New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-20
THE CITY'S SUPPLY OFWATER
SUGGESTIONS AS TO INCREASING TT

SUGGESTIONS AS TO INCREASING IT.
THE USE OF SALT WATER ADvocATEp-Mucp q,
CRoToN WASTED.
The commission associated with the Mayor in sx
aiming plans for an additional water supply %.
the city met again yesterday. hearing was fr.t
given to Jackson s. Schultz, WHO said thar tba
average citizen. when asked what is the principaI
danger to be apprehended In case of short wats,
supply, would say at once a large CONFEDERATION
He did not think there was any danger of lack ~
water for culinary purposes for preparing tea or
mixing teddy. The plan he was about to present
had been pooh-Doohed, but, nevertheless he had
faith ia It, la the year 1869 the Board of Health
employed William Z. Worthen, a weliknown
civil engineer, to report on the use which cpud Ina
made of the water of the North and East Rivers for
washing the streets and for other purposes Heey.
tended the scope of his inv est CATION and finally
formulated plan for securing high pleasure OF
water. This plan was discussed by many gentle.
men. One prominent capitalist was so convinced
Of the feasibility Of the plan that lie offered to pub
$1.O0O,OOO into a company il permission could be
obtained from tho Common Council to lay pipes
under the streets. An unsuccessful effort was made
to obtain the necessary franchise 1t was estimated
that each store and warehouse would pay from $3.50
to $500 for the privilege Of using this system tor
Fire Underwriters objected to the use of salt water
because in case Of fire salt water would destroy
erything it touched. Mr.. Schultz recollectcd.
however. when. before 1912, nothing but salt water
was used to extinguish fires. He believed that
there not much difference btween fresh and salt
water in damaging goods. Mr.. Schultz continued
This scheme is entirely practicable. The little town Of
Garden City has better water supply than NewYOrk
below and the other above Twenty third-st. The es
mate for each IA 1869 was about S2,000,000 But tho
cost then would have been much greater than now.
Iron piping be purchased half the price
then prevailing This Will make difference TO tho
city, however The plan included two pumping stations
to cost 100000 each The streets will have to be
up, Of course. This will inconvenience, but not
more than the heating companies have caused
The only objection to the plan comes from the Depart
ment OF Public Works have visited the Croton River
vOir. | very doubtful about a dam 200 feet high.
The pressure on this would be very great nor do boz
leye that could be carried up the route pro-
posed except at very great expense. We have all
now clean and sweet the streets after heavy
Vel, this thing be Drought about three
times week by the plan proposed Objection II made
that the street dirt would be washed into the and
thence INTO the SHIPS at the sewer outlets But t can
he dreged out at less expense than IL costs 10
the dirt from the streets. The supply or CrOtOn
about min three gallons daily for every man.
woman and child In this city lis shOuld be ample In
cities Europe it has been shown that fifteen
twenty gallons daily are sufficient Tor each lnhaDant
In response to questions by the commission. Mr..
Schultz SAID that salt water could not be used in
boilers but that the corrosIon ot iron pipes by the
their use.
Mr. otter said that he liked the plan and would
he willing to take 500 900 OF the stock lie would
DO anything lie could TO aid in getting the scheme
through the Common Council or fuTthering IL IN
any O'her way After Mr. ScbEitz had gone out.
Mr. Potter. addressing the other members OF tue
commission, said that 10 vas question whether ie
would not DO better u raise the present CTotUn Dam
fifteen twenty feet or build large and higher
dam near the present one. There was no doubt that
the citys water supply should be increased. lie
believed that the child had been born that Would
see New-lOrk city of 6,OO0.OOO or 7,OOO,OOO IN
habitants. When that time arrived ,he city would
have 10 draw part OF ITS water supply from Lake
George and tue Adirondacks. The now squeduct
should be of large capacity 50 as 10 accommodate
the increased supply that would be called for III
tie futuIe.
c. II. Roosevelt Advocated the merits of new
stOp-cOck, the eutiOn of Engineer Church. Di the
Department oil Public Works. the object Of which
was 10 prevent waste OF tue CrOton.
Engineers Newton and Chdrch. OF the Department
OF Public Works, were questioned as To the amount
of waste. They placed 10 at from % Ia 30 per cent
of the entire supply. This was due partly To neg.
ligence the part of occupants vi premises and
parEly to defective plumbing. In one block ia
ForGy-nnth-st an inspection showed that dulIng
the ght in each of w en yOne OF the twenty three
houses there was waste OF from fifteen TO thiry
gallons per hour. In waste OF 10 gallons
per hour was discovered. Mr. Potter strongly adj
vOcated the use of meters, they lnculcated econ
omy in the use OF the water. Mr. Newton said that
this did not necessarily follow The New-fork Hos
pItal had a meter and yet IL used $4,000 gallons OF
Croion water daily. rms was an average Oh oVV
gallons each for the inmates when all the wards
were full
Mr.. Potter mentioned the case Of a leak from
pipe communicating with store which he owns az
FortY-secOnd-st. and Broadway. It leaked
stream abUut two inches IN size. lie called the AZ
tention of the Department OF Public Works 10 the
matter. but II had never Leen looked after, and he
CONF eed TO have plpe placed to carry tho
leakage INTO the sewrr -
Tue commission adjourned to Monday at 30
p IN.