The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-13
WASTE MOI, Want NOT!'
The Maxim that the Department Of
Public Works Would Teach.
CROTON DAM OVERLOOKING.
Net the Slightest Prospect Of a
Scarcity OF Water.


suffering. They are for the most part free Of
lofty disempcrs, and are apt to endure much before
they complain loudly 1t is just possible. however,
that upon they may DO little exac,ing and
petulant and ra,hor disposed to mold their
TO u somewhat rigorous account But being "the
true source OF Legitimate power" as every lover oil
constitutional liberty will avouch, their mplaints
may not pass unheeded and, moro than that, are
worthy OF ali attention The balance Is unquestion-
ably on the side Of iorbearancs and thoy
have double title TO DO heard when they feel that
they have grievance which eau be redressed.
Recently the Inhabitants oi some of the uptown
districts have been afflicted In this way. They have
grievance and they THINK that redress lies within
the scope OF VINO responsible Tor tho supply
OF Croion water 10 the cry. However bountcously
the rest OF the metropolis may DO supplied to them,
they say II has come in the shape OF very niggard
dole la hot, seething weather Sometimes II does not
come ut all; sometimes the pressure Is inadequate,
and the wstcr does sufficient attitudes ~ DO
conducive to tho domestic comfort OF those VINO,
from the pleasant wnims OF choice or by the stern
compulson OF necessity, live IN lofty eyries. These
grievances have, they say, substantial and tangible
existence, ana while tnoy do not seek much Tor a
cause they generally inclined 10 believe that It
has Its origin either IN "short commons ut the Gro
ton dam or IN u gross waste in some other quarter
AT rns rouSrAiSnEAD
That these .'cnecls detective come of cause" land
were unreasonable to suppose that people would 20
out OF their way to formulate complaints in these
torrid days) is as certain us anything we'll be- TO
ASCERTAIN whether that might be found at the
Croton dam became the quest o. q HERALD reporter,
and although he pursued as relig,ously OF the
Round Table knights might nave followed up the
.'Aoly Grail" II must DO admitted that could
hnd IN tho dam ITSELF yet In the administration
OF affairs at that quarter In starting on has mission
he had threcoid purpose in view. First, he APP
pliod himself TO Cleaning what Information he could
by personal obscrvaton then his Inquiries extended
among those who would have no Interest In misrcpre-
senting facts or In conceaug defects; usy he took
such testimony might be supposed to carry
Official gloss aud bear large proportion Of roseate
representations. The fact however, was that all
these three limos OF inquiry tended to the Same re-
sut--namoly. that the supply Of water ut the dam
abundant. that the aqueduct supplied to the
full exont Of Its carrying capacity anu that only
there deficiency OF water but that there need
not be tho slightest apprehension that score during
the entire scason. When nc to the dam the
water was pouring ovor not merely tho dam proper
but also over the beam OF timber with which
II is faced. This beam, which evolve
inches In depth, Is placed IN position every summer
lin tho winter would not stand the pressure OF the
Hood and consequently when the water levol with
IT'S top tue volume In the dam increased by ,welve
inches over It's entire area A. no time during the
present season. he informed, had the failed
10 now over this timber lacing.
RAMS
II was probably at It's lowest tho carly part OF
last week. but then II drbbied tho dam
.ass Aho"sh tho RAIN on MONDAY was Of
tri0ng account In the neghborhood Of The dam u
mus have rsD hesS S ~ saa 1 ass region s1a
| swollen AT all events, the water which on Monday
was only quarter oil IN inch above the dam, rose
| rapidly on Monday night ana alter tho rain
| OF the following day contiaued to increase
| IN volume, until At the time OF tho reporter's
investigator It was six and threo quarter inches
above the wooden facing OF tho dam. thus would not,
OF course, OF ITSELF Indicate that An abundant supply
not working the iu extent OF Carrying capacity
| tho abundant waste going over tho dam would DO all
duct was however doing It's duty no learned In good
time. First, however,, he rnado numerous inquiries
COUGHING the supply among the people OF the neigh
noed DO no fear about the supply this season.
