New-York tribune., 1894-04-29
COAL FOR THE WATER WORKS
THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT FOR HAv-
ING IT HAULED AT A REDUCED RATE.
HOW CITY WORKS COMMISSIONER WHITE CAME
TO SUGGEST THE PLAN WHICH HAS
BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE BROOK
LYN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

LYN BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Mayor Scheren has not yet approved the action OF
the Aldermen on last Monday in granting the ap-
plcation Of the South Brooklyn Railroad and Ter
mnal Company for permission to construct its road
through the outskirts of the city 1t was before
the annexation Of new territory. and he VIII not act
until he has given public hearing on the subject
The feature of the resolutions adopted by the Alder
men which has attracted the greatest attention is
the provision that the railroad company snail trans
port all the coal needed for use at the pumping sta
tons Of the Brooklyn water-works at tho rate or
Go cents ton. The price heretofore and now PAID
10 the Long Island Railroad Company for hauling
this coal is 81 ton.
II appears to be the general opinion that the city
has made a good bargain in securing the hauHhS
of the great amount Of coal which 1t needs AT a
considerable reduction in cost. 1t becoming known
that the first suggestion of such an arrangement
came from Alfred Il. White. the Commissioner OF
City Works a visit was made to Mr.. Nhite III
order to ascertain the facts. and TO learn his
opinions regarding he proposed arrangement. MT
White WAS found busuy at work in his Office but
courtcously consented to explain his part In the
traneacton Commissioner White requires his
subordinates to devote all their time 10 their official
duties. and he sets them good example by dong
the same thing himself.
''Yes" said Mr.. White with smile. Il am en-
titled to whatever credit there may be in suggesting
this ARRANGEMENT in the interest OF the city. 1t
came about in this way The last bill OF the Long
Island Railroad Company had just come IN Wheh
the chairman OF the Railroad Committee OF me
Board of Aldermen called me in reference to
the Terminal Company's interference with our sew
ers and water pipes In building IT'S depressed road
My attention had been particularly called to the
Long Island Company's charge OF 81 ton for maui
ing our coal We have no contract win mem Dtt t
their customers no h,,devpad ySed nunping station is
o,1,- a{syr or mir
than miles in straight lne, but they run ther
cars round by Jamaica and nearly douoe the
i mad felt from the time came into into the Depart.
cesgive But the Long Island Railroad is not sub
ject to the Interstate law and there Is no way 1i
the chairman of the Railroad Committee. sus-
gested that in addition to other compenSa1n I9f
should he made 10 get our coal carted more cheaiy;
He liked the dea ana ,nem nn b,c6 tha civ sSp
receive from the company.
Il never ran a coal road and can't say whether
the figure | suggested is low enough But II Is
certain that 1t VIII result IN Gons'deT1p,e rs i saEi
for the city and d9 no! 6n lenE eopsmy NJ M oe & o
seem altogether pleased-at any rate the president
H. The plan IS that the company snail. at is own
cost construct a spur from rs tracks to our pump.
way along our pipeline conduit; then IT viii run
is & sh n, our aShe shed seey sn GnGs S conde
to be worth hftesn cents zen ton ~ The result Of
well. at the Ridgewood station. we burn.
should say about 1900 tons year. and the saving
Will be $1,000 a year at present. But this VIII IN
crease with the growth OF the city. and the In
crease Of the consumption OF water. And when the
new road is extended. as 1t probably Will be. II
VIII carry all our coal, and the profit to the city
will then be still larger More than that. the COM
petition between the two roads Will have ten
dency 70 reduce the rate still further"
Then you not under any obligation 10 patr
iZe the company
Not the least in the world. All have done
is to secure a maximum rate for coal transporta-
tlon and we shall get our Work done BY the COM
pany which Will do It the cheapest. IL 10 be
nice arrangement for the city, and my impression
IS that viii be- a good thing for the company. II
can hardly be said that the city VIII derive that
amount OF revenue from the company. but prac-
tically 1t 10 that: and II VIII 90 on for
ever, ] suppose for never heard OF railroad
company's charter expiring or course. l only sug-
gested this as an addition 10 whatever compensa-
ton might be exacted from the company, and the
neatness with which the city is 10 save this money
peases me greatly"