New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-18
THE SHORT WATER SUPPLY.

For several months past there have been constant
complaints from various parts OF the city that r.
ing the daytime no water can be obtained on the
upper floors of dwellings and manufactures. CoUi-
nunicatiOns are received at lie TRIBUNE Ofnce
almost daily from lrate householders wanting TO
kuow why there should be any trouble with the
water supply alter the ti0Ocs OF last month, and
the fact that water Is flowing daily over the CrOtOn
River Dam. in quantities more than enough 10 fur-
nIsh the city an ample supply. conference of prop
erty owners held recently at the residence OF
DR. A. Callsen TO consider measures TO secure an
adequate water supply. They had sent petition
TO Commissioner Thompson OF the department
of Public Works setting forth that at Forty-thlr
st aud Sxth-ave. and vicinity, the water Will not
run above the basement noors between . "a. IN;
and D. H. Sufficient water could not be obtained
to keep clear the sewers aud pipes and prevent
gas from generating $50,
Henry T. Newton said that he would like to have
the Department of Public Works tell what becomes
of the CrotOn. The depth OF water on the New
York side of High Bridge was six feet two inches,
and at Ninety secOnd-st., it was only three feet.
The water was carried from High Bridge in iron
mains and ne could find no outlet except II twenty
inch tipe at Manhattanvle, when supplied West
Harlem. East Harlem wasi supplied from resei-
yoir There were also some blow OILS at one
hundred and nineteenth ST.. ana elsewhere at Man
battanville intended to blow out the water ana
cleanse the pipes when they became foul The
fact rem aimed that the people did not receive more
than onethird of the water that came across Hlgn
bridge James l.. Serrell Moses b. Maclay, Dr.
WiIi7am r. Thompson David Close and others
took part in the discussion. III was stated tiat
great many wells were being bored because OF the
short sUDDly. Dr. thompson ldNorcu lOIIlIHS du
organization of property owners and securing from
the courts a mandamus in order to obtain an lnves-
tigation and ascertain where the water goes.
Commissioner Thompson said on Monday tnat ne
would be much Obliged to the gentlemen II they
would procure a maDdamus and begin formal
Investigation. There had been various assertions
and insinuations that he was not giving the city
full supply of wafer, because he was interested IN
"A new aqueduet. involving large expenditure OF
money The investigation would give him an OPP
portunity TO prove that there was no truth what
ever in these assertions, and show by the records
of department and by Its engineers that all the
water the present acqueduct safely deliver Is
distributed daily in equitable manner 10 pos
sible the CITY, The storage reservoirs In the
Croton Valley are full. and the water was running
over heCrOtUn dam eleven inches in depth on Mon
day morning. There therefore no danger OF
a failure from the of the water supply. The
trouble is that the city is growing fast both IN
the way of dwellings and manufactures, that the
aqueduct will not deliver enough TO warrant the
free consumption of Croton which has prevailed ever
since il was introduced AS TO the difference in the
depth of water between High Bridge and Ninety
secOndst., that simple question OF
hydraulics. What the water lost IN volume at
Ninety secondst.. il gained in velocity. Commits
siOnei Thompson said he perfectly willing to
have his action in the matter of the water supply
thoroughly investigated.
From official ii was learned that during the
very warm weather in September the supply IN the
Central Park Reservoir was drawn down about
four feet. This was in addition 10 the 30 .OOO,OOo
gallons which the aqueduct Is delivering daily
This loss since the advent OF cool weather Is being
slowly made