New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-26
OPPOSING THE QUAKER DAM.
A LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN POTTER.

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DANAND PLUME SHOULD FAIL.
To the Edftor Of The Tribune
S,p. A ouestion in regard to the water supply
deeplv affecting the future health, security and
welfare of this city-is now before the Aqueduct
Commission for decision, and would ike 10 say
few words in regard to it. The law provides that
all persons interested in it shall be fully heard ne
fore paus shall be finally adopted, and every New
Yorker who can aid in the best and safest solution
of this great question ought to do So
The plans submitted by Commissioner Thompson
for the line of the new aqueduct have been changed,
and another line near near Saw Mill valley adopted
TO Manrice-ave., Sing Sing. The precise question
now pendinr is whether this line shall from this
point be built directly TO Croton Lake
Mt Croton DAM so to insure
fnI suppy of water to the city in the shortest pos
sible time. and with the greatest attainablo GER
tonty and so as TO leave the whole system OF res
eryoirs under complete control by the city, for
cleaning and repairs; or whether, IN
stead of this, the aqueduct shall be
built above Maurice-aye., to the site
Of the vast proposed Quaker Dam, there to await
and abide the completion of that vast project, with
all its possible delays and chances, before any adj
dtiona supply Of CToton water can be furnished 10
the city.
In connection with this question it has been
suggested that wooden hune upon up
rights and framework along the rocky
and precipitous sides of the ravine can be butt
from Croton Lake to the end Of the new aqucduct
at Oaaker Dam at least four and half miles. and
the waters Of Croton Lake be lifted by pumpingen-
zines into tbs aume above the level of the great
dam. and thus conducted TO the city while Quaker
Dam is being bnilt The instability
and insecurity Of such structure against frost ac-
cident or injury from design, during so long time
in view of the vast interest depending may well
awaken the gravest concern of the public.
II is admitted that the aqueduct can be COM
| pleted TO Cruton Dam in the same time as TO
Quaker DAM as il is 10 De built III sections
but with the important difference that when com
pleted to Croton Dam the city Is IN immediate ana
permanent enjoyment of full supply Of water in
stead of waiting for the completion OF the great
projected dam. This dam, If built, is to be 900
! feet long at the bottom and 100
feet below the bed of Croton River.
30 feet thick, 275 feet high above
bed rock, and nearly 400 feet long on top.
The execution of this plan will also nocssitate
the building by this city Of numerous bridges to
| connect all the roads in Westchestcr County
which will be interrupted by this vast body oil
water. across and above its surface, with the
maintenance of them forever by this city
| and also the rebuilding of all the ROADS
| WI interrupted
sixteen miles in circumference. When it is consd-
cred that one of these bridges will be 1000 to
200 feet long, crossing the lake at least l2j feet
| above its bottom, and another bridge at Croton
Dam will be 800 to 500 feet long, aud another,
| Pines Bridge, will be of about the same length,
| when raised thirty -four feet and that
| all the bridges above Pines Bridge, as well
over the lake AZ all tributary streams
and valleys to be flowed must be rebuilt with ionn-
dations carried down, some Of them to great depth
IN the bed of the lake streams unless suspension
bridges are built; that these bridges are not only to
be built but maintained forever BY this city ii viii
be seen That these roads and bridges great and
never-ending undertaking.
| Itmust be borne Inmind that bybOth proposed plans,
whether Quaker Dam shall or shall not bel now built,
additional storage is to be made above Croton Dam,
which will make a sufficient supply of water during
the year from the time the new aqueduct shall reach
Croton Lake, or be connected by the suggested
aume and pumping engines with this lakeif built TO
| Ouacker Dam. 1t must also be kept in mind
| that if the Quaker Dam and hume plan
be adopted, this great temporary humc and engines
| are but temporary makeshiit and must be lost
when discontinued, while by the other plan the
| money will be expended upon permanent aque-
duct to the bes and only point at which the
whole system of reservoirs, including Quaker
| Dam when built, can be controlled for
| cleaning out or repairs or TO insure a
supply Of pure water to the city from above,
| IL the water in the great dam should become, in
a time of long drouth IN state of fermentation or
| unhealthy. BY the Quaker Dam and flume plan the
vast pond, when completed will be connected at its
southerly end with the new aqueduct, and If the
water in this great pond ever becomes unhealthy or
unfit for USE il remains inteTpOsed between the
city and the pureT and fresher waters
above; and this pure water after rain
can never be brought to the city except through
this great pond sixteen miles in circumference and
would only be diluted by being mingled with the
lake.
In Judging of the actual cost of these two plans,
not including Quaker Dam or any work upon it
that is, the cost of the aqueduct TO CrotOn Lake
directly against its cost if built 10 Quaker Dam
and connected with Croton Lake bypumping engines
and hillside fume, as well as the security of such
a fume-Mr. Churchs testimony, which is fur
nished herewith, should be carefully considered.
No estimate in detail Of this Aume seems to
have been made and its opponents claim that its
cost if of proper size and strength TO bring all the
water supply of the city during all the
! time Quaker Dam may be in building.
would be quite equal to the additional two miles of
| aqueduct required to reach CrotOn Lake at Croton
| Dam.
Another most important consideration in
favor of carrying the new aqueduct to
Croton Lake at Croton DAM and entering that lake
at the bottom instead of the top, now entered by
the old aqueduct, is that that lake will be
converted into storage reservoir instead
of a mere settling basin. which adds, without cost
to the city above the cost of the aqueduct,
| 1,500000,000 gallons TO the present
storage to be drawn in case of necessity.
| This storage alone would cost, IL
provided by Quaker Dam or elsewhere, 5000 for
each million gallons. and il would be worth to the
city $450,00O.