New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-19
THE oU1KER BR1DGE PROJECT.

| their graves.
THE QUAKER BRIDGE PROJECT
The Aoueduct Commissioners have announced
public hearing for three days beginning to
dav. on the question whether the Quaker Bridge
Dam shall be built. The opinion of the Com
mission as at present constituted. on this i'm
portant question has not been made known, and
it may be fairly assumed that the Commissioners
have not made up their minds and Will not do
so until they hear all that is to be said on both
sides. The attitude of a jury waiting to listen
TO the evidence is one that the Aqueduct Off
Gals who have the deciding voice in this mat
ter may properly assume. Whether three days
will be sufficient for the complete presentation
of the case is at least an open question ii the
time proves too short however, there is no rea-
son to believe that it will not be extended.
A decision in so momentous matter cannot
wisely be made until the fullest and amplest
testimony has been heard. 1t is not merely a
question of engineering, although engineering
problems of the highest importance are IN
volyed. There is also a question OF the san
itarv conditions most likely to promote good
health. and likewise a question of the enormous
expense connected with project that must be
conceded to be an experiment on huge scale
The proposed dam will be by far the largest
work of the kind in the world. Whether such
structure can be built securely, so as to stand
the immense pressure to which it will be sub
jected. is uncertain, and the engineers who have
studied the problem have been unable TO agree
on the point whether the dam should be
straight or curved. On this phase of the ques-
ton it is obviously the duty of the Commission
ers to secure the best expert testimony avail
able. II will not do to take on trust the opln-
ion of Chief Engineer Church, who stands COM
mitted in favor Of building the big dam. 1t
needs only moments thought to realize the
consequences of the giving way of the noun
famous structure under the pressure of a lake
of imprisoned water. Not only would the city's
water supply vanish in a few moments, but the
damage that would be caused in the region over
which the volume of water would rush would
be incalcuabe.
The advisabilty of intrusting the entire
water supply Of the city to single dam and
single Jake is doubtful. The danger OF n
break in the dam is not the only objection to
be considered. Would not this vast body Of
water become stale and unheathful? 1t must
be remembered that all the vile and filthy ac-
cumulatons of the watershed would be stored
up with the water, that no opportunity OF
aerating the water would be afforded, and that
any cleaning or cleansing of the reservoir would
be out of the question. On the other hand,
by storing our water supply in several reser-
vors in different neighborhOods decided advan-
tages would be gained The water on its way
| y onfa bn Auupdupt
would be exposed to light and air for several
miles and would acquire the sparkling char
acter of flowing water; leak IN one OF the
reservoirs would not endanger the entire sup
ply and from time to time the reservoirs could
be thoroughly cleaned.
The question Of cost demands most serious
| consideration. No comprehensive estimate of
this has been furnished. There must be taken
into account not only the actual outlay for
erecting the dam. but the value of the land re-
quired, the building Of roads, bridges, etc.,
which in the aggregate must be very great.
The taxpayers are already enormously burdened
with the expense Of the new Aqueduct, and
while it is desirable to get this in use as early
as possible and to get the greatest use possible
out of it, it is extremely doubtful whether the
| people OF new Ofh are WlllhB W cApcnu Slhci
vast sums on a project the practlcabihty OF
which has not been fully demonstrated.
1t is thus a subject Of the greatest moment
that is presented for the consideration Of the
AQueduct Commissioners. We trust that there
will be the livelest interest in the public hear
ing to be opened to-day. The advocates OF the
dam will be pretty certain to see that good
showing is made on their side IL therefore be-
hooves those who doubt the wisdom of en-
gagng in this experiment to see that an ample
array of argument and opinion is presented in
opposition.