The New York herald., 1877-10-03
Boyd's Corners Storage Reservoir
Nearly Exhausted.
SPRINGS DRYING UP.
Kirk Lake and Mahopac Tapped
for a Supply.
CONFLICT WITH THE FARMERS.

septepnbcr something less than one inch nall Of
rain fe but tho ground so parched that II ab-
sorbed n all and left surplus to quench the thirst OF
New Yorkcra True, tho meadows looked frcshcr ior
t. but none found its way into the reservoir since
The l7th OF last month only threeeighths OF an inch
has fallon, and the whole region o! the water
sncd is parched wells aud springs fast drying up,
Tho smaller streams have disappeared entirely and
the larger oncs have dwndled to more threads The
whole supply Of tho department is at present drawn
from fourteen small lakes.one or two OF which were
never before drawn upon. II there are not heavy
rain falls within tho next fortnight, Engineer IN
Charge Emmett expresses tho opinion that 1t VIII be
necessary TO 60 to some Of tho lakes with big steam
pumps and dry them up. Commissioner Campbeii
yesterday sent communication to the Police Board
requesting the ponce be directed to attend more
strictly TO tho enforcement Of the ordinance
against tho unnecessary waste OF the crotor. Tho
Commissioner says that water has passed over
the Croton dam for ninety days and that the
enormous drain upon tho present sources Of supply
render tho utmost economy the OF water abso-
uteiy necessary. In spite OF tho repeated warnings
OF the HERALD that tho supply was running short, the
and consumption of tho precious liquid in this
city has not decreased, hence the action Of Com
missioner Campbell
GUARDING THE SUPPLY.
Tho citizens OF New York who rose yesterday morn
ing dipped into the refreshing BATH or drew from
meal dd know that tho banks OF distant lakes,
III Putnam county, hundreds OF men were keeping,
night an armed watch TO preserve intact tho
little which gently flowed out INTO
tho darkness on their " way nne ns
has sixty mon encamped upon tho shores OF La Kirk
Lake aud $50 remain under orders day and night upon
tho OF Lake Mahopac The residents Of mnc
diatc region arc In tc prevent the draining OF
thor lakes Thcy have two occasions within lew
days gathered 10 The number Of nearly ono hundred,
haye
nncc OF the Board OF Public Works and Its employs.
and they announce their intention forciby prevent
ing tho from being drawn OIL Thoy claim that
tho reduction Of the lakes ruins their property
II is alleged that their counsel have told them that
they will be justified In maintaining what they call
their rights by force anu even by shedding blood.
These people, II is said are led In the movement oy
tho proprieors hotels upon the shores Of the lake
They claim that the department has already drawn of
so much water that the surface has been reduced be-
Last year they say II was reduced in like
manner, and although 1t was damned all winter
and spring u did not recover as !. Is ed only oy
o the waters their guests are driven away and their
business injured Tho farmers of the vicinage are IN
sympathy with the hotel keepers, for they hold that
when the filed they find local market Tor
thor produce. Further, they claim tnat malaria Is
produced by the rotng vegetable matter eit exposed
on its banks by the drawn-of water.
TAprxG MAHoPAC.
When tno scafcty began 10 make itself apparent,
early last month, storage ut Boyds Cor
ncrs rly exhausted and Mr. Emmett opened the
outlet At Lake Mahopac which had remained damned
since last summer and obtained tnercrom good 1ow
OF water This continued steadily until last Saturday
morning, when OF about My men, residents OF
vicinity made their appearance on the scene and
declared their oi ng up the outlet cut
Ting of tho supply. They were joined ny others until
they numbered about scvcnty-hvc II Is stated that
the leaders the proprieors OF the hotels along
the lake shore, and Mr. Gaming. master mason who
very email island 10 the lake. Faliingt to
with picks and sEovels. the gang threw earth rocks
and brushwood into the sluccway and by twelve
O'Clock the water was damned completely and the
channel IRON the lake filled up for distance OF seven-
oil the occurrence and he at once collected force
of 100 workman from the storage reservoir in course
OF erection near Brewslcrs and by four O'Clock that
tho work Of the MahopacaDs was fast being
undone Al ten O'Clock Saturday night the channel
was dug out sufficiently 10 permit strcam twelve
inches deep 10 flow. The work completed tho men
were allowed TO retire 10 rest IN barns and out
buildings the adjoining grounds, with
tho exception OF small number left TO
guard the spot until morning ma give the alarm
should the enemy reappcar. Nothing occurred during
the remainder OF the night and on Sunday the place
was lett under the guard OF few men. On Sunday
night these were driven OIL by the party who had pre-
viously led up the slIicc. they approached In n
body and II Is alleged that they were armed and that
one OF them fred shot, but whether II was aimed
at the watchmcn or merely intended 10 irighcn them
docs appear Al any rate the guards
driven away ana the new coners went 10
work TO shovel back the much disturbed clay INTO
the channel. n The walchman reported encc 10 Mr.
