The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
CROTON WATER
InadequacY Of the Existing Aquaduct 10
Supply the CiiY's Wants.
TAPPING THE BRONX RIVER.
What Commissioner Campbell Says About
the Projected Works.

Works transmitted to Mayor Cooper yesterday a re-
port of the operations Of his department for the
three months ending June 80 last. The total expen-
ditures for that quarter $4So2 while for the
corresponding quarter last year they amounted to
500, 2O7, thus showing nominal reduction Of
$2l097O OF this reduction S52,647 is to be placed
to the account OF ''Kepavng." the Board
of Aldermen had not authorized any re-
paving this year until after June 49, while
last year large amount OF this work had been done
at the close of the second quarter. The appropria
ton for repaving was $500 900. and owing to the
tardiness of the Board in adopting the resolution
for repavng the work cannot possibly be completed
this year.
The report. after dealing with the pavement ques-
ton. public buildings and water rents. to the
important subject of the Croton Bureau
On June 81 the Croton River ceased to furnish
a full supply for the aqneduct, and to June 30
112,0O0,00O gallons OF water was drawn from the
reservoir on the middle branch of the Croton
is within ten inches of the overflow, and
al the xa9s1 sappS akss ana %t the Su
transfer of 100000 from another branch of the de-
partment the repairs of the weak points i'll the
aqueduct are progressing more rapidly than III
former years.
THE PRESENT AQuEDucr.
The plans and methods by which the Commissioner
proposes increase, improve and maintain the city
water supply considered as follows In the
greater part of its length the aqueduct was con-
strnctea in a most substantial ana durable manner
but experience has shown that in crossing low
grounds entertainments or dry stone walls the
method Of construction is defective the walls have
settled in several places from ten to thirteen inches,
causing cracks in the aqueduct proper. There
is another defect in the aqueduct itself 1t was not
intended by its constructors to carry water above
the sprngng line OF the arch, giving daily supply
duct is not calculated to withstand pressure from
the inside For eight or nine years past the con-
sumption has been ninety to one hundred
million gallons per day. and the aqueduct had to be
filled far above tho springng line. Steps should
have been taken at tnat time il not earlier,
to strengthen the structure in the manner pursued
for the past three years. and would be saved
from much anxiety, and from what might have
suited in a serious calamity.
HIGH SERVICE WORKS.
The present high service works were commenced
by the late Croton Aqueduct Board. and were
brought into use in 1871. Since then additional
engine has been built. and they now furnish about
900 gallons daily. They originally de-
ton Heights and Manhatanvile. but have since been
extended to other elevated parts OF the city The
decreased by extension OF pipes and growth of
popula tion, and the demand tor high service has
far outgrown the capacity Of the present works.
which are used to their full power. To
meet this demand steps were taken more than
two years ago to erect new works on larger scale
on the city's land Ninth avenue. between
Ninety and Ninety eighth streets but it
found that further legislation was required. which
was not obtained until the session OF 1878, and the
snm,,or snthnritv rennired from the Comnop conn.
Gil was kept back until December II, 1878. The
works were then put under contract February 8.
There will be two engines. each capable OF raising
1900 900 gallons 100 feet high every twentyfour
1850 feet high. The engine will be kept in
Provision is made for third engine when it will be
needed that IN time l5,0OO.0Oo gallons daily
be furnished from these works.
BRONX RIVER AND RYE PONDS
| With the view OF increasing the supply Of water
| for some years by some other means than costly
aqueduct from the Croton u survey was made in
1877 of the watershed Of the Bronx River aud Rye
| ponds TO avoid impurities from factories and viii
lagos and obtain sufficient head it necessary to
tap the about three miles above White Plains
near Kensico station, on the Harlem Railroad. The
drainage area above this point is 10 $751; 100 square
miles The soil is similar in geological formation
that of the Croton basin and the water is perfectly
pure. In u letter of March 81 1879, it proposed
to obtain 10,U0O,00O gallons daily from the Bronx ut
q cost for works OF Sl.5O0OOO. Since then. to make
the supply large and certain possible the plans
storage enlarged and the price OF iron pipe
has advanced, increasing tine estimate to about
81. $50. 900.
A survey was made this season to ascertain the
feasibility and cost of uniting the Byram River with
the Bronx. The Byram rises III the State OF New
York its principal tributaries uniting the Con-
nectcut line, whence 1t flows through Connecticut to
Long Island Sound at Portchester. Its waters
very pure The water can be diverted in the State
of New York by means of tunnel of 2600 feet and
some open cutting. The water shed above this point
is square miles. making with that of the bronx
an available drainage area OF twenty-t square
miles.
If reasonable terms can be made with proprietors
the Byram may be used as proposed; ii not we
fall back the Bronx project alone ut less cost.
The general plan for utilizing the waters OF both
=
outlet OF the Rye ponds 10 feet high, making lake
of $50 of the two ponds, capable OF storing
l,5oo, 100000 gallons OF water; secohaLIo erect
reservoir of $50 storing gallons of
water Third-Io erect dam across Byram River.
Is feet high. 100 feet north OF the Connecticut ine
making lake Of rs acres. with capacity of
$50 900 gallons channel OF $500 feet from this
point will unite the Byram River with the Bronx.
Fourthro tap the Kensico reservoir ut 20 feet above
tide and II through u four-foot iron pipe to .
reservoir near williasbridge in the Twenty fourth
Al faata hnva Ia Att fppta bpya tls
level of the Croton Aqueduct with capacity of
100000. 900 gallons The length OF this conduit will
be Is is miles. Tho water to be distributed from
this reservoir through the Twenty-t third and TWEEN
ty-fourth wards. the surplus led by conduit
The storage capacity Of the proposed reservoirs
will bel
Byram Pond. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 55OOoo.Ooo
Byram dam and reservoir. ............. lsOOoO.00O
rye ponds "s
kensco reservoir. l62U.OOo.UO
Will ms brd pe reservoir. ............ 100000, 900
Total. 3,JOOUOO,UOO
ESTIMATED COST.
Bronx River project. including extra storage for
the Byram water and conduit OF sufficient size to
carry the waters of both streams
Land and dam at Rye Ponds. ............ x41.95O
Land and dam at Kensico. .....,........ lgo,6l2
Conduit pipe and land for same. ...... 1O37 400
Reservoir at Williamsbridge. ........... 2O2,sI1
Connection with Croton Aqueduct.... $4,000
Water rights ON river. 25',OOO
Distributing pipes in the Twenty third
aud Twenty -fourth wards. ............. 72.5OO
For change OF gate houses and new forty
eight inch main across Manhattan VAL
lcy............... .................... zDolDO
Add ii ve per cent tor engineering and con-
tingencies. ........................ 1o2. AIS
Total. ................ 151 .964
Ryram River
Dam across Byram River.... ............ 4S,75O
Uniting Byram with Bronx. 1920
Byram Pond. ..... ...................... ss.VOO
Water rights. Observation-Disclosures. 2s5,ss3
Add ten per cent for engineering and con-
tingencies Observation-Disclosures. a., 500
This estimate includes two items not included in
the previous estimates, viz :-Distributngp pipes in
the Twenty third and Twenty fourth wards and
new gatehouses and an additional main across Man
haitian Valley amounting together to nearly $500 UOO
In the possible increase In the cost of iron
pipe and IN consideration of long experience teach