New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09
TILE or4KER RRIDGE RESERHOIR.

THE QUAKER BRIDGE RESERVOIR.
IF the Aoueducr Commissioners finally de-
eide to build the immense Quaker bridge
reservoir the public may feel inclined to be-
ieve that they have chosen to disregard the
grave considerations of economy expectancy
and sanitation to no better end than the graf
ifcation of a sort of engineering vanity. In
questioning the wisdom Of entering upon this
tremendous undertaking, it is not necessary to
deny that if it were accomplished it would be
in its way as superb triumph OF engineering
as is the Brooklyn Bridge, or that it would in
sure to the city sufficient storage OF water
With those two claims undisputed it is
still question whether this great reservoir
is necessary or even desirable. If it were the
only way even if it were certainly the best
way of meeting the storage problem we should
advocate its adoption despite its enormous cost.
The argument delivered before the Com
mission by ex-Judge Spencer recently goes
far to show that by the simple extension
of the present system Of storage we shall
have all the water we can use 1t is rashly as
Sumed by Mr.. Church and several of the other
engineers that they and they only understand
this complicated subject. This is an error into
which professional men are very fond of fall
ing. Any intelligent man who will read what
Mr.. Church says about it and who will then
read Judge Spencer's reports and arguments
will cheerfully excuse, we are sure, whatever
the Judge may lack Of scientific attainment in
view of his careful regard for the taxpayers
money. In the Commission and out Of it he
has been persistent in opposing this great job,
and he gives his reasons for opposing 1t with
admirable force and clearness.'
The Croton watershed is a region of about
362 square miles in Putnam and WestcheSter
counties, into the lower end Of which region
the upper end Of the new aqueduct penetrates.
1t is drained by the CrotOn River, which is
fed by hundred little lakes and streams. It's
minimum supply is about 300, 100000 gallons
per day To secure this flow, the city has here
tofore established sixteen little reservoirs, built
by adapting so many available lakes and ponds
for storage purposes. The present storage ca
pacity of these reservoirs is about ten thousand
million gallons. Another reservoir at SOdom
is now being built which alone will have ca
racity of nine thousand millions, and which
distinguished engineers believe could easily be
made to hold fifteen thousand millions. Gro
ton Lake itself will be available when the new
aQueduct is finished, and will add capacity of
fifteen hundred millions. Were the MuScOot
Reservoir built it could easily store twenty
five hundred millions more. 1t is clear enough
that by extending the present system storage
Of at least twenty-five thousand millions can
be obtained and it is improbable that greater
reservoir capacity than this will be required
within half a century.
When it is, let the Quaker Bridge Reservoir
be built. The only proper excuse for the eX
penditure Of from ten to twenty millions OF
dollars upon such an enterprise is that it is an
absolute necessity. So long as it is not
necessity (and possibly it never will be-, the
confinement Of thiny-twO thousand millions OF
gallons of still water in one spot is highly sug-
gestive of masma and disease. Our water
comes now from long chain of little lakes
and flows for miles before it reaches the aque-
duet through narrow beds and over pebbly and
sandy bottoms. This is a great insurance
against injurious conditions. But coming to
us Immediately and directly from one huge
still pond, all sorts of dangerous impurities arc
possible. Judge Spencer produces statistics
showing that the average amount of water fur
nshed in European cities per capita is but
81 gallons. The average in American cities
is So The actual present supply in Newly ork
is 80. daily allowance Of 100 gallons to
each Of . 600, 600 inhabitants is easily pos
sible without the Quaker Bridge experiment |
and such an allowance is ample