New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-26
A WARNING FROM THE MAYOR.

ARE TRYING TO DEFEAT THE WATER BILL.
Mayor Edison has issued the following ad-
dress to the people, warning them that unless
they exert themselves to defeat the intrigues
now in progress at Albany the Croton Water
bill will be defeated and an increase In the sup
ply will be indefinitely postponed:
To he Citizens Of Ne,o- York:
deem 1t my duty to address to those of citizens
who feel interest the welfare and future develop
ment Of our city few words upon subject OF para
mount interest to every person residing within its limits
No argument is required to convince any that there
ia thing essential to the health comfort and
general prosperity and development OF tho city as an
abundant supply Of pure and wholesome water This the
City OF NewYork does not have to-day, and proof Is
abundant that with each succeeding month, as wateris
widely distributed to new buildings, the supply to
dwellings and manufactures ALREADY nadequate-must
be still further diminished called attention to this
subject my message the Board OF Aldermen on the
1st OF January last and what then said would now
respectfully refer It is already well known that at the
request of the State Senate appointed committee OF
6vc able and impartial citizens to consider the subject OF
increased supply for the city, and to report to
tho Senate in the manner requested in the resolution of
that body. It is also well known that this committee
reported to the Senate substantially as follows
FrstThat the Croton Water Shed is the amplest and
most available source of supply for the cty' wants
Seeond-That new aqueduct capable OF conveying
100000 900 gallons Of water daily should be ouilt inn
mediately
Thtrd-That storage reservoir, or reservoirs should
OF suitable capacity to provide against
all emergencies and to provide supply OF water for tue
next twenty five years;
FouL-That the work OF constructing this aqued duct
and storage reservoir or reservoirs, should be sur
rounded with such safeguards as would insure I'M
mediate construction aud reasonable cost to the city
After making their report to the Senate, and after
further consideration OF the subject the committee pre-
pared with great bill which in heir opinion would
accomplish the desired results, and caused 1t to be pre-
-cnted to the senate believe that the bill thus pre-
pared and presented to the Legislature. provides the
safeguards necessary to insure an honest construction
the work and honest expenditure OF the vast sum
Of money necessary for its accomplishment further
believe that our citizens are OF this opinion.
therefore deem 1t my duty to say that l am informed
aud have good reasons for believing that those who
pondi,uuc Of a vast Of money would gye are using
all the influence they possess defeat the Water bill to
which have referred modify it as to place the
power in their hands TO be used for selfish purposes
am satisfied that the inrigIes which are being carried
on In Albany will be successful and that the time when
the city can the ncstmable aud indispensable
benefit OF an increased supply Of water will be ndeh
pi.,ly postponed unless the citizens Of Ncw-York at
make themselves heard by their representatives in
Albany and in o way too, which shall be unmistaklole
as to their Views upon subject vital to the welfare
OF all FRANKLIN EDsoN Mayor.
Mayors ONce, Yep-T York, April %, 1888
The above address was sent to the various newspapers
of the city by the MAYOR carly last evening.
The action OF the Lcgislalure in regard to the
subject OF securing an additional supply OF water for
this city has caused widespread feeling OF distrust
among bust men number OF these have called
upon Mayor Edison to seq If something could not be
done to secure the passage OF the bill approved by the
commission OF citizens appointed To investigate the sub
Icct At the Instance OF Commissioner Hubert o.
Thompson and other politicians, that bill has been
changed practically to place tho con
troll OF the proposed Aqueduct Commission in
the hands Of the politicians The Mayor, Congrc'sman
o. B Potter william Dowd and others have been TO
Albany oppose this scheme OF the politicians, but
they have been able 10 accomplish much. Senator
Grady the chairman OF the Senate Committee on Cities
aud NJ c. Murphy. the head OF the Assembly Committee
are both working place the control OF tho building Of
the new alucduct In the hands OF Commissioner Thomp
son Against such Influences these the Mayor has not
been able 10 make any hcalway aud he has, therefore,
issued this address At the slmo time a movements
under way call public meeting to take action upon
the subject. conmIttee will probably be appointed
and efforts will be made TO secure the passage OF
good adueduct bill similar those made two years ago
which resulted the passage Of the street Cleaning DILL
The Sanitary Engineer Of today has editorial article
pointing OF the objections to the Ramapo plan
for adding tue supply IL says that the chair
of the committees which have approved the
plan do not know tho OF any Of the capitalists
who are supposed ready to put their money In the
enterprise says further In regard 10 the proposition
deliver at the northern boundary OF the city certain
amount OF Ramapo wnter, and to receive
from the city for each million gallons
a price not to exceed the cost OF the same
quantity Of Croon water that 1t might be dlcalt for
the contracting parties 10 agree the OF de-
liyering fifty millions OF CroOn water s The city
authorities ght fairly claim that the repairs and main
OF the aqueduct and dams outside OF the city
represent the cost of delivery OF the water Ihis
amounted In 1882 TO S7O0s2 for 95,OOOOOO gallons
day and therefore 80 0O0 gallons day ought to DO
delivered for about $4,000, or the interest
on 100000 at per cent. But the contractors
might claim that 40 the city paying 81. 100000
annually as interest on the water works debt,
that one-half that sum- 100000 per annu, should
be paid them in addition TO tho $4,000. There would
here be good chance for honcst difference OF opinion
and consequent delay In furnishing water mo trouble
recently experienced In Francisco over the settle
men OF tho accounts between the water company ana
the city, 10 an illustration of the difficulty OF adjusting
such accounts"
The article also points out that NewJersey s certain
to oppose any attempt to divert water from stream
which flows through Its territory, and can cause long de-
Law by LITIGATION I'm the United States Supreme Court
After the water reaches the city b will cost s2oOooOo
for proper system pipes distribute 1t so as to pro-
tect Broadway drygoods district for which s
desired. The time named for the completion OF tne
Ramapo works Ia ridiculousy Inadequate 4he oDJec
tions IN the scheme are summed up rs f0loWsi