New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-09
ported by the constituencies this month. The
glass; OF public opinion viii stand where IL has
stood since the downfall Of Imperialism.
THE CR0TON IN WJDSUy,,pp

ne misery which the city suffered during Tho
1erVcnt heat of last week was somewhat tenn
pered by the good fortune that the water supply
was more generous than it had been earlier IN
the summer. BY the July exodus SO many
houses had been closed that the mines yver,
less heavily drawn upon in part of the citv
where the annoyance and discomfort from in
sufficient pressure had caused loud COMPLAINT q
few weeks before. New-Yorlz was still far
| from enjoying the unchecked abundance which
such a metropolis should be able to lavish unon
all her people. In % city which has gone so far
In civilization, refinement and luxury, water
should De well nigh us free and plentiful for her
poorest cltzen as the air he breathes. But orr
aIo ye1 long way from that point of progress
With only one aqueduct, which, forced to The
utmost that safety will allow and far beyond
the limit intended by its builders, can hardly
give the reservoirs each day the amount which
the city daily draws from them, New Workers.
should be thankful for even such bounty "a
they enjoyed last week. Fortupahalv tbe r,;ps
OF spring and early summer were heavy in tha
Croton Valley. and the quantity of water re-
naming III the big storage reservoirs WAS lorpe
thus for this season TOO, OOO, 600 gallons have
oeen drawn from these, and S4OO, 600. 600
gallons are left. In the Central Park Reservoir
Which when full holds tlirty-fve feet of water
tnere are now thirty feet eight inches. The
whole system was well prepared for the recent
emergency, as well prepared as we can ever ex-
pect III 10 DC III midsummer with sin Gle under
sIZed aqueduct to depend upon. IF the three
terrlple days which began last Thursday had
come upon the city when the Croton River tbo
storage reserves and The Central Park basin.
lad been depleted by a serious droutb. sucb os
has been known in former years, the snAernos
Oh the million and more Of wretched beinos who
were forced to remain in the swclterinr CITY
would have been glievously increased. But
there was water enough on hand for moderate
use, though not for waste, and an incxDressihIa
comfort it was
Until another aqueduct is built-and af host
tlat is n matter of years-the importance of
reasonable economy in Croton should be Dlo;n /.
10 everyone. by such economy at ordip- |
airy times sufficient supply for such emcr !
gencles rs that just gone through will |
be assured. The Department of Public |
Works is properly insisting on the use |
OF meters by all large consumers Private |
houses Shouid FIRST be adequately provided for.
Manuiacturels and other extensive users of |
water are only entitled to the excess over what
Is really needed by the householders. The
work OF the Department in stopping bic leaks
the Croton flows away deserves the commcpda
Cioh OF every citizen. If every bar-room and
oeer-shop were compelled to put in q meter the
saving would be enormous. In thousands of
these places Croton is kept running nearly all
me time to cleanse glasses and for other mr.
poses. The total waste in this way is very
great and 1t is waste that should he checked
there is no sort of trade which deserves SO
ltte consideration from the city authorities in
he way of water supply or anything else as the
railc in liquors, but unhappily there is none
hat gets so much. City officials are az tim
'rous about meddling with groggeries as with
'lith-ave. mansions. The groggery may have
'otes DR.. Crosby in his trenchant address
sunday night was right. 1t is the rum-shop
nat controls our local politics. and of course il
ontrois them for its own vile uses But if the
ar-roolns may waste the Croton at will there il
ONE consolation in the knowledge that there
re now no less than 5000 meters in manufac- :
ores, hotels and business buildings, and that I
'e are likely TO get through the summer with $
us serious embarrassment from lack of water '
ext winter, ii carefully framed aqueduct I
Ill, the result of mature deberation and in t
uiry on the part of our most prominent officials I
nj most influential citizens, is presented ut AL
any, 1t will probably become law, and New o
DIRK can look forward TO II better day.
I