The New York herald., 1879-07-13
THE CROTON SUPPLY.

HOW COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL PROPOSES TO
GUARD AGAINST DRoUGHr-A NEW AQUE-
DUCT AND THE HIGH SERVICE WORKS NOW
ERECTING
Several correspondents have of late drawn atten-
ton. through the HERALD Complaint Book" to the
short supply OF water uptown residences. notably
on the line OF Lexington avenue and TO the fact that
several thoroughfares were either not sprinkled At
all or were very mperfectly watered. To ascertain
the cause Of the complaints and also whether New
York is really threatened with water famine a
HERALD reporter yesterday called for information
upon Mr.. Allan Campbell. the Commissioner OF
Public Works
'The city and its wants. in respect to water said
Mr.. Campbell. ''are not what they were ten years
ago. New York is growing. 1t is already great
city in territory and population and the latter viii
be yet greater. The circumstances are these The
aqueduct is running its fun capacity. and tho city rs
using all it carries The increased demand is shown
by the fact that this department is granting permits
for additional taps at the rate OF 200 month"
"What is the capacity OF the aqueduct p
''It discharges 100 00O. 900 gallons day. There 10
an abundant supply of the storage reser-
voirs IN Putnam county. About forty million
gallons day are drawn from the latter. Notwith.'
standing this large draft still running the full
capacity OF the aqueduct daily. Even had we the
fun capacity of the Hudson River to draw upon the
same condition things would still exist II do
not have adequate means OF bringing the water here
it IS evident that We cannot give it the people ii
such quantities as will please every one"
AN ENORMOUS SUPPLY IN RESERVE
"Do you apprehend any scarctyf'
mo. The supply in the storage reservoirs is up
simply the extraordinary and increasing demand"
Then the means OF bringing the water to the city
inadequate are they not?'
THAT is the whole sum and substance of the mat
ter"
What Is the extent of the various sources Of
'.lhe new storage reservoir in the town of South
east has capacity of 1000 000, 900 gallons; the
Boyd's corners Reservoir s. 900 900 900 gallons; all
the lakes have in addition 800 900 900 gallons. max
ing the total amount OF storage Putnam and
Westchester counties $500. 900 900 gallons. There
Is III reserve in the two Central Park reservoirs
1000 900 gallons. Then there is in addition the
distributing reservoir at Fortieh street and Fifth
avenue.
How do you propose to remedy the immediate
causes OF complaints"
"rhe high service works in process of erection at
Ninety-eighth street and Ninth avenue will go far
toward accomplishing the result"
when will they be completedY
II expect that the work will be pushed to sue
cessfu prosecution by the end of the present year
"What is their capacityY'
"They Will pump about ten million gallons day.
and this viii give the water sufficient pressure to
cause the Croton to flow second third and fourth
stories OF high ground. where it fails to run. There
will be two engines employed in the pumping. one
of which will be held reserve. third engine
be added as necessity may require. These
fine works, which will be credit TO the city.
will cost when completed 500, 900, which
will be within my original estimate of the cost.
Right here might call attention to the careless
OF Croton by many people and give you an illus
tration of it. Last winter. during one of the cold
snaps thousands Of persons opened their faucets
rather than incur the risk of having their pipes
freeze up. The result that the water i'll the
Central Park reservoirs lowered fully ten feet
the height OF full story of house"
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS.
"What is the future prospect?
'The last LEGISLATURE authorized the Commits
to additional water supply. There should
be new aqueduct entirely distinct from the pres
ent In the meantime something should be
done to meet existing necessities. Our engineers
now making surveys for the purpose OF obtaining
the increased supply from the Byram and Bronx
rivers and Rye ponds. These will furnish about
Is, 1000 900 gallons day with conduit pipe OF forty
eight inch diameter. With these facilities the danger
of drought will be effectuaily guarded against.
The Department of Public Works is dong all 1t can
to make the supply equal to all demands by laying
larger mains and piping. When the high service
works complete and in working order many
causes of present complaint will cease to exist
when the improvements are made how great will
be the supply"
with a new and distinct aq ueduct and the in
creased facilities referred to the water supply will
be sufficient for the wants OF city Of 1900 900
habitants. The city is growing with great rapidity
and the question of its future suppy-its very lie
blood, as it were-is becoming q serious matter. (
long ago foresaw the danger but my efforts toward
securing the necessary legislation to meet it have
until lately been tn warted at Albany and often greatly
embarrassed by our Board Of Aldermen. New York
Is NOT Wn3 III was ten years ago Ii We are
now what will be the case in the future? After
the aqueduct is built the new 4s-inch iron main
will always be useful assist in bringing in the
supply or to use while the old aqueduct is being
repaired 1t will be distinct and important factor
in the cty's Croton water SERVICE
DUSTY FIFTH AVENUE PAVEMENT.
Deputy Public Works Commissioner Hamblin
asked by the HERALD reporter the cause Of the COM
plants about the dusty condition of Fifth
the neghborhood Of Central Park.
1.-The macadam roadway on Fifth avenue, from
Fity-nnth to Seventy second street." said he
laid about year ago and has always been kept in
good condition. 1t has been regularly and carefully
spripkled by employees OF this department. who were
paid at the rate of fortyhve cents hour. On the
Fourth of July, when the Superintendent OF the
Bureau absent from the city, they struck for
increase of pay This action of the disarranged
system of street sprinkling, and for few days
the roadway was not sprinkled a result. This
undoubtedly the period of which complaint is made
The matter complained of has since been remedied
and Fifth avenue is now sprukled usual and will
continue to be properly cared for