New-York tribune., 1896-02-04
DEEP WELLS.

This situation has led me 70 look in other dl-
reCrions than were known 10 me in 1884. one
such possibility lies in the extension Of deep wells
such as have been sunk In the laet year. And
another lies In going to a distance beyond any II
the sources included In the engineers lnvcstiga-
tons
The deep wells to which allude are sunk for
a depth OF about 80 feet and pass through bed
Of clay 30 or co feet In thickness. into stratum
Of coarse gravel through which water flows freely.
From such sources we are now pumping 10000
gallons a day only few miles from the Ridge
wood pumping station. The absolute dlsconncc-
tion OF this water supply from the surface streams
and wells Is proved by the fact that these are
not disturbed by this large amount OF pumping
1t is evident. therefore. that the water comes
from a considerable distance. but from what dis
tance is still unknown. 1t may possibly come
from the manani. but there Is so far no evidence
that It does and equally evidence that II does
not
"Othcr wells have been sunk to the same or
greater depth. east and west Of those above
named as well as north and south Some Of
these find water at about the same depth OF l10
feet and others do not. Our observation up ~
date indicate that each Of these sources OF sup
ply extends north and south. but Is separated
from those east ard west Of II. The whole mat
ter Is as new II is interesting and II would not
do to hazard opinion as 10 what the future
NAV reveal II il possible in my Judgment. that
we may not get more than l0.0V,OD To 2O.U0V.OOo
gallons from such deep well sources, ana. per-
haps. possible that many times such can pe had'
| would not dare count largely on these possibili-
ties Yet personally. | should not favor adopt
Ing any one OF the three large schemes ior water
extension until more definite Information IL had
az to the extent Of this deep well supply nd as TO
It's sources.
TO DRAW on THE DELAWARE.
'In case these deep wells should not promise
d.,
now provided for. there is larger source Of
surface supply to which | should rather look
than TO either Long Island the IIousatonc or the
Ramapo But this r. a source which Brooklyn
unaided could not reach, and which. In fact, -
of such large dimensions that any use OF II
should be planned Jointly by New-York ana
Brooklyn and the adjoining territory In this state
and In New jersey or else should be developed
by the State itself. | allude to the Delaware
River. which could supply population OF loooo.-
600 100000 people This watershed. at the
junction Of the Navesnk. near Port Jervis. con
tanning 1900 square miles Is larger than that OF
the Hudson at Glcns Falls (2.Sl2 square niles.
II IL also higher above the and only onc-third
as far in a direct line from NewYork. 1t could
be utilized with less prejudice to other interests
than the nearer and smaller watersheds. and.
for a large supply. could | think. be more eco
nomically handled"
Mr.. White said he had not received any offers
from private water companies to supply Brook
lyn The representative OF one company. he
said, had inquired II the Department desired 10
contract but had made no proposition. and the
representative Of another company had made a
proposition. but had failed to indicate whence
the supply would be derived. Mr.. White added:
Il reason for dealing with private com
panes The parties who offered NewYork water
from the Passaic. OF Which the Ramapo Is a
tributary, asked SIS a million gallons. Accord
ing to Mr. Worthen's estimate. 1t cost the city,
with direct ownership less than 500 million,
but think this figure much too low. Were 1t
even double. however. II would still be but half
the price asked New-York by the individuals
mentioned.
"Few cities take their supply from private
companies. London takes its supply thus and
Is endeavoring TO relieve itself from the COM
panies. With all the wastefulness which has
too often attended municipal construction IL has
been found generally that municipal ownership
of waterworks is not only the safest. but the
most economical policy"
The reports Of the investigation now being
prepared for official publication. with diagrams
and descriptions. The plates are now In the
hands Of the epRravers