rinths. Now, II must have pure water aud unde-
hed initiate nature far we can create rapid
feed currcnts at times small WATERFALL and at other
times distance OF rapids, aud. when at last
81 81 me osa5s sseryo % ss Il be through strata
run into great crypke groined covered tank, where
the may rest uncontamnated and where inju-
rons vegetation or life can he encouraged discharge to
the supply pipes through another fItering
apparatus, and The water cannot be otherwise than
equal TO the best and purest spring watcrthat IL the
supply pipes are OF a correct material
II the high service supply arrangements sane
toned tue same course as TO filtration aud storage un
der will be found effective in correcting the pres
some and annoying. In the enjoyment oi lie and its
luxuries must expect 10 have anxiety, and
pcnse The price OF liberty is eternal vigilance. The
price Of health and safety is also eternal vigilance and
careiulness
the present modes of construction, looking
protection against fire, and improved sanitary arrange
menis ANDREW DERRoN, sanitary Engineer
NEW YORK. March Ia, 1915
GENERAL GRAHAM ON THE WATER SUPPLY.
To THE EDITOR OF HERALD
have perused with much interest several editorials
In your Journal read all the communications from
every they have evoked, and devoted good
deal of attention the proceedings OF the Adermanc
commttee-all having for their object an increased
supply OF water for this great cityand after much
nection upon the subject and careful consideration
OF all the plans OF relie proposed have concluded to
offer a few suggestions relative to immediate,
nomica and thorough solution OF the question, not
only far the cxtingushment OF fires is concerned,
but likewise the praccablity OF extending the system
so that the numerous manufacturing establishments
aud warehouses situated in the business portion Of the
city may DO provided with abundant supply of
water, adapted to all practical purposes The only
two plans far presented worthy OF consideration
arc, nrst tho construction Of a aqueduct to be
supplied from the Croton River, at cost o at least
atcI iaOOr VI HcNct"l years HcCcs-
sary for It's competion; and, second the Introduction
Of salt through an extensive network OF iron
pipes, to be used for the extinguishment of nres and
the flushing OF sewers, at cost variousy estimated
between So 900, 600 and $40, 600 000 and likewise
qurng very considerable period OF time Tor its sue
ccssiu application.
The plan suggested is application of tho tube wells
extensively used many sections OF the country Tor
obtaining water supply Tor all purposes, and has
Gently been introduced into the suburban portions OF
Minneapolis Mimi, for protection against tire, where
water pipes have not been lad the Holley system like
wise being used in the business portions. These lube
wells driven at various distances around the
cumfcrence a circle and connected the top by
means OF pipes with a hydrant located In the centre
Eight wells so united have proven their capacity 10
furnish more abundant supply OF water than any
steam fire engine could exhaust IN throwing either ono