New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-20
DISCUSSING THE GREAT DAM.
SOME THINK IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS
A LITTLE SARCASM ENLIvENs THINGS-THE
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED

TOTAL EXPENDITURE ESTlMAIf1D
AT se75oooo.
The hearing regarding tho building OF tho uuaher
| bridge Dam was begun yesterday by the Aqueaucs
rn,ssion nj their office I'm the Stewart Building.
neither Mayor Hewitt nor General Newton attended,
| hut Mayor-elect Grant, who will be MEMBER Oh
tho board ex-o1lco, after January l. took MS place
a. the table by invitation, passed at the last meens
| controller Myers was present a part OF the umo.
The other members, President Duane and Messrs.
IIono Scott and Tucker were all in their usual
,aces A number of citizens interested In the ques
tion and representatives of taxpayers associations
were present among whom were william IL. Weoo'
Orlando b. Potter, James L. Sewell, General Henry
F. TremaIne and Robert l. Darragh, all opposed 10
the dam John II. washburn for the New-forK Fire
Underwriters; ex-Commlssoner James u spencer
who voted against tho scheme In the old BOARD )
Coroner MESSENGER president Of the Taxpayers Cen
trail Association; DR.. L. f. Keifer, chairman OF the
Executive Committee, and several other promlcn'
members OF tho association.
Commissioner Scott opened the proceedings by
stating that the inquiry would be limited 70 us
cussinp the proposition as to whether such great
storage reservoir as tho Quaker Bridge Dam should
be built at the mouth Of the Croton River OF
whether a series OF small dams should be scattered
along tho waterway James f. Serrcll william H.
Webb and O. b. Potter opposed the Quaker Bridge
dam as a hazardous experiment, and thought thae "
Impound such vast quantities OF water 100 ieet aDo'o
20 ~ would be dangerous. They requested that
the pIans and specifications Of the proposed dam DO
submitted, SO that proper inquiry coud DO maze
with the assistance Of exports and competent VIII
nesses They asked a reasonable delay in order to
prepare for hearing, at which all the Quesuons
involved could be thoroughly gone into Charles n.
Champagne, who appeared counsel for the TAX
payers Association, asked for three months III
which 10 prepare and Mr. Webb concurred In believing
that three months was short time to oppose such
a Wild schcme' Mr.. Webb favored series vi
dams I'm place Of what might prove useless and
costly experiment Daniel Clancy favored the project
and single handed, made decided stand against hir.
Potter who, he said, always opposed puDho I'LL
provements. Mr.. Potter was therefore, consistent
he said in attacking the greatest necessity OF tne
period 1t was the opinion Of the engineers thae
without this reservoir the new Aqueduct ltsei "ou
no 90 little or no benefit TO tho city He thought
tho Commissioners right In desiring 10 go aneso
with the work without unreasonable delay.
After luncheon General Tremaine, as the representa-
ive Of Mr. Webb Mr.. Potter and others, whose IN
terests werc alleged to be prejudicaly affected by
the construction Of tho Quaker Bridge dam, preseheu
Tho following and said that there understand
ing that an effort would be made to begin dis
cusson OF the questions raised on Monday
What storage dams and reservoirs If any, should
now be constcted In addition TO the present storage
and the sodom and other dams anu "'er'o"' III
sball such additional storage be provided by tho
construction Of the quaker Bridge dam or Dy me
construction OF smaller dams and reservoirs on the
reservoir sites OF 1888, and also within the Its VI
the city of NewYork having reference 70 ra and
cost, safety and suitable supply Oh pure Snu
wholesome water l. .or..v,,o,od
I'm the annexed district and in the lower paeV' VI uo
city A.,
Coroner MESSENGER opposed tho opening OF the
casa on Monday, and said that 1t would take s'
least a month to prepare General Tremalne con
CURED with Dr. Mossemcr, and advised tnas , me
matter go over until December IT, as 1t would re-
9nire that length Of time to get tho expert 1es5
nony necessary. After remarks by CoIhlnlssionoiS
Scott and Howe, a compromise was erected, anu
Deccmber was agreed upon for the alscuSs SSH "
Mr. ITefanos interrogatiOns. Tho DoaN wiz ~,
however on Monday 10 listen to any Stzens . %ep
NAV desire TO be heard the subject OF inc SuSnei
Rri1g dam Edward Fitzgerald, boioro the aa!ouutn
men submitted paper In favor OF ,ns P ESmrcb IN
repiy TO question from Mr. Pzgeraid sara ina, tna
tIp nublshed stories that the dam would cost trT h
$40 TO we're noo rd GI Ss ,ntre
nxncndture, Including the land and appurtenanoes
would not exceed 900 Inc , ume the Ssa Time
for building he liked az n'o J0"'' ~
Of beginning WORK