New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-24
MORE WATER FOR NETWORK
AN EXPLANATION FROM MP NEWTON.

WHY THE ESTIMATES FOR THE IRONY AND BYRAM
WORK EXCEED MR.. CAMPBELLs FIGURES
The Water Commission appointed bv Mavor
Edison has been giving some attention to the cost
of the additional supply of water from the Bronx
and Byron Rivers. Commissioner Thompson. Of
the Department OF Public Works, said last week
that the cost of this additional supply would be
much greater than the original estimate made by
Allan Campbell and that it would take much
longer than the time originally set TO complete the
work He thought the water from this source
would not be avaable for two years more, and
that the total cost would be at least 81 900, 900.
In the reports of Allan Campbell, while Commits
siOner of Public Works, to Mayor Cooper and also
to the State Senate he said that he had had careful
surveys and estimates made, and that an additional
supply Of 10000 600 gallons of water daily could
be brought to the city from the Bronx and Byron
Rivers for 81 400 00O An outlay Of $780, 900 addi-
tional would be needed. he said. for
connecting the Williamsbrdge reservoir with the
distributing system of the upper wards, Tor new
gate-hOuses and an additional main at Manhattan
valley: and for contingencies. The work, he said,
could be completed inside of three years and about
16,O0O,000 gallons daily Of the add tiOnal supply
would be available for in the Central Park reser
yOlrs. and thus "the construction of new and large
aqueductmay be postponed several years." Camp
be said in 1880 In twelve fifteen years, If the
Affairs and finances of the city are wisely, eco
ironically and honestly conducted the debt will be
reduced. sby the operation of The Sinking Fund,
nearly fifty millions OF dollars; and then should IL
be found necessary to construct new aqueduct of
large dimensions from the Groom basin, the city
Will be well able to meet the expense"
In another report upon the same subject Mr.
Campbell said: The above detailed estimate
amounts to 81 697,470, and although it seems to be
liberal as to quantities aud prices, yet IN view OF the
possible increase in the cos of IRON pipe. which con-
stitutes large item of the work, and because long
exp Renee mas taught me to make full allowance
for worSs OF such magnitude sIa state Its total
cost III round numbers at Y3OOO,OOO"
In conversation with TRIBUNE reporter IN re-
gard to tins subject yesterday Isaac Newton, Chief
Engineer OF tue CrOtOn Aqueduct said:
" The first estimate OF Mr.. Campbell was Tor
$t,25O0O0 for supply from the Bronx River
alone. lie then included he Byron River and TINS
raised the estimate to ~, 607 $40. and then in
August, 1870 he stated the t0ta cost $3. 100000
TINS was before the work was begun. You
can see what difficulties no labored under; hence
the department should be allowed some latitude.
The work IL all being done by contract ana as
Chcaply as possible"
"What do you estimate its total cost TO be ~
81 think 1t Will be about = i000,000. We have
not yet begun work on the Byron River part OF tine
project, the estimate on which was PJ4o,0l5.
There are many legal questions CONNECTED with
that as to riparian rights, etc, which VIII have to
be settled IN the State OF CONNECTICUT"
- Is the WORK half completed r.
" More than half done, should think. At this
season OF the year very little can he done. No
masonry can be LAID and no pipes, unless trench
should chance to be OPEN
Has the legal part of the work. such securing
title to the land. delayed the engineering work ~
Speaking IN general way should say 1t had"
" If the work Is all done by contract why does
the department pay men for laying pipes out OF
this particular fund ~
Il was not aware that such the case. II it is
so, then II must be- for men employed III the city.
We have to employ inspectors, axemeD, rodsmen
and so forth on the work.
"Wil the city get any relief from the present
scarcity OF the water when tins work is completed
as estimated by Mr. Campbellp
The aqueduct Is rum ny full now and don't
see how anymore can come through ii. Of course
when the reservoirs IN the park are not full the
water slopes back Tor mile or so in tle aqueduct.
II there more water brought into the aqueduct
below the point where TINS fall begins, then there
ght be relief 10 the city, don't think that
ever"