New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-04
TO KEEP THE CROTON WATER PURE.
UNUSUAL PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN BY THE
CITY AUTHORITIES.

TO KEEP The CROIUN WAlEh IChE'
UNUSUAL PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN BY Thf
CITY AUTHORITIES.
| In view Of the alarming news from Quarantine y
the arrival OF additional pest stricken steamships "
this port, Mayor Grant decided yesterday 10 ni""
| another visit of inspection to Quarantine. lie wiz
accompanied by President j. Sergeant Cram OF INC
| Dock Department Before going down the bay ''h'
Mayor made some more severe comments upon 'l'
\ seeming neglect and lack OF with which the I'll
rectors OF the Hamburg American Line were actua''u
in accepting for passage ndiscnminate horde OF III
migrants without taking the trouble to learn theii
condition or whether they had been exposed 10 'he
consagon. That of the passengers must have
come directly from the infected districts appeared 10
have made no difference whatever to the steamship
company he said. such reckless behavior, the Mayor
thought. deserved exemplary punishment.
The MAYOR authorized Commissioner brennan 10 en-
ploy seventy five additional street sweepers the latter
having insisted that extra force was absolutely
necessary to keep the streets In proper condition.
letter from Commissioner Gilroy received at Tho
Mayors Office yesterday setting forth the methods
adopted by the Department OF Public Works to purify
the Croton water shed. The Commissioner wrote to
the Mayor follows:
Acting upon the directions given In your letter
Of the 26th ut urging the prompt and energetic adop
ton Of precautionary measures against the Threatened
epidemic Of cholera. have given special instructions
to the Cnief Engineer OF the NfOton dIu'uuot w P'"
coed at once with all the force at his command and
such additional forces he may require WIN
thorough and vigorous inspection OF the streams,
reservoirs lakes and ponds In the CrotOn water she'd
which are tributary to the city's water supply, for
the detection and prevention OF all nuisances which
tend TO contamlnate the water.
"He reports TO me that he has promptly acted OH
these Instructions and will Immediately increase the
force available for this purpose OF using the engineering
In he yrateT shp
the appointment OF additional inspectors rapidly as
the services OF competent persons be obtained.
1T IL Ia be regretted that under the provisions OF
Chapter 543. Laws Of 1885. as amended By Chapter
46s Laws Of 1850. regulating the authority and pro
cedure for the abatement and prevention OF nnisances
tending TO the contamination OF the cys water supply
the method OF procedure prescribed Is 80 cumbersome
and crcumIocory as TO be I'll adapted TO the present
emergency.
"tnder this procedure this department, after de-
teotng and locating nusances may serve notices for
their abatement removal on the offenders, together
with copies OF the rules and regulations OF the state
Board q Health relating thereto, and IL the nouces
are not complied with make report TO the state Board
Of Health which shall thereupon examine into the
violation and II the party complained Of Is found To
have violated any OF the regulations, shall through lis
secretary order the local Board Of Health having
jurisdiction TO and enforce obedience 10 the
regulation.
aft the local Board OF Health fails TO enforce the
order within ten days Of the notification. the munich
pal authorities may commence AN action In court
OF record IN the county In which the nuisance IS
located for the enforcement Of the penalty Of not
exceeding six months imprisonment "A fine not
exceeding $500.
"Thc municipal authorities also required to
proyide AT their expense the works means for
sewage disposal which may be necessary, under inc
regulations Of the state Board OF Health
"These provisions of Law are further clrcumHi bed
by the amcndatory act OF 1890 which provides that
no action for the enforcement OF such penalties shall
hold until the municipal authorities have at their own
expense. constructed such system OF sewerage or
change thereof and the means OF removal ana purhoa
ton Of the se7age, and If the regulations snail IN
iuriously af. any manufacturing or Industrial en-
erpnse the Municipality is required to pay all dam
ages occasloned thereby.
Notwithstanding these instructions | have d.
rectod the Chief Engineer OF the CrotOn Aqueduct
promptly and SUNNI rily to deal with anything
which tends TO the contamination OF the cys water
supply. / shall report to you from time to time the
progress made by the Department and Its several
bureaus In the enforcement OF sanitary measures
In respect to the wnter-supply pavements, sewers.
and ali the public works and improvements under
Chief Engineer Blrdsal said Yesterday that he had
q force of sixteen men at work In the watershed,
seeking sbate me nrssnces they found there: Al
every place occurring a a5e0n 10 men Il. "nre Of
streams Mr.. Brdsall said that he was making survey
in accordance w the uSs on Both 10 er OF the
streams. Only when this purchase Is Accomplished
would the citys supply be absolutely safe from poi
The Bureau Of the Water puIveyor was place
Of activity Yesterday in spite OF Ir s G,c"Tcn %o0
nor sent out the following letter addressed 10 the
inspector assigned 10 every street railway company
gas company and electric hsh''ns company III No"
Il am directed by the Commissioner of Public Works