New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-13
THE WATER SUPPLY.
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.


THE SHORT SUPPLY LAST SUMMERTIME NEW AoUE'
DUCT TO TIE BRONX RIvER-TnE scRvEYs FOR
ANOTHER MAIN CONDUIT.
The Commissioner of Public Works, Hubert u.
Thompson, yesterday made report to the Mayor Oh
the operations Of his Department for the quarter
ended December 81, $780, Most of it is taken
I'D with q discussion of the water supply. lie
says:
During 60 days Of last quarter there was sufficient
water In the natural flow OF the CrOton River 10 SUPPLY
the aqueduct and 2636 600 gallons OF water haIo
be drawn the storage reservoirs and lakes r e
auspices this year much more favorable au9
immense quantities OF snow and Ice, when melteu, WI
lakes but saurate the earth with moisture IA resno
supply which will come the surface during the SUM-
assurance Of much better supply Of water The Bronx
River supply cannot he made avaab ~ less than o
two three years, the works having been much dea5
by the long and severe winter. ..--..o, 90
Commissioner Allan Campbell hrst Gaeu M banE
the fact that where the aqueduc was putt on co Jam,
low grounds an aggregate ichStn oI aU as
not secure under OF carrying tho large volume
of water required for the citys l-e-abOut % per c
tended Mr.. Campbell adopted plan OF Improving tne
structure and rendering secure which has since Deen
Appropriations the Improvement had been applied 70
only about 500 lnea feet OF the aqleduct Llst yen
IL was extended 10000 ueal feet aud IN the appropl
ton Tor 1881 provision Is made ior about an e4uaI
amount OF work. which will be carried on Win AL p's
Last Year twentyhree ana threeeighhs miles OF pipes
were Lard and $50 new fire hydrants set extend aud
improve the distribution Of Cr0ton Nnety0ur and
uneourth miles uf pipes have laid III the las I'VE
miles OiT ire hydrant The new high service wor&s
have been IN constant operation since May g. lssu u
ing which time the quantity OF water pumped Ihcre I'M
AT High Bridge has had to he increased from I,JOOOOo
gallons per day TO lO5OOOOO gallons. Hall OF TINS III
vi consumption IN the high service GstriSs ~
cured after the cold weather set M aud when Few n-
dtons had been made to the number OF consumera,
showing that the increase was almost s1'tey uuH
cold weather Last year iSO-1 rec. OF pig.s
Ward from the Yonkers WaterworRs The waste uring
present long aud severe winter has been greater @
more injurious than ever. Notwithstanding frequent
house Inspections aud the rapid extension Of the use OF
meters consumption during the cold weather averaged
100000 gallons day more Than the carrying GaPaciY
of the aducduct reducing az That rate the supply In TIE
city reservoirs causing corresponding reduction OF
were placed aud OO2 IN the 3ist Of
December. Gne amount OF water daily furnished thr"i.h
3246 meters which have been long enough IN use to get
two readings is 9,SlO.79j ggllons 0r more than one
tenth OF the water brought INTO the city. .
The present condition Of the water supply may DC
summarized as follows:
Tirs-The appliances now In use for collecting aud
furnishing water in Cr0tOn BASIN are sufficient TO
supply the aqueduc 90 Its lull capcy except under
last year which Will not occur TINS year. and probably
Second-The aGueduct is now the only OF bring
ing water the city, and its utmost ,apaiy, al wlrn
1t constantly kept running Is V1o"oVOO gallons per
dav.
Thrd-By the OF meters aA FAR as It has advanced.
by house inspections To detect leaks ana waste III"
consumption hes been KEPT, updrr ordinary cT,nm-
stancc- within The limits Of the daily supply from the
aqueduct; bot IN freezing weather the waste N ietung
water run 10 prevent retzlnE III the pp'H 'ahno, ne
suppressed and the daily CONSUMPTION "a Increased
several million gallons beyond tho capacity ui inc
aqucduct reducing the supply In the Cy rcstrNOrs ana
the pressure IN III" pipes.
FGuri-rhe prcssurrs m the greater part Of the city
sufficient to deliver the water IN the upper $40
Tles ~ buildings.
Finh-The population, commerce and manufacture ~
the city increasing rapidly creating CORR spending
increase the Legitimate demand Tor pure water, "u'h
must DC supplied.
There arr but two WAYS In which The increased de-
mand for water The growth Of the C car Dee
me:, VIZ: by further limiting the consumption per
strlctiuu additional cInduit- to bruK water To
ne pffV In Ur -
Kcnsco for the Bronx River supply, nut IA con
sequence OF severe weather progress hAs been SLOW
5000 ueal feet Of the ppc conduit rOul NuOdaWn tp
BrVnSvie, are under contrnct but no Work has been
done yet Al the structures for the Bronx River
ply now definitely marked out, aud surveys In
progress 20 iOyito tie dams reservoirs and cAanne to
conduct the water ~ tho Byram RIVER into tho BRONX
works for securing the additional supply from hr brouR
and ByraIu river, aud ~ from ~" To seven year t'
additional anppy will he ahorhrd hy thr Increased ne
maud for water created by the growth - TIC Guy
Another conduit viii thrn become an immediate h'''s
EiiY.
ANTICIPATE the needs uf The ,y Tor long pctlo1. aud
taking into account th" time i"q utrd Tor survey b.,
plaus acquisition Of Ian - and wa,rr Nights Anl cor
construction. u becomes subject for ihmcdIiir COW
-ideratIOn aud action. HE surveys Tor No." d'u'-
duet made IN i~Tb. under General FUZ J"hu IniicI,
Will b. II great i-irc "a TIE prst OF the p 'i- Tor
obtaining an abundant supply Of water.
John c. Campbell las resigned his position n
chef engineer ui the CTutou aqued ct, ms icSgna-
ton taking effect yesterday and benjamin :,
Church, resident engineer of the Department 81
Public Works, has been appointed ~ hi' place, MI
Church has been associated with the CITY Govern
ineut IN various positions for the last twenty-five
wears. He Is q graduate OF Dartmouth College.
f. ). ChesbrOugh, an eminent ciNil aud hydraulic
gIuecr on the new works ~ connection N''h TIE
water supply.