New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-21
LOOK no THE CROTON.


1t is perhaps too much to expect that the
citizens of this town, accustomed as inc! are
TO Tammany misrule, should take any more
than lanC,lid interest in the schemes Whlch
the ruling powers are pushing through inc
LEGISLATURE at Albany for enriching themselves
at the expense of taxpayers ana Intervening
themselves permanently in power. Inc grip
of the organization upon all corporate anu
moncved interests is so strong, the alliance
with the saloons and all the hauntS ct vice ana
crime is so intimate and interdependent, ana
the indifrerentism of the average voter OUTSIDE
these classes SO absolute and immovable' that
the rulers here and az Albany seem able TO
ca1y ont any scheme however corrupt or an
docimls. without disturbing so much as the
surface of public opinion. And these condl-
ton, appear to be growing more tense 'ae GRIP
grows tighter, the alliance between lawmakers
and lawbreakers more open and shameNss' anu
the indifference Of the public 10 the situa'ioh
more fixed and positive. Last year II was pos
sible t. interest our citizens In hostaic Demon
st,ation against the Central Park driveway the
effect of which was TO force the Legislature
20 take the back track ard defeat the scheme
II il doubtful if the sane thing could be done
now Tammary is stronger The leaders are
holder. They are carrying things more III INC
What are ycu going TO DO about II Z! style
If ANYTHING could arouse public OPINION ana
evoke a popular demonstration that would ar
,e,t attention at Albany it is the manner III
which the Iarmany people have rushed
through the bill providing for the purchase oi
land in the CrotOn Valley for the ostensible
purpose of protectin. the water supply bu'
really to furnish speculative opportunities ior
Tammany leaders and fayorites. In the pas
SAGE of this bill no heed whatever has Dcch
given to the action of the Academy OF Me"'
cine of this city or the opinions OF some OF our
most eminent physicians-mcn who cannot De
charged with any selfish motive, but VINO are
moved. as every enc knows. by disintNrcs'co
,o,blic spirit and regard for the public health.
Thr uch them public attention has been calico
TO the present alarming condition OF the Cr''oh
watc, she'd and the dangers which threaten thc
public thercfrom. They speak from a'ual
knowlodse of the existing state OF affairs anu
from the point of view Of men whose pro-
| fesson il is 10 trace scientifically and accu-
rotely diseases and cpidemcs to their causes
and their sources. They tell Us that the condi-
| ton OI the NT-tcu hdtNi'i'N' WIN ~
| scvcrs. s'auchtcr-ho,iscs and other abomlna-
| tons pouring a constant HOOD of poiiu'loh
straight int the pipes which supply the cit!
with water, is to-day constant menace 10 inc
| health of the people and 70 human liie lhey
have asked in the name Of humanity That some
| s.on he taken 10 remedy this state OF aiiairS,
that the LEGISLATURE d. sUme thing about II tha'
will be effective And they have been told III
jaunty way by the men who sec nothing III
the situation but opportunities for real estate
SPECULATION that they are getting into poll
ties and have been carclcssly turned oil.
| Two things seem certain: One is that 10th
| ing will he done by the Legislature unics'
nublic opinion. aroused by the sense OF danger
| shall make itself felt at Albany. The Other
| is that if the existing conditions continue moth
ing short of a miracle will prevent the city, and
possibly the county, being devastated by
pestilencc during the coming summer. The
danger Of invasion by cholera from abroad
through inefficient and incompetent quarantine
administl alton cxcitcs just apprehension, bu
that is of small consequence compared VIII
The menace of water supply through whici
| one diseased person in the Croton valley ma!
distribute cholera germs i'll the most eifectiV'
| Indeed, the only cffcctive-Way 10 our ehtir'
nopulation This is not matter OF politics
il is much more than matter of morals; /
is a question Of life and death. These Tam
many spectators and their Albany creature
are foong with it. They ought to be mad
to treat it seriously, and listen to serious ad
vice from competent professional men in who's
knowledge and skill well as their disin
terostedness the public has confidence. On thl
point we commend the interview with DI
Roosevelt in another column to the serious at
tention of all citizens We have no wish t
excite unnecessary alarm but we sincerely be
love that the present condition OF our waite
supply is such as to call aloud for prompt ant
energetic action. If anything can arouse tn
public from its careless indifference, knowl
edge CT tho facts that have been brought on
| 80. Iii. sul;oct fylphf IN 1o