New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-14
WHAT Ais THE CROTONf

II will be found, suspect, that Dr Dor'~
mus has touched popular chord ana hiied
long-fclt want in protesting against the quall'y
and supply of Croton water. 1t is true that HIS
complaint has medical flavor and Is calcuia'eu
10 cause some apprehension. for he distinctly
asserts that the water now being furnlshed
10 consumers in this city is unfit to drink not
ONLY because it has an offensive appearance,
but also because II contains deleterious lngredi-
ents At the same time ii will probably be as
sumed that the danger on this account mas
been exaggerated unconsciously by DR. Dore-
mus. All that sparl'es is not pure. but all that
is unsigh1lv IS not unwholesome, and the public
health is fairly good.
As to the deficiency and foulness or the
water supply. however, there cannot posslpi!
he two opinions and n multitude of persons
who have felt q rising Indignation because OF
the way in which they are served Will be very
glad to have so prominent spokesman ap-
pear in their behalf. For long time past the
public water has been scant and dirty, and IN
both respects the situation seems TO be grow
ing steadily, though slowly, worse 1t Is an
extremely annoying thing to wait nftcen or
twenty minutes for enough water to battle IN,
and then to find that the meagre supply OBJ
tanned is not fit for the purpose. Precisely TINS
has been the experience of citizens without
number and though the trouble is not equally
felt in all parts of the city. we have heard
enough complaints to convince us that the
sharpest critics are within their rights. AS FOR
the small and diminishing supply. That Is
trouble which became conspicuous In the early
winter 1t was then said. and often repeated
during the cold weather, that this was due 10
the prudence Of househOlders who were afraid
the water would freeze in their pipes. and VINO
therefore left the faucets open, SO that there
was a continual waste. This explanation was
accepted as plausible, II not entirely satisfac-
tory: but in the light of more recent experience
il is considerably less conclusive than at first
II seemed 1t is not extremely rash 10 say that
there has been very little freezing weather
| during the last few weeks. yet the supply
diminishes all the time The most fortunate
people in the city, so far as this great element
of comfort goes, those who live In apart
ment-houses having spacious tanks into which
an abundant supply of water is pumped from
the s,reet-level For they not only get all they
need, but what they get is much clearer, If the
tanks are we'll arranged and cared for.
1t is not easy to understand why there should
| be this nuisance Of dirty water. After trcmen-
dous freshets it is reasonably expected that the
supply will be unsighty, whether 1t IS unwhole-
some or not; but there have been no such floods
In this vicinity for n long time. 1t might be
supposed that though the supply was short, IT
would bc of good quality, what there was OF
IT, The only explanation which offers is that
there is serious neglect somewhere. We doubt
! If such a hypothesis will be officially confirmed,
| but if this is not the trouble it would be very
| interesting TO know what the trouble Is. Those
who are opposed to the removal of the Forty
second-st reservoir will probably derive a new
| argument from the present conditions, but 1t
ought not TO be accepted until they have proved
| it, 1t Is officially announced IN behalf Of the
| Auucduct authorities that the removal Of the
| reservoir would make absolutely no difference
whatsoever in the supply or pressure; that the
| thing needed-and, IN fact Indispensable IS
new mains, by means Of which the ample ac-
cumulations of the watershed can be utilized
and distributed 1t would seem as If a point
like this might be promptly settled beyond the
possibility Of dispute, and yet on both sides OF
the proposition declarations continue to be
| made week after week with equal confidence
and explicitness. Something will he gained
from the chorus Of complaints against the guam
tity and quality of Croton water at the present
! time If In the course Of the discussion this I'm
! portant question Is cOnclusivcly answered.