Emmett, al Carmel, some miles distant, and no o.
ttnntty ues,atchcd messence 10 he WORKS AZ Brew
sters with orders 100 100 mca to Lake Ma
hopoc at once. These arrived on Monday morning
sosc upon the heels OF the retiring enemy who had
tho "obstructionIsis'' had rolled number OF
rery large stones INTO the outlet and much
difficulty was experienced IN removing them. All uay
.be work on, and on Monday night the men were
bvouackcd upon tue ground and among the nciehboi-
Ing barns. A watch was Kept during the night, aud
Yesterday morning work resumed and the channc ell
was open before noon. The workmen re-
NAMED upon tho ground, however perlocung
tue work until Mr.. Emmett arrived last oven.
ing from the CITY. where he had been 10
consult Commissioner Campbell about the situation.
II was decided to hold the force st upon the ground
uQ d restS "A & ua
supply, the taking OF life, should that become
necessary The iorce will not leave the lake until
there longer danger o interference with the
let or until ranalls shall relieve the officials from The
necessity OF drawing upon It's waters.
IL was not placed under tribute yesterday and prob
nbIy will not or some days to come, as Mr. Emmett
on saturday morning began 10 draw from Kirk Lake a
smaller sheet oil water yirg little more than stones
throw from Mahopac aud having natural outlet into
the same stream as the iatter-the Muscoot RIVER,
which cmptics INTO the Croion River lower
down. This lake had Sbccn allowed TO
rest for some time aud there was depth
OF sixteen icct above tho nume winch marks
tho lowest point 10 which the waters may be draws
on. There was a splendid 'hcad" 10 the stream nd
II rs now running the of COO 900 gallons
a day. Fearing that TINS would also bc damned by
the residents force of sixty piaccl on the
SPOT at nvs o'clock Monday morning by tic deparr
ment, and there tney have camped and viii remain
till iurther orders from commissioner Campbell.
THE ciTy's RIGHT TO rnE WATER.
Commissioner Campbell VISITED by HERALD
reporter yesterday Ia relation to the trouble. Hc
said:-
'IncTe was u law passed. last winter Dy which the
city acquire TILE TO and draw water from Lake
Aahopac and all the other lakes Of that region by
having commissioners appointed by the supreme
Court 10 apprasc the damages to owners Of con.
tlguous lands 1t passed tho Legislature late In
the session and was signed BY the Governor
at almost the last moment In consequence
Of these delays notice hns not yet been
served but the petition Will be presented on the 20tl
OF this month. tho Commissioners will be ut once an
poIntcd whatever damages tncy shall sag has nc
trued 10 residents OF the lakc region on account
Tho draining OF the waters shall be pad. Prior to The
appointment oil these commissioners the Com
missioner Of Public Works to have power
10 treat with these people. l endeavorec
10 see what terms | could make with
,hcm. My agent negotiated IN the matter. We
wanted TO ascertain what damages would bc claimed.
one party demanded $50 000 but the property claimed
10 be damaged was valued at only halt OF that sum
Two suits for damages tried in he courts, ant
tho plaintiffs were awarded six and quarter cent,
damages III each case. These people fancy that Tho
CITY is wealthy and afford pay immense sums fo
very slight advantage They estimate the quantity
Of water drawn of IN gallons, and claiming the
water they contend they should be paid Tor by
gallon. some few we're found 10 be moderate in