New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-09
The RAMAPO WATER SCHEME.
WHIT IT'S ADVOCATES SAY IN FAVOR OF IT.
PLANS OF THE CoMPANY-oTHER SUGGESTIONS TO
THE SINKING FUND COMMISSION.


THE SINKING FUND COMMISSION.
The Sinking Fund Commissioners yesterday
listened to the advocates of several plans Ioi "a,
ing the city an additional water supply o II; No
Conkling Submitted maps showing the hain"Po
watershed. This, he explained, rs sltuateu ~
RocklaDd and Orar &c counties, is eighy one nle5
square in extent and with the naturai iahss a ano
the INDICTED reservoirs il is estimated that 17OoO
million Gallons of pure water can be stored there 10
be drawn from. The watershed is from 0oo "
]. 500 feet above tide-water.
Recorder smyth-Have you a title to tie landi
Conkng 1 cannot see how this enters mo the dis
listed other owners Of he land as stockholders They
viii act police to keep the water pure
William j. McAlpinc the engineer employed by
the promoters of the scheme, submitted table CIV
ing the names and capacity OF several natural lakes
and the sites of various reservoirs. He estimated
that supply of 10000 600 gallons daily would
only require 40 square miles of, surface and small
number of reservoirs. He continued:
1t proposed TO build dam near Augusta, in Orange
road to Suerns and thence TO Pernont on the
Hudson River. The river there one mile wide Cross
ing the river to the highlands of Westcheser County the
conduit viii continue 10 the northeln boundary OF the ety.
II will be 81 miles in length, will have hydraulic fa
tide level win terminate with hydraulic elevation Of
ovnteS and aref streams passeS one of the
ridges will he passed by tunnel LOO feet IN iengtn
@ oS Spa f e M DC eScsysed the bed
river, and will be protected by gi1uage vi ha g.
little population through the region traversed by lhe
conduit There few small farms but geleI''! tuo
smaI Irwin Of trees The Character of the ground
ENSURES q constant pure supply of water There Is
nothing TO contamnateI IT,
MIR. Conkling said that the rights of the State of
New-Jersey as to the water which flows through
the RamapO valley had been alluded TO. lie sug-
gested ii at Mr. McA lpine from his long experience
In connection with water works, In supplying tne
Erie Canal from feeders and as state Engineer ana
Surveyor could cite the law and decisions on me
subject. Mr. McApne cited several cases lie
said
The rights Of riparian that any one owning
land along running streams cannot cOntamnae or Will
hold it, Where it deemed necessary TO divert water OF
Ihis kind II must DC done under 5nG m he 81 Tor mbe
and after the payment of any damages that may DE
shown TO have been caused. This the projectors
OF the RamapO understand IL arrang
Inc the plans for the RanapO water delivery they
Paterson might sustain. For four months of the
year the average now of the Ramapo River 310900o
gallons daily and for the remainder OF inc year IoQoo
coo gallons daily. IL Is contemplated 10 supply aD0ut
W Segeo gs g e an ad1apare 10 the manuac
in Paterson and elsewhere along The stream me
storage reservoirs too will be supplied by storms ana TINS
will prevent freshets and consequent damage. 80
Mayor EdsOuI have been told 10y the chairman OF the
in the United States Courts to enon any company inter-
1erng with the water supply OF Paterson or othc places
III the State. How long will il take TO settle THIS queS
toni
Mr. Conkling said that this would be difficult to
answer. There were several large rivers when nad
their rise in this state and flowed INTO other Staies
The question of interfering with a supply OF thus
kind as between States had never been adJudl-
Gated.
