New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-18
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH RAIN.
THE WATER SUPPLY LITTLE BENEFITED
FAIR WEATHER EXPECTED. AND MR. GILRoY is
OUT CUNNING FOR THOSE WHO WASTE
THE PRrcIOUS FLUUD.

THE PRECIOUS FLUID
With the continuous fall of rain yesterday the
expectations Of the average citizen of this city
that the dreaded water famine was at an END
seems to be justified. But unfortunately for this
city, according to Commissioner Gilroy, of the
Department Of Public Works, there is just as
much need for economy as ever before. Not only
are the orders of Commissioner Gilroy 10 che
water-meter inspectors still to be enforced and the
water turned of from the houses Of people found
wasting il, but especially stringent measures will
be taken to prohibit the of any water need
lessy Under orders from the head OF the De
partment Joseph Riley, the water register, sent
out mandatory notices yesterday morning to all
clulb-nouses public lighthouses, livery stables.
contractors and stables Including those of street
companies. These orders prohibit the use or
water for baths in the club and Russian and
Turkish bath houses, washing carriages, wagons
or street cars with hose, wetting brick with hose
for building purposes, and, in fact using water
through hose for any purpose, except for putting
out fires This order means that every bath
house must be closed, and if the order is not
obeyed the water supply to club-houses, stables.
etc, will be cut of wherever violations are
found.
The large force of inspectors now looking for
any signs of waste of water has been instructed
to keep q watchful eye on the places named, and
to report at once any violations of this attempt
TO save water. Meanwhile nearly 100000
gallons of Croton water are being used in liquor
stores every day.
LITTLE RELIEF on MONDAY.
The rainfall on Monday made no perceptible
difference to the supply of water in either the
reservoirs in this city or the Croton watershed
The reports Of the Department of Public Works
showed that in the new Central Park reservoir
there was only 80 feet 2 l.2 inches of water, a
loss since the day before of two inches; in the
old reservoir the depth of water was five feet
nine inches loss Of one foot three inches, and
in the Forty-second-st. reservoir there was eight
feet two inches of water, loss of one foot three
inches.
Commissioner Gilroy said yesterday that 1t was
reported that 34.lOO of an inch of rain had fallen
in the Croton watershed up to a. IN. yesterday.
but this was Of little moment as two inches were
needed to avert danger of a water famine. About
3 D. m. Commissioner Gilroy received a telegram
from Chief Engineer George w. Brdsall dated
at Purdy Station, reading "All right for two
weeks. Still raining, p. m"
Commissioner Gilroy explained that what Mr..
Birdsall meant by all right for TWO weeks" was
that there would be necessity to reduce the
present supply of between s0,OO0,O0O and 10000
900 gallons day, and as 10 this amount
could be kept up all private houses would be
able to get some water if only in the basement.
WHY NOT TRY Iuus PLANl
A citizen of Putnam County, this State, came
to The Tribune Office yesterday and said that while
there were number of lakes and ponds full Of
water in his neighborhood, effort had been
made to draw upon them for supply, although
this might easily be done. Continuing he said
About fifteen years ago the city OF New-York pqr-
% Of scS ss dosf r the e f e 70 Gepsn is
large force Of b soSd os s oaSs Wh ana ls s0r
little more than half mile on level blasting through
solid rock for several rods at the lower end, making
Just as they reached the lake rain fell in abund-
ance. and little water was drawn; AS q cGmpenIa s
excavatlng ceased and where there was good fall
In the stream, the city built Mr.. Kennedy good
future use. Mr. Kennedy built himself mill at the
dam. All rights OF the city were to cease on the hrst
u Two Years later the city purchased the right to
draw water but after drawing little rain relieved
fourth % year the S city S0s drew sousn nsaSs
tho adjoining owners to deepen the channel
the lake Ike ,ss to fT nfe fSes than %Ss
The outlet has filled up somewhat with sticks leaves
sosi SoSsdion cos as When arss The adOn1s
paid the last time the water was drawn; & n. y, a..
This lake contains. according to the maps OF me the
10 be drawn would make more than 250OOOOoO
gallons. Certainly this is not an lnsgnlncant addition
to the present limited supply There has not been
gallon drawn from the lake, and no effort has been
made TO draw any.
Mr.. GILROY's EXCUSE.
| Commissioner Gilroy said yesterday in regard
| IN Peach Lake that it was outside of the Croton
watershed and could not be Utilized. The
| question now asked up in Putnam County and
I'm this city as we'll is, why did the city spend
| thousands of dollars blasting through solid rock
to get at this water if it could do no good
| and, "Why did the city pay for the privilege OF
| using this water several years, and even go so
far as TO let fourteen inches of the lake run ont
il il was of no use?" This is one of the many
| things citizens Of this State would like to know.
but which Tammany Hall keeps religiously to
| itself.
NJ MAN COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RAIN.
| Rarely have the citizens of New-York been less
| disposed to grumble at nasty weather than they
| were yesterday morning, when they awakened to
| find the rain which began Monday still falling.
To all who were forced to go out in 1t, IL
| seemed heavy rain, as the nigh "lhu
drove it through the. muddy, slippery streets
1t was November weather of the worst kind. and
| it showed again what large-sized amount OF
discomfort can be produced by small-slzed
rain, for the rainfall since midnight on Monday
had amounted to only .32 of an inch up to a
D. IN. yesterday. Up to midnight on Monday.
there had been 10 of an inch. as reported In
Yesterdays Tribune This makes a rainfall o.
only AZ of an inch in this city since rain began
falling early on Monday morning. This is not
much and the chances for more rain are not favor
able according 10 the information received at the
| Weather Bureau, Mr. Dunn. the local weather
forecast official said that the rainstOrn was about
| over for the city and the surrounding country.
| although some rain might continue falling In some
| parts Of the State.
| The remarkably strdden drop in the temperature.