New-York tribune., 1896-12-13
ORR Future WATER SUPPLY.

A question that will call mperatively for sol'''
ton soon after the union Of New-Yori and
BROOKLYN IS the question Of an adequate supply
of water for the large community clustered
around New-York Bay Indeed. it Is fast be-
coming pressing question in Brooklyn. but for
that city alone TO enter on project or large
dimensions for procuring more water within
what seems likely to be the last year OF It's sepa-
rate life would not be a policy Of the highest
wisdom. unless the situation Is more serions
than its officials have yet made known. In the
opinion of the engineer Of water supply. Brook
lyn now has water enough for five years to
come 1t will not be possible within the next
five wears for Greater NewYork TO provide for
an additional water supply on scale COM
mensnrate with the demands Of It's population
for a quarter or half century; bui doubtless
it will be practicable by the cooperation OF the
two major parts of the enlarg ID city to give the
neople on the further side of the East River ~!
the water they need until The proposed cxtcn-
sive works shall be made ready
That Brooklyn will be able to draw much
more water from Long Island seems exceedingly
dubious. Already there are complaints mat
lakes and streams on the island are lower thai
ever before and within few days hrm which
contracted to furnish an additional supply ny
pumping it from Queens County has asked 10 be
released from It's obligation on the ground mat
there is no more water TO be had New-lork mas
not vet exhausted the possibilities of the Croton
watershed but the limit ia that quarter VIII be
reached in the net remote future. ana already
the quality of the water drawn from thence mas
awakened serious apprehensons. The big con
solidate1 city will speedily have to look else
where for water supply Of sufficient maGn'-
tude 10 meet the needs OF from three 10 ionr
million people at the outset; and many people
will think it the part OF wisdom TO anticipate
the wants of a growing population during near
ly, If moi quite. half century. For snch sup
DIV two sufficient sources suggest themselves:
One Is Lake Ontaro the other the upper lind-
son Valley. If the Great Lake system should
be tapped there is no doubt that supply Win
out limit would be furnished not onl? TO Greater
New-York bur TO all the cities through the
centre Of the state and along the Hudson RIVER.
The scheme is an attractive one, but the money
OUTLAY involved would be very large 1t is true
tha, in providing for the wants of the future IL
would be fitting to impose on the future large
share of the cost by the issue Of long-term bonds
This same condition would apply TO any plan
of large proportions. but at the same time it Will
be wise TO give due regard TO the economical
side of the question.
In this relation the facts furnished to The
Tribune's Albany correspondent by State En-
cineer Adams have special pertnence and value.
From these it appears that the watershed Of the
upper Hudson is capable Of furnishing supply
six times as great as is now drawn from the
Croton basin. or enough water for 1O.0O.oOo
or 10. 100000 people The cost Of mpounding
this water and sending il by gravity TO New
York would probably be considerably less than
the cost of an aqueduct from Lake Ontario. The
question in ali its bearings calls for the most
careful consideration by n competent commits
slon Such an inquiry was proposed at the last
session Of the Legislature, but no definite action
was taken on IT, There should be no further
delay Even if AZ haste is made, il is scarcely
possible 10 carry into effect either of the plans
prorosed-or fo' that matter any other large
undertaking in the same drectiOn-bcfore the
need Of the additional supply Is keenly felt by
the people at this end Of the State.