New-York tribune., 1883-03-11
WATER COMMISSION REPORT,

A TALK WITH CONTROLLER CAMPBELL
NEED OF MORE wATER.-REpOR OF CHIEF EN-
GINEER NEWTON ON SITES FOR REsERvoIRs.
Controller Campbell, who was for three years
at the head OF the Department OF Public Works, was
asked by tribune reporter yesterday what he thought
of the report OF the Water Commission. He replied:
have only had time to glance hastily As to
the adyisablity Of constructing new aqueduct
conversant with the details OF water system viii
deny that II Is needed and that with the ctys increasing
population each year the need becomes pressing
In 1876 and 1877 when threatened with short
water supply, the present conduit large enough
The trouble then that had storage capacity
for reserve supply To remedy this the large reservoir
at Brewsters Station built, nearly doubling tho
supply. Before left the Department OF Public
Works the need Of aqueduct was becoming appa-
rent 1t was not good time to urge II then, however
The country just recovering from the long period Of
financial depression, and no one could be found who
thought 1t ad, ,isable to begin work that would cost
probably at least 900. The old aqueduct was
repaired and strengthened to enable to deliver 05oO0
600 gallons daily"
What do you think OF the proposed Quaker Bridge
Dam Reservoir
That is matter that was questioned about by tho
Water Commission told them that Tad not made o
careful study OF the project and therefore would be
willing TO speak OF 1t engineer 1t question, Of
course whether 1t is advisable to depend struc-
disaster happen to 1t the city would be In very bad
strait. Constructing number of storage reservoirs
would obviate this difficulty. II gave way there
would be Others to draw upon. Then too mp the
question whether large body OF stagnant water
would be good from sanitary point Of vice as
several lesser reservoirs The water drawn from the
latter would have twenty thirty miles before
entering the CrotOn Lake. and would thus have oppo
tunty become purified by contact with the atmos-
phere We all know that running water is deemed much
healthful than stagnant That however is matter
for scientists TO discuss"
The amount of damages for land TO be taken for the
aqueduct and oyerowed by the proposed Quaker Bridge
Dam Reservoir, is not computed by the Water Comms-
sOni"
81 noticed that. II would, Of course, be largo
New roads would also have to be constructed
IN place OF those submerged in the Croton valley Them
the report does not make plain whether the esti
includes the crossing OF the Harlem River,
and carrying the increased volume OF water TO the Gen.
trs Park reservoirs think, too, that the aqueduct
could be built in the time mentioned by the Water
Commission Besides IL would be OF to finish it
before the dam constructed which is deliver tho
water intended to flow through it, think that six or
seven years will elapse from the time work Is begun
proposed dam and aqueduct before water is delv
cred into the city through the aqueduct"
The report OF Isaac Newton, Chief Engineer Of tho
CrotOn Aqueduct, and the opinion of the consulting
gineers, made to Mayor Edison and the Water COmms-
slon have been made public Mr. Newton requested
TO report writing the extent and location Of storage
reservoirs required in the Croton basin for daily supply
OF $50 900 00O 200 900, 100000 000 and 3O0 000
coo gallons of water and to append the opinion OF the
consulting engineers He states that the Croon River
has very wide fluctuations its discharge Its daily How
at the present dam being sometimes high 2000,
100000 gallons per day. while IL Is frequently as low as
100000 gallons. Because OF this variation immense
storage capacity required to adequate supply
~ ired
higher ratio than the daily supply because this sup
ply increases larger amount OF stored water must be
drawn for greater length OF time in order to make up
for the deficiency in the natural flow OF the river For
instance while 5000 100000 gallons OF stored water are
required to maintain daily supply in dry year OF
lO0000000 gallons, not less than 3000000O0OO gal
Ions would be required to maintain daily supply Of
200 600 600 gallons. Tables submitted by Mr.. New
ton showing the total storage necessary TO be added TO
the natural ow Of the Cr0tOn River for the various
called for and the daily natural hoS or
the Croon the Croon DAM The location OF the
various reservoirs and proposed reservoir sites are ven
with the capacity of each. the drainage area
and the annual rainfall for series Of years. var
Gus available sites for aqueduct dam
discussed.
The consulting engineers John B. Jervs who built
the present Croton Aqueduct James b. Francis who
constructed the Lowell water works George Greene,
who was for long time Chief Engineer OF the Croton
Aqueduct; Julius W. Adams who built the Brooklyn
water works; and Robert K Marn,who In charge OK
the construction of the Baltimore water works They
say:
is not probable that daily supply Of over 10000
600 to l75, 900 gallons could be relied on in dry
year with aGueduct depending for Its storage water
reservoirs placed up In the Croton basin and would
be far from wise to construct new conduit withoue
being OF adequate amount OF water for II TO con-
vey We do not think the time necessary for the con-
sruCtiOn of the works would materially differ in either
The dam proposed near the Quaker Bridge we
think be built in about the time as the new
aqueduct With the same amount OF storage and an
equal capacity OF aqueduct the Quaker Bridge plan viii
cost than the other We have examined the prices
allowed by the Chef Engineer, and think they
sufficient To the kind of work provided for We
would say that tuly with the views relating
TO the plan OF dam the mouth OF the Cr0tOn River
expressed by Chief Engineer We therefore unhesi-
tatngy recommend the Quaker Bridge plan as the oest
In ia r the only plan that consistently with the besu
interests the city be adopted for securing large ad
ditiona water supply from the CrOton Oasin
THE COURTS.