New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-13
A SCUM ON CROTON LAKE.
NO WONDER PEOPLE COMPLAIN
ITS SURFACE IN LARGE PART COVERED
WITH GREEN SUBSTANCE.
THE WATER THERE TASTES AND SMELLS BAD,
so 1T is IDLE FOR THE HEALTH AUTHoRI- :


so 1T is IDLE FOR THE HEALTH AUTHoRI-
TIES TO BLAME "DEAD ENDS"
Despite the fact that the health authorities
continually declare that dead ends of water
pipes in this city the of the bad smell
which comes from Croton water, al inspection
which was made by Tribune reporter yesterday
indicates that the trouble is much deeper than
that. From the appearance Of Croton Lake II
seems quite probable that the water had taken
TO itself the cause of the smell before il even
entered water-pipe Appearances are often do
ceiving in the case of water. the scientific men
say, but it is not at all probable that if any ono
Of the thousands who drink Croton water which
is drawn from hydrant could see Croton Lake
as it appeared yesterday he would drink any more
Of it,
Green scum may or may not be an indication
that the water is impure, but it looks bad. Ger
tainy one who was at all fastidious would
take particular delight in making hole in tho
scum and taking drink from the water beneath.
And yet this is what any would have TO do
to get drink from Croton Lake yesterday.
Along the shores the green substance
inch thick in some places, especially in the little
coves and indenturcs in the bank. Ont on tho
water, away from the shores, IT thinner, but
it extended from bank TO the other in many
places with a few streaks of clean water between
the patches
The scum seemed TO be vegetable growth,
such as is seen on ponds of stagnant water along
the roadside. However the individual plants ere
40 small that they cannot he detected by tho
naked eye.
The water in the loke is comparatively low,
although there have been many times when IL
has been much below the present level. Tho
h., lab hat- h,os, oil
ing good deal recently about the green scum
on the water, and they have also spoken about
the bad odor which comes from the lake That
odor yesterday not strong, but 1t could
easily be detected by going close TO the water.
When dipped up some water with the hand,
the smell was much moro evident. Nor is the
water clear, by any means. Ii has the swanpy,
yellow appearance which the chemist who ana
lyzed the Croton water taken from the city
hydrant reported that it had
An analysis of Croton water before IL comes
in contact with dead cnds' would be interest
ing in showing whether or not the trouble 10
deeper than is reported by the officials who are
making "A good deal of noise about purifying the
water. Certainly the water IN Croton LAKE looSs
as bad and smells as bad as that drawn from the
hydrants in the city. The writer did not tempt
fate by tasting it to see how 1t compared with
that furnished IN town sccorulng 10 tne re-
port of the health officers, there are more I'M
purtieS in the water this year than there were
at the same time last season. and the appear ince
of CrotOn Lake does much TO give an air OF
truth TO the report.
Some years a2o Croton Lake was surroupde4
by beautiful trees and dotted with picturesque
islands Then il was a favorite summer resort.
First the trees along shore were cut down %
cause the leaves fell into the water and on de-
Gazing polluted it. Then the trees on the islan1s
were also removed, and when the water is high
the islands are covered. Ducks and geese be.
longing 10 the people living around the lax, ued
10 swim in the water Finally they were driven
away
Before all these nuislnces were abolished there
was apparently not so loud complaint aoous
Croton water has been heard recently ana
vet after all that has been done, the water
appears marshy in color. il smells bad and there
is the green scum floating on its surface.