The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-25

sea- and IL takes lts rise In the primitive rocks OF
the Appalachian chain Of mountains u 10 measuraby
extensive limestone region which initiates greatly
against the value oil the water Tor domestic The
main obecsion with regard 10 this source OF supply
either in It's volume is quality, but In
the difnculties 10 be overcome 10 bringing
u 10 the pom. Of distribution either BY an
with the Croton supply system. new and special
conduit would involve very large sxnsnditure, since
IL would have extend 10 the higher waters Of the
river in order 10 obtain sufficient head also 10 avoid
the limestone formation through which 1t passes Tor
drainage would thus DO curtaiicd TO worry great do.
gree, and probably the amount OF water then 90.
tanned wouli not warrant tue great outlay requtsa
these waters tunnel otherwise with tho eastcrly
branch vi the Croton and thus bring them by an open
channel 70 the coliecting Reservoirs The question
immediately presents itself whether the existing
means for conveying water from tue collecting rsser
the city adequate Tor tins large increase Of
volume and unfortunately, this woul1 have TO be
swercd in Tue negative SO that would appear 10 DC
Improbable 10 increase our supply from inc waters
supply that remains Is that Of the Passaic River This
source OF supply like that OF the Housatonic hes be-
yond limits Of the Stale OF New York, although,
ike the Housatono, large portion Of its volume 10
derived originally from sources within the limits OF
New York aids IN Supplying shs cities Or New Jersey
with watcr It IS cminentiy lifting that the cities o.
Now NorK should In BIO supplied with water from
the state OF New Jersey, II u ~ practicable 70
10 SO. Moreover the metropolis may be said
to occupy, reality large portion Of
Is but ono Of the factors OF the great metropolis.
Brooklyn on tho Gust and the cities OF New Jerecy
which inc the opposite shore OF Inc Hudson on tho
centre of population, with common interests, common
purposes aud common destiny Tue interests oI any
portion oil this aggregation of humanity must 10 IN
large the interests OF ALL and therefore any
plan oi public Improvement rDprshsnsvs enough ~
embrace ali these communities IN ts penenLs, either
directly or indirectly, would not only serve 70 baud
them closer together but would seem 10 10 IN accord
ancc with the most natural Illness o. snnes Ut
ures Tor furnishing them with IN adequate supply
pure wholesome water. Arbitrary geograpnicai
lines should become under such circumstances oil no
consequence tue g0ssamer threads that the
Insects spin the air All that has Deon SAID IN DIS
cussing the Of the waters VI the Housatonc. so
lar concerns the comfy between the States Of New
York ana Connecticut, applies ith equal force 10 inc
state OF New jersey ami IN referring more particu-
larry 10 tho AVAILABILITY OF the Passac as source OF
supply, 70 assumed that our neghuoring State VIII
lend hearty cooperation 70 any well devised plan
when may inure 10 tho benefit OF the metropolis
Fortunately tor tho purposes OF the present article
recent official thorough examination OF the dran
age Passalc has been msus by direction OF
Inc authorities OF The State VI New Jersey.
under the auspices OF tho State GeooIi-
cal Board and the immediate SUPERVISION Of
under such circumstances may safely be assumed as
conclusive aud reliable IN every particular II APP
pears report that the drainage area OF The
passac River OF eight hundred square
miles, that lis volume OF water is sufficient to supply
To- of people. that the whole OF ths enormous
OF water u ~ the Falls OF the rassaic
within necn miles OF tho city Of Now YORK that lhs
water ID excepnonaliy pure. emana.ing esoiogieaily
which IL drains ID III largc degree mountainous, WITH
steep deciivties and deep goixes cminsnty suitable
vo,rs No other city IN the world has such
AL abundance OF puro water IN sucn close
combined equal to IT IN quantity, and that OF no
city the world 10 equal 70 u IN purity More IMAM
tive hundred million Of gallons are poured daily into
the sea which might be made at u comparatively NOM
nal cost TO supply all the cities and towns Of New Jor
sey within reach of its distribution, as well as all OF
New York ana Brooklyn. In view Of these statements
oil fact the question OF tho supply Of this CITY
narrowed down the consideration OF the most prac
teal and economical method ior utilizing TINS rich
storo ~ our command The principal obstacle that
presents itself IL tho intervening river that separates
rom the source OF supply. But this river II Simply
readily as other valleys have been passed Tor
this purpose. In fact, the Manhattan Valley
Island is passed by depressing the conduts DO.
meath the surface, forming sypnon through which all
the water delivered into THIS city must pass me
valley the Hudson deeper aud broader, but It can
passed precisely In the same manner ny the proper
exercise engineering Skill The great cost oi the
High Bridge Aqueduct might have been spared by
passing the Harium River IN this manner. The Hud-
son will therefore form 0bstaoie 10 the most CON-
plete executing OF plan Tor Supplying new YORK
from the Passc River, aud the same works thai are
constructed for the proper collection oil this water
will suffice give an ample supply TO all the cities
aud towns oil New Jersey east OF the Orange Noun
tain. In fact, by uniting all these purposes IN one,
unaer the auspices OF the city New York, sup
ply may increased TO the fullest extent required at
Y merely nominal COST
The decision OF this great question cannot be much
longer avoided. There too mucn at stake Tor pro-
crasination delay. the health and wealth Of the
metro pOlls the balance one side and on the
other are indeclsion and uncersanty--wth . pos
sibc, nay, u probable calamity Nh the result. A
decaying and lettering aqueduct, imperfect n con-
slru;tion and limited III capacity; reservoirs oil nithy
water with distribution 50 restricted In quantity
and force that only the lower floors OF dwellings, are
supplied, cntalng an enormous aggregate OF cost 70
dividuals tor pumping order 10 get the
supply Tor winch they are charged without receiving
IL; a widespread connagration, threatened Al any
moment that Will outweigh ~ Its disastrous rest its
the entire expense OF accomplishing all that mas been
herein forth-thcse are the elements Of the ques-
ton presented TO uA
Ii becomes those upon whom rests the decision OIL
this question weigh wen tbe iacts that environ H.
II IL snail be found that larger area Oh drainage 10
necessary tor tue supply Of this city-that pursr
aud more perfect connection Is also essen.
tIaI-that We must look beyond the geographical
boundaries that appear 10 hem US In Oh every side.
Then let this he done with the fullest comprehension
OF the ma gnltude Of the problem before US and an
equally full to secure an absolute sou
OF H. with the aid OF all the arb science aud skin
our command ClVlS.