New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-28
ARGUMENTS FOR sODOM DAM.
ASKING FOR PURE WATER AND ECONOMY.
W. H. WEBB CONDEMNS THE QUAKER BRIDGE DAM
SCHEME.

W. H. WEBB CONDEMNS THE QUAKER BRIDGE DAM
SCHEME.
To the Editor Of The Tr foune.
SIR; The vote of the Aqueduct Commls-
sioners at their public hearing Wednesday last to
proceed at build the DAM to bs hereafter known
as sodom Dam, affords great satisaction-the more
are left to believe that all tho commissioners
coincide in that decision. Though I'll in bod this IS one
Of the happest Christmas returns have experienced In
many year, because feel and know what great good
will surely result In the future to this city from this de-
cision. 1t Is partial contamination of that which
aud others have urged upon tho AQucduot Commission
ers ever since their appointment. This sodom DAM
built at the head waters of the Croton Valley some IF
teen miles above Lake. where the water IS purer
than lower down the stream, be built at COMPARE
lively small cost estimated at tho at 81 100000
The Quaker Bridge DAM proposed to BIO built near the
mouth OF the Croton River where the character OF the
bottom and surroundings are not only as yet insuf
ciently known but also extremely doubtful would
cost, estimated by fully competent engineer ten
times much and moro.
The sodom Dam, 1t is admitted, can be easily built
within the period In which the aqueduct can be com
pleed The surveys and sOundings already made. with
good rocky bottom insures the saety Of its construc
ton This dam, built only at moderate height, viii
create reservoir out OF two connecting valleys which
Will lmpound quantity of water about equal to that inn
pounded in all the existing reservoirs and when the new
aqueduct is finished WILL in connection with tho exist
ing aqueduct, provide this city with all tho water u
will require, at the rate OF the present extravaganza
waste, for twelve to fifteen years to come.
1t reported maintained and believed that this city
Is furnished with purer and more wholesome winter
than any other large city excepting, perhaps, Glasgow
In Scotland This pure water IS secured to us by sys
tenn of small reservoirs built at the ountanhesd OF the
supply, at comparatively small cost, and with GER
tany Of good results Then why not continue this sys
tem instead of entering upon the erection OF monster
DAM far very far dimensions beyond any heretofore
attempted its at best probemaca and its final
cost such as no honest man can correctly estimate or de-
teruiue
importance TO this great and growing city, ana yet s
Inhabitants 10 take but little Interest In the mat
ter. / regard the question whether tho inhabitants or
our city are To continue to have Tor use, Tor ali Iuure
time. rs good and wholesome water as noW-m whlch
question Is involved In tho opinion Of many engineers
OF experience and repute tho building OF the proposed
monster and experimental most Important ono
that has upon them since the construction OF the
Erie Canal or tho first Introduction OF the Cloton
The building Of the proposed quaker Bridge Dam was
originally proposed. or brought forward by Hubert o.
Thompson while Commissioner Of PuOlic Works, aud by
him IN such capacity and member u the Aqucduct
Board, presented TO the commissioner. Ills dOings
while IN Office may Justify the public IN questioning his
Object In pfoposug the expenditure OF SD much m ncy
aud his GOING to the Legislature with bill gNng hln
full authority spend 10. Thompaous plans were dis
c.d,d aud others prepared under the direction Of the
present commission, which are no under tuo ~"
creating the Aqueduct Commission, exhibited 10 the
uuhIc Tor examination Some few taxpayers employed,
AT their own expense. several wclknOwn civil cngl-
uesTs and experts building OF water-WOrk-, 10 c
anime ulans estimates offered 10 the pubuc
some Of theso noor have had more experience tnan
those having tho car Of the cOnulss'ncrr Al OF
them some under oath before the commissioners, con
deurcd thc plans presented aud said tho Gam would MOI
stand u built after such plane, and built II must be
after other plaus al many times greater thhh
that named to commissioners by their CHEZ ensl-
nrcr ,,..
Il seemA 20 me that the Taxpayers and other
OF our city would only examine iLt0 TINS wafer question:
aud s1ue few other ctzons have doan Almost Gun
tuuay during the past few years they would como 90 ho
same conclusion we, that tho on cr Bridge DAM TOT
the reaauus AMONG others above Eltcu rh1uu NOT Do
built. IAcy wpull rise uu mls-e, b,Sicso th' 'phu7
sluucr as aud many othCr taxpayers have bern DONG
and urgo them ~ al that 10 dear 70 or great
city by all that f. next 20 holy TO discard al
idcn OF extending such vast and unknown sums or
Ing tito yatrs which sh1li DO Obliged 80 driHh We
know how ricult 70 Is for the commissioners lone Oh
whom ulc u.latcrs, 10 oppose r}7iriu AMI piahs
which have beou presented end approved by some OF
their prleces-urs Ohcc. ami urged upon tL0r alton
ton Isl engineers whom they nturuiY conNdc aLl 10
whom they look for their guidance. but should an
Efforts fail aud tho commissioners decide 10 ~ on win
tho building of Ter Bird &C. Dau then let us ask thom
10 defer beginning tho work uHt after tue sodnm Dam Is
built and the aqucduc ia finished All ths can DO
ccamullsucd said in less than three years Nh'h
We II, q KNOW iust what our needs ana how vel mo
now dam and A4ucduct answer the purposes FOR which
they were built. In meantime the engineers VIII
have ru abundance OF tiuu TO moro Thoroughly examine
lie Location Tor the proposed dam and lie 49, acoat lana,
retre thrlr plHu- spccincAtOn5 ami estimates, ana
prcrut fof the confederation OF tho public spmctAng
marc couplote has yet been shown when they arc
hound - do under the act creating tho commission
Nec York, Dee 20, $3.50 W. H. WILL