New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-20
pyryTy OF CROTON For NEW-YORK.

There have beer sundry peculiar outglvlngs
Of late from several officials connected with the
Aoueduct Commission. The statement has
been made and repeated that the people OF
New-Yorll can expect no generous share OF
benefit from the prodigiously expensive new
AUeduct before 1892, when the vast storage
reservoirs already planned and under way may
be completed Any such assertion as TINS is
open to the suspicion of interested motives
The situation is clear enough 70 any one Ia
miliar with the facts. 1t is OF course true
that during the dry season the quantity OF
water above the Croton Dam, from which both
the old and new aqueductS draw Their sup
plies. is not sufficient to permit the new Aque-
duet TO be used to its fun capacity OF more
than 3OO.OOO,OO0 gallons per day 1t may
well be. then, that until the completion OF the
colossal reservoirs on the upper waters Oh the
CrotOn. the new Aqueduct cannot be employed
to nearly its complete capacity during the sea-
son when no water goes over the Croton Dam
But for seven months in the year, at least, II
has been the rule that hundreds of millions
Of gallons have gone to waste daily over the
Croton DAM An immense percentage OF THIS
waste should be saved hereafter, as the ola
Aqueduct could carry less than 1OO,Ooo,OOo
gallons per day to the city, and IT has occh
severely strained by the excessive pressure put
upon it in recent years With less IMAM
100000 900 gallons daily coming 10 Central
Park. the drain on the Central Park reservoirs
has been a serious matter in summer but
there is no reason why the now AQueduct should
not bring to the city at least 2OO'OOO'Ooo
gallons daily during the wet season, thus pre-
venting in large measure the waste over the
Croton Dam, keeping the Central Park rescr-
voirs full to the brim, affordng the strongest
pressure that may be desirable on the pipe
system on the West Side, which draws water
directly from the new Aqucduct without the
intervention of the Central Park reservoirs,
and, in fact. moro than doubling the available
water supply Of the metropolis.
It is plain enough that any engineers or any
officials who Try to delude NEWCOMERS into
the belief that during the rainy months and
during the winter, when the Hoods IN the
Croton Valley have been Wasted in the past
hv the deluCe over the dam, there Will be any
scarcity of water or any need Of reduced
pressure. or any lack of a most abundant and
plentiful supply for every possible use are
simply not telling the truth. They are attempt
ing to serve their own private interests. IheY
are aiming to deceive the taxpayers, TO mag
nifty their own importance, and 10 prolong then
terms of profitable ohiceholding. There Is a
conspiracy on foot 10 promote the indeienAblt
scheme for the hazardous aud unnecessary
Quaker Bridge Dam. The sober sense Of ON
people must condemn any such scheme.
There is no need and no excuse for under
taking doubtful experiments. The disaster Al
Johnstown last year gave fightiul warning
which no community can afford 10 disregard
The calculations Of engineer, may be at any
time ovcrthroWn by the commissions Of Nature
Remember the fail Of the famous bridge Over
the Tay. |. is not in the least likely that Sc
stupendous q dam as that proposed with Sc
mcnacing and portcntous body Of water be-
hind it would be always safe and secure NJ
public sentiment and no public necessity cal
for the building of so perlous, 50 Threatening
structure. IL is a scheme born in vanity anc
nurturcd by overweenine ambition Ii coulc
not fail to be the fruitful parent Of the mos
deplorable jobbcry and plumber.
No such dam is required. With the now
AGueduct and the storage reservoirs Newly ORR
can obtain al the water that is needed ever
in the dryest season for many year 70 come
If the present Aqueduct Commission is really
philosophical, and intends to do its best FOL
the interests of the community, without rcgarC
TO the prolongation OF the terms Of Office anc
salaries Of the Commissioners the engineers
and the subordinates. it will instantly anC
forever dismiss all consideration of the piratica
project of the Quaker Bridge Dam.