New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22
THE ALDERMEN'S INACTION
WORCESTERSHIRE DELAY IN INCREAS-
ING THE WATER SUPPLY.

ING THE WATER SUPPLY.
MAYOR scHIEREN's WISE ACTION IN CALLING
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD
THE SITUATION SERIOUS FOR TIE
PEOPLE OF BROoKINN-No
WATER SCARE"
The action Of Mayor Schleren in calling special
meeting Of the Board of Aldermen for tomorrow
to ac, upon the plan for increasing the water sup
ply of Brooklyn Is 10 be heartily commendeis ! ne
statements made by Commissioners White Emery
and Wurster are sufficient arouse the community
TO the necessity Of immediate action in such a WY
as to compel the Aldermen to do their plain duty.
The course which the Aldermen have been pursuing
in this matter reflects credit upon them. Few
years ago the members Of a Democratic hoard OF
Aldermen brought upon themselves the severe con-
domination OF the people Of the city by their per
ss,ent refusal second the EFFORTS then pe'hE
made by the Commissioner of City Works to eX-
tend the water systern--a refusa! which conuhuei
so long that the city was actually imperi'eu p'
the deiay II was commonly believed that the rea-
son for their their failure 10 get az
much pa ronage from the City Works Department
as they thought they were entitled TO. In connec-
ton with that transaction the phrase came into use
that they were trying get their hooks In.
Better things were expected OF the first Republic
can Board of Aldermen that the city has had in
long term Of years. II the obstructng members
do not speedily change their tactics. however they
Will be likely give rise 10 public scandal ii Is
much to be regretted that Alderman Cary. who is
a man Of the highest standing ana who would De
sure to vote and work on the right side. Is row IN
Europe and unable 10 help the cIty In the present
emergency. 1t has come out that some OF the Al
Germen are opposed 20 the making Of a contract for
the work that is be done. and they have s"rous-
" proposed TO the Mayor that the entire control
.ko lf,,-
missioner Of City Works This plainly ls device
70 enable the Aldermen 10 control TO some extent
at least the selection OF workmen. In other words.
1t Is simply pstronage-grabDing scheme. ana as
such will find no favor IN the eyes Of the people.
These officials seem to think that II contract Is
made one of the old ring contractors WI. in some
way contrve TO secure IT, That Is possibility, OF
course but there is the slightest doubt that
the contract Will be let fairly. and as far as pos
sibe in the iaeres; OF the city. The head OF de-
partnent must simply obey the law N the making
Of a contract: IL the law requires that IL shall 60
to the lowest bidder that Is the end OF the matter
Commissioner Whites personal character Is sniii-
cient guarantee that everything possible VIII be
done for the welfare Of the people. The fact that
the storage reservoir at M!burn was built by con-
tract and has proved satisfactory is not valid
argument against having work for the city done by
contractors Experience has shown that II - the
faires cheapest. and. the Whole. best way In
the long
Commissioner White Is most thoroughly convinced
Of the absolute necessity OF immediate acton IN the
direction OF furnishing the city with more water
Had he realized the situation ne said 10 the writer
he would have begun earlier 10 agtate the question
But the first two three months OF his term were
occupied fariliarizng himself with the duties Of
his department. and he did not have the opportunity
to study The water question in detail. As soon as
he dlI ne perceived the need OF early action. and
he has put forth every effort - bring il about II
goes without saying that he has been keenly dis
appointed by the failure Of me Alermen 10 re-
spond in the way in which he and every one else
had right 10 expect. Had he been dealing with
Board OF Aldermen like that in which The Ia
rnented CoMey OF Red Hook. was the leading Light.
he could scarcely have received worse treatment
than has been accorded to him. There IS 1--WE feet
less water the storage reservoir now than there
was a year ago on July IS 1896 the estimated
quantity was s5 90 gallons the corresponding
day this year II was 5ij0D.0O gallons. The reserve
Is being consumed the rate Of 10000 gallons 4
day. II does require any abstruse knowledge %
ma thematics to estimate the length OF time this
supply Of water VIII last months drought would.
Commissioner White says. place the city In a most
critical condition. whereas II the heavens are KIND
and send down abundant showers the evll may be
warfed off.
The situation is one to excite apprehension. and
public opinion should b. brought 10 bear as power
FULLY az possible the Aldermen 10 induce them
q, tarir part toward relieving i AT the earliest
day There is no water scare In the ordinary
sense OF the words but the need OF extreme care
In the use OF water should be apparent To every
body. The suggestion has been made mat perhaps
II would be wise to summon Alderman Cary back
from Europe in order ~ have his assistance In the
Common Council This ought not To l." necessary,
though If he had been here and had signed the re-
mort Of the Water and Drainage Committee. as ne
most certainly would have gon". Il Is probane tAat
the necessary steps would have been taken by the
Aldermen some days ago.
Some people in brooklyn are more or less alarmed
over the reports OF the quality of the water Oh
tanned from the streams about which complaint
has been made and IN conseIlence n.ake a regular
ZEN in whose family this is the rule. said yesier-
day that he. considered it the only safe thing to
DO and he thought 1t especially Important IN case
there should be danger OF cholera thlf summer
reputation OF being the purest and best that any
city In the country received, and 1t Is matter or
extreme regret to the people OF brooklyn that ms
be done at once prevent the need OF using any
water that is IN the least contaminated. There Is
plenty OF pure water 10 le ha1 on Long lsahl 10
meet all the needs Of the city for the present. and
at least for the near future-water. too. Of the
very best quality. Commissioner White. | am con-
vlncel Is not an alarmist. That Is not his nature
In the least. Nor any one who knows MIN think
for a momen, that he has any other motive than
the public good In view In what he Is trying 10 do
in this matter.
The charge that a water scare is being got up
for political effect is all nonsense. Such thing
might have been possible under "A Democratic adj
minlstration. 1t Is utterly impossible with man
Of cry Works. Nor Is II in the least likely that
he has been deceived. He has the figures Of the
up. They show that the storage reservoir is being
drawn largely every day and that at the present
rate the reserve stock VIII be exhausted in little
heavy rains to replcnish It, Then. Of course. the
city will have to depend on the streams and wells.
sumption The Aldermen assuming a heavy
plans for the immediate extension OF the water
system in order 10 prevent repetition OF this
dition Of things next year"