New-York tribune., 1886-02-16
PJLJNG Up THE MILLIONS.

II is reported that some members oil the
Aoueduct COmmissiO look with favor on the
plan to line the new water tunnel throughout
its whole length But Chief Engineer Church
has expressed the opinion that this Is only
necessary for small part of the course. Most
of the tunnel is through dense rock where there
will be no danger of serious leakage or or
distractions from masses splitting of from the
roof or sides. To line the whole tunnel Will
involve an expense of million and half OF
dollars. To load the city with this additional
burden without the clearest warrant of necessity
would be criminally prodigal.
The contracts already out for the aqueduct
make a total of more than twelve millions of
dollars. 1t has been decided to build the Sodom
dam and reservoir ALSO The estimates for the
Quaker Bridge dam and reservoir and for the
changes made necessary by that cloud-topping
scheme foot up over five millions and half
Even if the commissioners should decide 10
have mercy on the taxpayers of tfis generation
and to postpone the pilirg up OF the mass OF
debt which the Quaker Bridge enterprise wouiu
involve, the Increase of the water supply, with
out the lining of the aqueduc, Will cost the CITY
at least fifteen millions, as the Work alreahy
contracted for must necessarily be followed by
much other work of costly sort before the
greater pressure and the fuller flow Will be tclt
in all parts of the city where they are needed.
IF the Quaker Bridge project with its enormous
possibilities is entered upon, the total cost VIII
mot fall far short of twenty-five Millions for
everv one kno VS. how the outlay on huge public
undertakings keeps constantly swelling.
1t is then the duty of all the members of the
commission to give the closest scrutiny to every
expansion of the original plan. which proposes
TO enlarge the expenditure. They should guard
the interests of the taxpavers as zealously ms II
this were matter of their own private business.
ANY outlay which the chief engineer condemns
should certainly be rejected. Mr. Church is
not parsimonions nor will he oppose anything
really important for the completeness. strength
and symmetry of the undertaking for which he
is :, largely responsible. The commissioners
are exposrd TO the strongest of temptations. 1t
is only natural that every one of them should
desire to make the colossal enterprise with
which his name is associated as imposing and
"a memorable as possible. The mghtier the
operation the wider and larger the fame of all
connected with it, Thecen lies the dangerous
fascination of the Quaker Bridge scheme. No
such dam as that proposed exists in the world.
VIII IL not De a me tllIR W NC rp"h'h vi III
after generations as engineer or commissioners
for the tallest and thickest and most stupendous
dam that man ever put together And the
thought of a beautifully rounded, perfectly
symmetrical, completely lined aqueduct is also
attractive to the lay mind. But whose money
are commissioners and engineers spending
Not their own. They are heaping up millions
of debt with appalling celebrity, and 1t is just
because the cost of the aqueduct, the dams and
the reservoirs does not figure in the annual
tax levy and is not felt instantly by the TAX
payer that they may err In the direction OF ex-
travagance. But every cent they spend must De
accounted for and must come finally out Of this
tax-corroded city. No towering ambition Tor
fame in connection with great and glorious
works, no desire to magnify or to prolong the
privileges and powers of high Office, should
mislead the men to whose care this momentous
trust is committed into any extravagant or even
doubtful expenditure