New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-15
ABUNDANT WATER SUPPLY.
SCARCITY ONLY CAUSED BY LACK OF RES
ERVOIRS.

ERVOIRS.
COMMISSIONER CANPBELLs REPORT 70 THE MAYOR
THE CRoTON BASIN ADEQUATE FOR SUPPLYING
THE CITY FOR MANY YEAES-orJECrIoNs 70
DELAY IN THE COMPLEXION OF STORAGE REsFR-
vORs
Allan Campbell, Commissioner of Public
Works sent to the Mayor yesterday his quarterly report
of the work and condition OF his department The com
missioner devotcs much space 10 the question OF Tue
water supply OF this city Following is an "O'u"'' Va
that portion OF the report:
The extraordinary dr0Uth OF the present year ho''SS
taed an unusually early resort To the reserved ""' Vi
the artificial reservoir at BOyds C0Ihers anu VI ,i'
natural lakes in Wcschcster and Putnam couhu''' ~
oci,llc relief having been afforded by the September
rainfalls the city reservoirs became much re'" '"u
,h ,r,co o the water IN CrOton Lake fell to level oil
90 inches hollow the crest OF the dam, so that Tor some
time past only about 70,C0o0OO gallons DAY were
p.sscd through aqucduct, the ordinary supply hehS
about 100 100000 All the water stored III the reservoir
nj Eovd's Corners tnCary 3,OOOOOOOOO gallon') has
been drawn OF, ana large drafts have been made uoh
tbc natural lakes at the sources OF the Croton. Several
lakes never before rcsotod TO have been acquired ana
their subjects cut down
When entered upon my duties IN THIS department Oh
the 27h OF January last found that one arthcia res
eryoir near the of the CrOtOn 0hat at boN
Corners had been brought into in tn year 1875 ana
that another which had been put under contract III No
veber 1874 wis in progress but that 1t would not be
colnuctcd before the close OF 1877. The capacity {"
these two great reservoirs is as follows Boyds corners
3O0QoOOO 900 gallons; Middle Branch, 4'ooo'"oo'ooO
gallons During both of the years 1858 ana le'o such
was the severity of the drouth that the attention oil the
then Commissioner OF Public Works and of the CHIEF
ENGINEER was called 10 the necessity not only OF
COMPLETING at the earliest day possible the
reservoir at Boyd's Corners, which was III prog
ress. but also of constructing another reservoir
In August 1872 the surveys and plans Tor the addltoi
reservoirs, TO be located on the middle branch oil ue
Cotop River were completed and submitted TO the then
Commissioner OF Public Works. In September 0i that
year map of the land appropriated and proposed 10 be
taken for the reservoirs signed by the commissioner
and chief engineer and filed in the Office OF the clerk OF
Putnam County At the time an agent was SEM 10
each of the persons whose lands were proposed 10 De
taken but no purchase was made. During the Winter
the commissioner authorized Mr. Tracy 10 purchase Tie
land for the site of the proposed DAM which purchase
was made in March, 1873. These purchases were nade
at Mr. Tracys request in order that the WOh oI con-
strucng the dam could be Immediately begun NothS'
however done toward placing this work under con-
tract until November. lS74-morc than two years aiter
tbe surveys were and the plans prepared ana more
than months after the land which to construct the
dam had been acquired by the city am at loss 10
conceive why this long delay in matter OF such via"
inpOrtance should have occurred. The cMei engineer
The professional adviser OF the department had Ill III,
official reports and as | am Informed, IN verbal
communications, earnestly pressed the carry con'"e"''
urpt of the work and the commissioner. III MS ahhu
rcnor admitted its necessity The results OF this delay
Will be fully understood and appreciated when state
that had the construction Of the reservoir hech com
mcnced carly in 1873 instead of late IN ISL me Moon
yeucuce and discOmOrts Of the present scarcity coWd
not possibly have occurred. The reservoir woud nave
been completed before end Of 1>75. and would have
been fncd with nearly 4OOO.OOOOGO gallons Of water
which of Itself in conjunction with the natural How Z"
the river would nave kept AZ the fullest supply TOT