The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-05
WATER FOR NEW YORK CITY.
HUNDREDS OF MEN TO CONTEND FOB
IN PUTNdM COUNTY
Farmers Handing to Dam the Outlets OF the
Lnkes-Their Work Undone-rhe Encamp.
ments on the Fields OF Possible Conflict.


The farmers Of Putnam county welcomed
the heavy rain Of last night. and congratulated
one another on it. although 1t interfered with
the merrymakings Of the Danbury fair. IL
New Workers have not learned the full value Of
water. those farmers have. and how to econo-
mize in its use. Their wells. springs. and
streams are empty. and so rapidly are the lakes
losing water. that already cattle must be driven
long distances TO obtain II. The great storage
reservoir in Boyd's Corner Is empty and farm
ers living on its banks must run the risk Of
having their cattle mired in the ooze as they
drive them TO the little streams in its centre.
Mr. Emmett. the engineer in charge Of the Put
nam county reservoirs. said yesterday that no
such drought had been known for fifty years In
that section rs that Of the summer of 1876. and
that the drought OF this year is much worse.
The rainfall on the Croton water shed from Jan.
until oct. /, 1876. was 33ji inches. and for the
same time this year % inches. making differ
ence in the water supply Of the city OF 20.0OO.-
100000 gallons. From Lake Gilead was drawn
off. last year. twelve feet of water and last win
ter only four feet ran into IT, From Gleneida
was drawn Off four and n half feet. and II was
only filled two and q half. Lake MahOpac did
not ill within Il foot. whereby u loss of 20UU.-
OOOOOO gallons was occusioned. Kirk lake. of
all that were, drawn last wear, was the only one
that illl"d. Now. the Boyd's Corner reservoir
Is empty. Lakes Gilcad, Glcncida. and Kirk.
and Barrett's pond. with many smaller ones.
are nearly SO. and Lake MnhOpac has been
drawn of four feet below high water mark.
Croton lake ~ "A vust eXpanse Of sand bars and
mud flats, with stream from the upper lakes
running through il.
Under these circumstances It is no wonder
that the residents of Putnam aud Westcbester
counties are opposed to the further drainage OF
their lakes for the use and waste OF the city At
the outlets OF Lakes Mahopac and Kirk the OPP
position has assumed 80 active IA form that
serious difficulty is imminent between the resi-
dents and the men employed by the water de-
partinent by virtue OF the rights OF the Ma
hopac Manufacturing Company. which they
have transferred to the city. the city claims the
right to draw water from both those lakes; but
ers in the neighborhood. On Saturday last "a
body Of men with teams and tools dammed tho
outlet to Mahopac. and thus cut of the city's
diately sent TO Mr.. Emmett. Ia Carmel. and he
despatched one hundred mon with thirty teams
10 the scene of trouble. On their approach the
farmers ied. and their work was speedily un-
done by opening the outlet.
BY 10 o'clock that night the Job was COM
pleted, and the men were allowed to return 10
their boarding shanties. On sunday night the
force than before. nnd all night long. until ~
o'clock the following morning fifty men and
ten OK teams filed the outlet with immense
boulders. earth. straw, and brush. Then the
engineers came with 1870 men and fifty teams.
and the labor Of saturday was repeated. This
time the undertaking was more difficult. for.
while one side of the channel is owned by the
Msssrs. Dean. who are friendly to the cit5. the
who is bitterly opposed to letting the water go.
and is leader OF the opposition. The latter
ordered the engineers and their men. off his
land and they were Obliged to work entirely on
the Deans side of the stream. Tho hugo
bouders. rolled in by the farmers. We're too un-
nightfnll the Instructions had been only par
italy removed. and the engineers and their
men were compelled 10 remain on the ground
and begin work ngain at daylight the next day.
BY noon the channel was again cleared. but the
| should be again filed bv their opponents. who
only awaited their departure to 90 to work.