"wo have plenty OF water this summer" said
one. s'Ihe water Ia going tho dam
all the time and both tho reservoirs full" This
story told with but little variation OF formula
all quarters In which inquiries were made. In bret,
itappesred mat while drarrht was being made
the stored In the Reservoirs, the dam sup
| plying as much tho aquoduct could carry. But
aqueduct really supplied Win adequate guam
my OF waer and II so, was this state OF things consis
tent with the complaints which many citizens havo
uttered and continue to uttsr7
RESERVOIR SUPPLIES.
With tho view OF satislyna himself on this point
the reporter called the house OF Mr. Wood who
| charge OF the dam That gentleman was, however,
| engaged In experimenting work on tho aqueduct
who we'll posted on the water supply and
willing 10 AFFORD every facility Tor Investigation and
inquiry. When informed that thsro wcro numerous
complaints the city concerning tho inadequacy OF
the supply she said promptly "fbcrc IL not inc least
Why. you can see for yourself Tnoro Is tho water
gong over the dam In large Quantities Now, that 10
AL waste, and OF course that would not DO permitted
II short supply were going down TO the city through
| the aqueduct"
-has tho water been higher than the dam all tho
season iarf" asked the reporter.
.Yos" was tho answer; at lowest In tho fore
part OF last week, but oven then it went over the
DAM und you will sec that the dam rs rased a foot
by the timber IN front OF H. since Monday tho
wator has been rising rapidly until II "a now over half
a loot above tho dam level Tho rain here has been
Uncomfortable, but It must have fallen heavily In
other districts, judging by tho rapid rse OF tho
water"
ais there, then, any likelihood OF a scarcity Of
water this seasonT q7cred inc reporter.
'why the thing is absolutely Impossible; there Is
tho dam overlooking, tho lake Is full aud tho
ervuirs utouchod. There Is the reservoir nosr
Browsiers station Carmel We call 10 hsre), ut the
tho end Of June It contained 800 001 00O gallons
water. IL WAS then nilng rapidly. aud when full
voirs then showed avaiaoo supply OF 1000 90 600
gallons In excess OF what thoy contained last year.
That supply az The same'timc entirely reserve. Tor
the RIVER supplies moro thaa tho squsduct"
DIscnA soK rusoUGn AQuxDrcr.
trance 20 tho aqucduss asd Judge Ter buass,i what
quantity OF vstor was being aiscbarsst through Ter
tho supply OF The city. Ho was TOLD that he might do
with pleasure thcrc was every desire to iacii
iate reporters IN making such inquiries the puDc
interest seemed to demand. lis was then told where
no would probably Ind the keeper OF the dam, who
would 1--we him all tue Information In his power. Tue
reporter mentioned his crrand 10 the Keeper who
once aamhttsdjhim to tho building, where the 10
discharged into the aqucducL Tic sluiccs ohly
partly raised but yet tho pressure was
great that the volume oi water secihcd and loaned
rushed the squoduct risns to nearly the top
Of the aicb. Hero. certainly was no scarcity, aud
with surplus IN tnc dam II Is scarcely conceivable
that tue ulucduct has been mt any time during the
season supplied WITH lcss water than II could well
carry.
Qualify
The quality well as the quantity OF the waicr
supplied engaged the attention OF tue reporter. lie
examined narrowly the hooks and covcs where
| and impurities would DO likely TO gather, ana cor
tauly he ioubd the water TO DO PERFECTLY ireo OF
| the notsam OF deIoDent IL was. the
| contrary, singulary car anu fresh look.
Ing. state of things probably to be At
tr buted to tho constant supply from tnc
lcke aud 10 the entIro absence OF stagnatiOn. The
wator IN the lake during the latter part Of last week