New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-04

For the last two weeks 10 600, 600 to 2O,000000
gallons a day have been taken from the storage
reservoir 1t was stated yesterday at the office OF
Engineer Adams that the supply at the present rate
of reduction would be exhausted in nine or ten
days.
The consumption on Wednesday in Brooklyn was
80. 1000. 600 gallons. Thursday 100000, and
on Friday 36,000000. The city has natural sup
ply of % 600 900 from the Smith and other ponds.
so that If the Hampstead reservoir should be ex-
hausted there would be this TO depend upon. But
in such an event the lack Of between 13,OO0,OOO to
Is 600 900 gallons IN the supply would make neces-
sarv the shutting off of water for part OF each day.
The police and officials of all the city departments
have been instructed TO report every violation OF
the order regarding the careful use OF water, and
handblls to be distributed throughout the CITY, on
which will be printed instructions regarding It's
use Public fountains have been shut OH, ana the
sprinkling of grounds is prohibited except Tor
short time in the early part of the day. No ram
has fallen in the neighborhOod of tho ponds from
which portion of the water supply is obtained
aud many of them are very low. Ihree
engines. with a capacity OF raising lo,ooo'ooo
gallons dAy, are kept almost constantly at
work pumping water into the conduit from
the storage reservoir. Engineer Adams suggests
that another engine be purchased in case one of
over3O. COO 600 gallons, which would be less than
the demand. 1t is proposed to use Watts Pond and
pond at Springfield in Hampstead as an additional
supply in case the drouth continues, but these
ponds would only supply 100000 gallons more
."The people generally 10 not seem to have become
much alarmed yet" said one of the officers yester-
day. ''perhaps because they think that this cry is
some new political dodge. When the water is shut
off part of each day. as it may be soon, they may
realize that there is real trouble What need is
another storage reservoir. During each Winter
much water Is lost from the Hampstead reservoir.
and we need another equally az large for a suil-
Gent supply. Our soil is such that we need more
rain than other places to make an appreciable
efectp
CONDITIONS OF THE CROPS.
The late showers have done great deal to refresh
the country and encourage farmers but the relief il
only temporary and unless more rain follows soon
the crops will be in bad condition again. 1t is
noticeable that the showers of Thursday and Friday
night although generally visiting nearly all the
country round New-York, were much heavier In
some places than in others. Some farmers report
what they cali a fright heavy shower" while
neighbor mile or two away complains OF only be-
ing favored with a little dash of rain, hardly suf
ficient to lay the dust.
farmer from the vicinity Of Hampstead, l.. l..
SAID to TRIBUNE reporter yesterday " The coun-
try looks decidedly resher to-day though the crops
of course cannot show much improvement in so
short time. But the fresh, pure smell of the air
after the showers Is something to be grateful Tor,
after the smoke and dust. And II we
have more rain soon, our later series
of crops will vet be good. Corn has
still time to make good growth. and long-con-
tinued rains may revive the pastures ana meadows
by September where the grass Is not entirely Killed.
The first setting of tomatoes has dropped OH In the
hot weather but there is plenty OF time for another
settingto mature, though II VIII OF course DO ter.
Winter squashes and cabbages may still 30 we'll
and as the rutabaga crop is not yet sown that, TOO
has fair chance. The early crop OF peas has been
much injured by the drOutn. but there ~ SUN tlme
enonph TO raise a second crop before winter. Pota-
toes form one of the main crops OF Long Island, and
as they are almost all of the Early Rose variety they
are too far matured to be benefited much by this
weeks showers. The tubers are only about The SIZE
of hens eggs or a little larger, but they are begin
ming to rpen and Il the ram forGes any or
excrescences, which will only detract from ther
qualify. - A.. ,,.d 10 oto5.
doomed. as The most of It is cut. City people who
have depended on Long Island nav Tor their horses
will have TO look elsewhere. Early squashes and
cucnmbers will he light, and some bean patches
have been pulled up IN despair. The ram seems to
have wet down six or eight inches, but unless 1Ol-
lowed by more it will soon dry out"
A produce merchant living ut Bay hldge, l.. l.,
said the prouud there was not wet below two or
three i6ches a." Potatoes are plenty ~ number" lie
continued but are of small size, ana VIII DC only
LaIf crop Summer squashes are small, and
cnonmbers only one-thrd OF a crop. Corn and toma-
toes are not yet uriOusly hurt but the grass crop
looks ruined for this year.
Along Hampstead Bay the fields are fresh IN many
instances, and the trees on the banks show no il,
cliuaton 10 strike their summer c9lors OF grateiu
green But on tine wpland plains DacK Oh hoslyh
many OF the mown meadows are brown and scar rs
Ia November. .,
The showers came too late 10 help the main staples
Of Staten Island hay grain and potatoes, Out they
have given a much fresber aspect to the country,
which is very much appreciated by the Summer
resident. -, -. :.
MonnAnh County, New-Jersey, come reports OF
generols showers. but oats. hay and early potatoes
are arN4iy certain failures. The rain will aid the
blackbeTfNcrop now ripening, and what peaches
have not already dropped of the trees on account
81 the hot sun. good many apples have dropped,
bnt none TOO many, az the fruit set very thickly.