In the mean time there was difficulty in Kirk
lake The Mahopac Manufacturing Company
| only claims the right 10 draw water from this
lake from OF until July /. the right for the
remainine three months being owned by q Mr..
Hiu. Thus no water had been, drawn from
Kirk lake for the e.ty gHntil last Monday morn.
assistant. Mr.. McNgughton, opened the flood
gates. and sent stream PUSHING on its way to
New York. Then Mr.. Hill appeared. very
angry. and. denying their right to the water,
ordered them to close the gates. They refused
and he threatened them with legal penalties
and also that he would have the outlet OF the
! lake filled. Since then he has made unsuccess-
tul efforts to have both Mr.; Emmett and Mr.. Nc
Naughton arrested. At daybreak on Monday
| sixty men. with teams. arrived from the new
reservoir, and took up position around the
ierday tile men slept on straw under the lee Of
| fences. stone walls. and upturned wagon boxes.
ana hired nm old circus outilt from man living
! near Brewst"rS. and. during the storm Of yc--
| tcrday afternoon. the mon were pitching their
tents. The great ring tent AFFORDS accommoda-
| tion for the sixty men. In ii they recline on
| wagon loads Of straw and smoke their pipes.
! Two side show tents from the stables and II
! lean-tO Of boards. open at either end. is tho
dining hail. Lumber was hauled 10 the spot
yesterday and temporary shaut!es are to 10
| erected. for II may be necessary TO occupy tho
| position for IL week orten days.
| AT MHhopuc outlet. mile distant. sixty more
| men are ON guard. They occupy the stables
! Structures ;hny have nunod (iil.ry Grand Gem
tral. Fifth Avenue. and 50 ON. Their camp fires.
over which they boil coif"c and tea. burn bright
Is on the beach. At night they are relieved by
rftf T. hahn
The illissu'y department OF TINS unarmci
army Is in Brewsters. whence wagon loads Of
| cook I'd proVisl lons are sent IN them twice day.
The men regard II as a Er,at picnic; ana ENJOY
themselves like 'hOOlboys let loose. They sln...
| dance. wrrstle. uud smoke their pipes
Lakes Mahopac and Kirk are divided by a
! high ridge. from which ono may look down
ON both camps at once. From .hnre the scene
in the evening - very queer. Many blazing
camp fires light the placid surfaces Of the lakes.
and intensity the TIA knoss OF their back;
grounds pf woods. Moving figures of men and
animals cast grotrsqur shadows on the whit
canvas Of tho tents. and Heating up from both
sides come music and laughter. The ot struc-
iionists. or Rotor, as some Of the men cal
tArm. keep close witch ot both camps, and arc
wei! informed as to til9 number Of men IN each.
ruu~ims the whole county and ar, gnng -
bring 900 men from Ioeh.Aill, Cold Spring. and
other river towns. tp drive away the nirud"fS
and undo their work. The engine, rs are
equally d'termincd that thr outlets shall 10
kept open. and the citys water supply main-
tanned, no all haIalds. The army ot occupation
il uud-r ihc immediate command Of Mr. Me-
NnuEiHou. who has hoadqunners ut Deans
! lui Mr.. Emmett Visits II every day.
! The water supply now remaining to the city.
to br obtained 10y pumpinE ~" ald q siphons.
AMI hy natural flow. o., rs iollows: From Lake
tIl"ud thrrrrap hrpumprd 3uOuOuuuD gallons
from GItnelda 2OhuUuul gallons "nn rtlil l.c OBJ
tanned from Kirk lake 300 uuu 600 from Mnho-
pae 2ooGoO'O0l. from Rurr,trs pond 1000. .Uou.
from China pond 3OoOOOlu, from Long pond
lS l99o9o'o % iE2m & r" p PJn obs 13yVuj'2S o5j ar
| and IuUuuWu gallons, rr~pr .uNNb, Inc toiii
IS IVA 600 600 Itl!Oii~' ul '.''ht' 'l We tr'7