New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-16
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
rup WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY.

A COMMISSION APPOINTED BY THE MAYOH IN i'Er-
ERENcE TO THE PROPOSED NEW AQUEpuCI'
Mavor Edison yesterday appointed 0rlando D.
Potter Amos f. Emo, Villa IN Dowd, Johh l.. ~ ~
new and Hugh n lamp co nnased bV the Com
missioner of Pubic Works Tor new aquouuo I'd ~.
practicabilty probable cost and the t'ie aoI
for construction The State Senate iaS. w. Of
nassed a resolution authorizing the appointment o.
euch commission. The commission VIII no,o '''0
ings from time to time and discuss me nla'soi d
r, regard to this matter Mayor Euson eaiu yrs.
+.rday 20 a reporter of THE TRIBUNE; nave
given this subject considerable STUDY, anu ny VIEWS
arr embodied in my mess az Tho fact that in the
simmer and autumn of 1881 the city barely
esnaned a water famine. The number OF dwellings,,
n snce that time he says. fully equal i'll ex-
tent TO 3 OOo houses which the city undertakes 70
supply with pure and wholesome water; ms VIII
Give some idea of the magnitude OF the 0lsaster
which would befal the city with the recurrence OF
conditions no worse than thos- OF 1881. PROMPT
and vigorous action In two directions is
The most effective measures to suppress waste
should be adopted and vlgllantiy en-
forced. The legislation Necessary necessary ., TO T1e
f,,rnish the city an abundant supply OF pure water
should be secured with the least possible delay ana
an in .reased demand should DC anticipated lar III
excess of any that has occurred within the foTty
wears of the Croton aqueducrs existence. The con-
struction of The dam and aouednct az contemplated
by the Commissioner OF Publc WORKS woulu III
yolyc the expenditure of large amount oil money,
estimated at $14, 100000. and would
years for completion. This plan indOrsed by many
eminent engineers, is probably the best that can DE
devIsed the MAYOR thinks He then recommends
The annointmeni of a committee of business mon TO
consider the practicablty of the plan the probable
cost, and the time required for construction. lie
urpes that whatever plan NAV be adopted snaiI oe
snIrounded with proper safeguards against extraVa-
Qance or unnecessary expenditure, ana tnat W
controlIinp extenJ the work be supervised by men
of known integrity who possess some pracucai
knowledge of such matters ANN,
Commissioner Thompson SAID yesterday: me
commission was appointed by the Mayor without
cousnItation with me. | AIN much pleased with the
MAYORS selections. All are gentlemen well known
to the community. representing the business inter
ests OF the city, and indivi uay possessing consid-
eTabIe real estate Naturally their decision regard
inv the plan of the proposed reservoir
and aqueduct presented by this depart
ment will carry good deal OF welght. ne plan
mr. .nared bv the engineers OF the Department OF
PubIic Works and recommended 10y mys"f was
Forwarded TO Mayor Grace in February last, and
was widely published III the newspapers at the
time Ii cOntemplates building Gam across tne
Grafton River to height OF 200 feet above the tide
leveI This is proposed to be built at Quaker
bridge about five miles below the present DAM Ii
ia estimated that the reservoir thus constructed
vii hold 80 OOO, 900 900 gallons which, with de-
livery oil 300 900 600 gallons pr DAY, would con-
tain supply for 90 days for the CITY. The aque,
duct shuu q be in a tunnel, this being deemed
safest One with q diameter of twelve iett VIII de-
Yer OOOO, 600 gallons in twe1ty-four hours
The plan proposed bv Engi Ieers Newton ana Ches-
brouph has now been before the public for nearly
one year and has been approved by all engineers
who nave stud ed it, / am only anxious that q
practical plan shall be apprOved-although 40 not
believe that any better one than this can he de-
vIsrd-ard the work begun. The city Is growing SO
fist that we must have an additional water supply.
Otherwise there is danger that the experience OF
1881 NAV be repea Ell. Moreover. New Ork Is no"
The first manufacturing city in the country. Unless
we can furnish propec supply OF water we shall
lose this prominence