New-York tribune., 1891-09-24
REPORT ON CROTON WATER.
COMMISSIONER G1LRoY's SUGGESTIONS.
yp THINKS THE CITY SHOULD BUY MORE LAND

HE THINKS THE CITY SHOULD BUY MORE LAND
-coNpA AR1soNs WITH OTHER SUPPLIES.
Commissioner Thomas f. Gilroy sent an exhaustive
ranort 10 Mayor Grant yesterday on the subject o
the water supply, in which he deals with tne recen
alarming reports made by chemists oi te boar" "
Health regarding the condition OF the CrOtoh ""'oi
shed and the purity OF the water. Mr. Gilroy denies
that he is chargeable with delay nattenton on e
part OF his department. He cites the various aoO'
of the Legislature the subject to snow tha' ole
powers now vested in the city authorities are IN
adequate TO the speedy and successful suppression
and prevention of the nusances which impair auo
imperil the water supply. Mr.. Gilroy suggests
In my opinion, the first step TO be taken 10
the desired object In the most direct enectvo Teasv
able and comparatively economical manner ~ , C.le
acquisition in fee simple Of strip OF isnu m nov t
than 80 feet wide above high-water marx on esNh
side OF the principal streams and around eacn lahe,
pond and reservoir tributary to our water suPPg a.
substances are discharged into the water te sha "
be acquired and entered upon with tne ded ae Inv
law TO the Aqueduct Commissioners, WHEREBY tnSS oi
take immediate possession upon determining ine ne
ccssy Of acquisition and fling maps ana descrpuVhS'
All Objectionable buildings and nuisances c0ud n!eI.
be removed from immediate proximity 10 the @ waoeF u
courses and basins to safe distance WheIe Vey """
not affect and cOntaminate the wafer. a., ...o.
l consider as beyond serious discussion the prolect
go s1uae rem miles of Watershed and driving the $4,000
or moro inhabitants from their homes
Ills estimates OF the cost or MS pEii ITO soy "lO
not exact thinks that strips of land as he de-
scrbes $50 feet wide and $50 miles long, would
contain about 5,460 acres and that 1t might be ac-
quired by condemnation for 81, ,092 900. He suggests
system of distributing the cost by issuing long bonds
The Health Board reports receive considerable attention
FROM Mr.. GllrOy. He says:
Further deterioration of the quality OF the water
might produce njurOus results, but this need not 90
anticipated The analyses of the Croton water Inaue
by Messrs Martin and Beeoe OF the Healtn Departneh
N prof a
the request OF this department. were all made on water
taken at different points in the Croton basin ana an Ia If
dronth when the streams had dwindled down to mere
sluggish threads and pools of water, and the whole
volume of water IN streams akes ponds ana
has been very much reduced thus cohcen.raIn&S & r
substances which are, at times of normal ralnntu,
contained and diluted in the much larger body The
the dilutOn Of deeterious Ingredients.
An analysis of Croton water is given and compared
in a table with the samples of other cities. Tie re-
port adds: -.
condition after a long season of drouth show: IN
ntrites the Boston and Springfield waters contain Ioa
nitrogen or rdtrates the Philadelphia water has nearly
five times the quantity and the Albany water mas oo 90
ammonia the proportions are In Philadelphia, 2
Boston, 45: Chicago, 35: Albany, 40 Troy, 5
ammonia Philadelphia water contains IL per cent ;
Boston, AZ per cent; and Springfield 4'ol per ceh'
more thdn the New 1Ork Wdter.
have not the remOtest intention desire to bettle
the very great importance Of the subject aud the occa
sion. but may be permitted to say that the PUBLICITY
which has been given the reports oil the Health DS
partment the manner in which they have been pup
ished and commented upOn and the agitation ahd
alarm which they have evoked, were liable 70 lnvl,e
dangers to the public health which the actual condi-
tions the wafer did not and could not produce III
is hoped, however, that the publicity and agitation
have produced the one good result OF awakenhg Gne
people to the necessity for greater powers and larger
means to preserve the purity OF the water, and tat
the impression created Is sufficiently strong and lasting
to produce practical results in necessary and proper
legislation -. ~,
I'm conclusion have the honor to suggest that the
heads Of the departments whose duties nave any re-
lation to the water supply and the public HEALTH the
head of be Law Department and such officers, authOrl
ties and scientific pertS You may consider de
be convened to meet you I'm conference TO devise te
best means to purify and TO protect from rther con-
tamnatiOn the water supply Of this great city.