Mayor Edison asked If the RamapO company
would be willing to make contract to furnish the
city with jO000,000 additional gallons OF water
MI ConkngGThe company is ready to do it within two
wears IL is also ready to compensate the residents Of
NV Jersey for anv specific damages which may be
shown. III case great obstacles are thrown IN our way
Will 20 TO the Waikiki Valley water she'd where
NewJersey can have possible claim that the water
That 2bam I s Hewitt would accept the Pres
dency company. Mr.. Hewitt 1000 acres OF
land south Of the Ramapo water shed lie 9ecnSd on
scheme be carried through depends the action Of
we have capitalists in this country and
England that the necessary funds will be forthcoming, if
III addition 10 the maintenance il can be shown that
fair return for the capital invested VIII be had.
,T s AndrewsaIt is simple t business es promo 9PS
water for the extlnguishment Of fire and other
II al profit The petition for the passage of the hill by
the Legislature under which the company was formed
represented $7500C0O00 The business people OF this
city ask for this extra supply o,.-,-.,.
thOzeG 10 negotiate with the company but SO far as we
company has been formed up TO the present
and no right Of way obtained. Who is going sign
iTacti Who will furnish the necessary capital and put
up guarantee TO carry out the contTactf
Mr.. Conkling declined to tell who were back Of
the scheme or where the money was TO come from.
lie was prepared TO lay, the contract before the
the cty would lose if the contract was not carried
out to the letter The Mayor replied that if the
water was not furnished in five or eight years,
when depended on, 1t might cause the loss OF the
dry goods district.
PROPOSITION FROM JERSEY CITY.
After further discussion the Mayor read a COM
InunicatiOn addressed to him by committee ap-
pointed by Mayor Taussig Of Jersey City, request
ing that a like committee be appointed by MI.
Edison confer with it. Tie committee proposes to
supply New-YOrk with SO, 000, 600 gallons Of water
daily. TO be drawn from the Passac River opposite
North Bellevlie, where the supply for Jersey City
is now obtained. 1t is proposed to build there a
settling reservoir of the capacity of 100,00O0OO
gallons, constructed at an elevation OF 159 feet
above tide water. The Hudson River will be
Jersey City.
John Lockwood an engineer, asked what the
water was in 1889. The Mayor said it had been
given as 80 $40 cents per 900 cubic feet 1t was
difficnlt problem and it was doubtful If any one
had solved ii correctly.
MR.. LOCKwooD's SUGGESTIONS.
Mr. Lockwood submitted communication on
the water supply TO this effect:
high service can be had both for fire and domestic
purposes AT ing of many millions OF dollars as COM
pared with the Ramapo scheme This scheme would
virtually add S2QOOOOOO TO the city debt excluding the
cost laying down system Of distributing pipes, hy
drants, etc. The city has already pumping
with capacity Of is 900 gallons daily Tha stand
pipe 245 feet high Increase the height Of the stand
Fe no SSD and ef he sH city i has al hat the sap
offers. The 10000, 600 gallons be pumped al maxi
day for the Ramapo water-eGual TO saving of
Ss7l437 SO per annum which when capitalized at per
Sl4523,96O. The RamapO scheme cannot be completed
aqueduct including the enlarged storage, will be finished
and able 10 supply 25O,OOOOOO gallons daily. There is
anoiher hSh service WORKS Deonghg 10 tne cry AT h!gh
present pumping capacity is $4,000, 900 gallons per day
These works could be enlarged capacity Of 10000 900
gallons per day This tower too is 40 feet higher than
That proposed by the Ranapo scheme For fire service
alone this plan would cost only oneeighth that OF the
Ramapo scheme. The plan DC introduced and put il
operation IN one working season.
Mr.. Lockwood estimates the cost of the construc-
tion OF the CrOtOn system up ito 1852 at 1913 712,-
1876; maintenance and repairs, 1884, 449 tOtal,
$39,O50,645. The interest OH this sum at per
cent he fixes at S2.349,393, and tins would be
S67 rs per 600, 900 gallons while 10000 600
gallons daily would cost 81 ,236 437 80 per annum
If furnished by the Ramap0 scheme.
THIEVES SUSPECTED AND CAPTURED.