New-York tribune., 1879-04-03
TIE WATER SUPPPE or NEW-TORK.

VIEWS OF THE MUNICIPAL SOCIETY.
A REVIEW or TIE WATER PROBLEM BY DOUGLAS
CANPBEII-wHY THE FORTY-sFCOND-sT REsER-
voR SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED At PRESENT
The New-York Municipal Society last week
appeared by counsel before the Assembly Committee on
Cities and protested against Mr. Varnums Dill Tor the
removal OF the Forty-secOnd-st Reservoir. AT the
same time ii proposed substitute the bill whlch MI
Brooks has since introduced, which provides for the
appoD ment by the Governor with the consent O the
Senate. OF commission of five residents OF this city TO
investigate and report upon the questions whether the
present supply OF water for the city can be MADE
sufficient for its wants or whether an additional supply
required and If whence and at what cost II can
be obtained This commission Ia also to report whether
the Forty second-st Reservoir should be discontinued
Douglas Campbell has prepared an article giving the
reasons which have Influenced the socieys action and
OF which the following the salient features:
This city has to-day question before II OF more VI
ta importance than that Of its supply and yet 1t
s one OF which the public seems comparatively unin-
formed. All the water used comes from the Croton
River and Is brought the city through a single
aqueduct forty miles long This aqueduct Is built
of stone lined with brick, and is inside little over
eight feet IN height aud seven feet IN width IL was
built forty years to carry 72OOJ0OO gallons day;
It mas been found that 1t could carry when full $4,000
it has been strained TO its
utmost capacity and yet the citys supply Is insufficient
This is the great central fact which few seem to under
stand. although the Commissioner Of Public Works re
peas II in almost every one OF his reports No matef
what is done in the way OF building new dams In the
Croton River Valley purchasing lakes tapping other
rivers constructing new Reservoirs the city can Pet
no more water than can be carried through this aqe-
duct
That something must he done about the water supply
and that once il the Guys supremacy Is 10 be main
tanned. is admitted by every one who examines tue
question, however slightly but mere Is dn"iSa @ & N|%
fIt- Flfpft aNtglI
II the aqutduct should meet with serious accident
bicR ar p"pis has settled badly At almost any
IN It's long sHuous course 1t might give way OF CouH oo
broken. Toempty the aaueduct OF water 80 mat repair
ing could he begun, and to tItn on the water So hdl
the city would gc its supply again, WVulu COusulo ou
az Tine reseryolrt in Con ra Park mold when full sup
ply for only twelve and thirteen days ana yet
consumption being great thar the amount required
could not be retained Iho reservoir at nor'E %
=. aud fltth-a'e IS Caeu hutII az IL wa nUi 1 Oi1
"a 600 gallons, little over the amount consumed
by the city in quarter of day. Yet II might be bct
Ter to til il up and let It alone TOR BD emergency But
despite al FuCcrs at the little reservoir, ltS
capacity Is not 50 tr.hing. 1t holds enough water
TO run all the fire engine OF the city for day In case
OF q large fire happening during an accldent 10 tne
SALONS mBhI satG hw To5i eoclitv. oinrion to
Inc Immediate removal OF this reservoir aud for this
iGasom ny I'm n,,,iil5 similar measure Eut this
IS only objection. Ii is now Of service TO the
WHY What Ibe "6ig seryce" reservoir at the High
Bridge does for their fortunate neighbors Tne
proposition OF the Municipal Society Is that until 1t De
determined what shall be done about the water system
as whole this portion Of Il should not be inteHercd
with as 1t might be very useful IN carrying out more
extended general plan
Many plans are sugge sted TO solve the wafer prODe
but things needed: First, TO convince the pubic
that something should be DONE and then TO decide what
that somethn should be. To accomplish both or these
results the Municipal Society believes that commission
OF our leading citizens, sitting like jury, but with
power to employ experts, could do what could be
effected in no other way. II good men were appointed,
and thu aud Senate would be held 10 an ac-
countabiity that their report would carry weight
where the suggestions OF official commissioners and
engineers have passed unnOticed