New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-22
THE .NEJV CROTON DAN.

The Aqueduct Commissioners have announced
for to-day public hearing on the question OF
constructing tho new dam on the Croton River
which was recommended by Chiof-EnginecI
Fteley in his elaborate report made last Octo
Der. This dam is designed to take the place
of the Quaker Bridge structure which has been
50 much exploited in certain quarters. The
proposition is to place it about a milo below the
present dam, on which the cityS entire water
supply depends. The reasons given by Mr.
Ficlcy in favor of the plan proposed by him arc
convincing and seemingly unanSwerable. The
Commissions Committee on Construction re-
ported favorably on the project early this
month, and the Commission is virtually com
mtted to it, though the final decision is, OF
course, yet to be made.
1t was noticeable that the meeting which
heard the report of the Committee on ConStruc-
ton was attended only by the Aqueduct Com
mSSoncrs proper: the Mayor Controller and
Commissioner of Public Works being absent.
Was this in pursuance OF the doctrine an
nounccd in the Mayors message, that the Aque-
duct Commission had completed It's work and
ought to be legiSated ont of existence? As
matter of fact, the work which the Commission
was created to perform has by no means been
accompli>h she'd Certainly the erection OF the
proper dams for supplying the city with water
is as necessary part of that work As the con-
>tructon Of the great Aqucduct itself The
Tammany officials are committed to the Quaker
Bridge scheme, and viii not look with allow
ance on any project which will interfere with
that, a> Mr.. Ftelcy> proposed dam most plainly
will. The building Of This dam will at least
postpone the Quaker Bridge question for one
generation, and probably longer. That Is one
Of the features of the plan that Will commend
il to all conservative citizens. The huge pie
at Quaker Bridge would cost upward OF
-. 600. OGO the new CrotOn Dam is estimated
10 cost only S175O.O0O. Tammany would
like nothing better than to have the spending
Of that $4,000. 900. Fortunately, we have the
Aaucduc, Commission 20 stand between us and
that enormous outlay ON dubious scheme.
Moreover. il is evident from the invest "a
lions Of Mr. Ftclcy and other competent en-
ginocrS that the present Croton Dam Is not 70
be relied on implicitly. Nr. Ftclcy said in his
REPORT of October that II must be conceded
that il is not built in such a manner rs
structure Shoull be on which depends the very
life Of Newly rk, and it is necessary that 1t
be replaced by more substantial one" This
dam Is all that stands between the citizens OF
Ncw-Yorl and water faminc-for the supply
from the Bronx River is mere triilc-and the
thought Of an accident 10 it j. simply appalling.
This is certainly powerful argument in behalf
Of a new dam nearly milo down stream.
The meeting to-day ought TO attitc, the at
tendance Of large number Of Interested and
influential citizens, While the AQuoduct Com
missioner, are pretty certain 10 decide the qucs-
ton a, il ought 10 be decided il is Of great
importance tina, they should feel that they have
behind them the cordial and active support Of
public sentiment. III, Is all the more neocs-
>1ry in view Of ;ho assault made on them by
Mayor Grant in n III, S,agc and because Tam
many'S heart is known to be SCI on the Quaker
Bridge scheme. The subtle politicians Of the
WigWam will omit no effort 10 abolish the Com
mission and max" the way clear for Carrying
their own pans into cf'C'. The people OF
Ncw-l orl have the fullest confidence in tho
Aqucduct Commissions and have excellent Ica-
son, for that confidence. Now j. the time Tor
this confidence ~ take praclicai shape.