New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-09
IT'S WATERS ARE RECEDING.
LAKE HoPATCoNG BEING DRAINED AT 1
RAPID RATE.


STEPS ARE TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THE
NORRIS CANAL COMPANY. THE AL
LEGGED CAUSE or THE TROUBLE
Honatcong ~ j. Dec CSpecaD.-Proper,y-ov
org and summer residents at Lake Hopatcons are
greatly exercised over the draining OF that beau.
tiful body of water every summer by the Morris
Canal Company to such an extent that health
endangered and property rights injured move
ment is foot among some OF the leading cot
tagers 10 have the courts restrain the company
from appropriating so much OF the water to it,
The brokerage firm OF Macy & Pendeton OF Wall.
ST. New-York, has taken the initiative. Both
members Of the firm have handsome houses
Indian Island, a picturesque spot in the lake.
They have recently addressed letters 10 all the
property-owners about the lake, calling Their al
tention to the danger which threatens them, and
asking for contributions to pay for legal counsel
Already they have consulted the law hrm OK
Wheeler & Cortis Of New-York. and they propose
that immediate action be taken. The plan is TO ask
the Court 10 issue an injunction restraining The
company from using so much OF the water. TO the
injury Of property and public health
1t is also proposed to ask the State Board H
Health to take the matter in hand A similar
trouble experienced some years ago at Green.
wood Lake. from which the canal drew IL
supply but the State Board of Health stopped u
because health was endangered.
At the opening Of the summer season the water
is we'll up to the PIERS which are built for every
residence. but before the middle Of August is
reached no boats approach within many feet
OF these piers The water is said 10 recede at the
rate OF two three inches day Boating be-
comes no longer pleasure but 10 make matters
worse these submerged mud banks, when ex.
posed the rays OF the August sun, breed
malaria. A number of the residents this year were
obliged to leave before they intended, because OF
their suffering from the disease.
The Morris Canal gets its supply OF water from
the lower end Of the lake. Years ago II raised the
dam at that po'nt expanded the lake and sub.
merged many lands. II is said thar they purchased
the right to do this. and took concemnatory pro-
ceedings In cases where they could not buy. For.
II is said that they supply the East Jersey
Water Company with much OF IT'S water FOR no
Newark and other waterworks, and this causes the
big drain on the lake
At any rate the residents say that the water 10
lowered at the rate of two three inches day
during the summer 1t is now fully eight feet be.
low hgh-wate mark in June. The boat -landings
tending far out into the lake are above the SUR
face so that people are searching them for Indian
relics which abound in that region .
Lake Hopatcong gets It's water supply entlrey
from springs which bubble UP from the bottom:
1t Is not fed by any large stream. II Is a most
picturesque spot with wooded hills rising from iis
very edge. Beautiful houses dot these hsides and
the islands In the lake Most of the coitases are
on the lower end of the lake and the New-fork
business men who out on the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western Railroad can only reaen
their homes by crossing the lake m boats. VIA
the water at its present level this is an imposss'
biy