New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-16
! WEDNESDAY,, !
16, 1865

apo is 30 10 miles. and the nearest point
Of a large supply on Long Island ~ 20 s ~"
miles To secure from the Ramapo luV"'vve"
gallons daily would cost Sl4,GSO.2OG from the
Ten Mile River. SiS,3s2.302 and from the Lons
Island watershed similar quantity wouid coss
S24 10000 The former figures were conpieo
by Engineer Worthen, the latter by Engineer De
Varona. The lowest reservoir on the kahapoo
system would have altitude OF 4p rect an.
the Ten-Mile River, 80 feet Ihese wo "n
supply the reservoir by gravity. while the Long
Island supply would require 10 be pumped ID
with the added cost OF the maintenance OF pump
ing stations.
DRIVEN WELLS AN ALTERNATIVE
"One alternative there is that might perhaps
last for few years-that Of artesan Wells
Hitherto all the driven well stations were taKins
water at a depth Of 30 to 90 feet Long lsiano
is a mass OF sand and gravel scattered through
which are beds of clay. We know that beneath
such bed Of clay few miles south OF Jamaica
some water existed. and in the last eighteen
months dozen wells have been driven through
this by the city to depth Of 100 feet. the Gay
bed being 80 feet In thickness. We nave nearly
determined the limits Of this Bed east ana west
and have followed II north without reaching us
limits in this direction The water from beneath
it rises at Jamaica Park to a level OF nearly
seven feet above mean high tide. From rev
wells there has been pumped ooooOD gallons
daily but the total amount TO be obtained from
such a source is a subject of conjecture me de-
velOpment of these deep sources Is the nist uuty
and interest of the city, but the consideration or
other plans should continue in the course Of this
process Of survey and development.
The project OF bringing water from the upper
Hudson or Lake George has received pubic at
tenton. and not a little study 1t would require
a conduit 200 miles long. but the facilities Tor
storage are uneQualled elsewhere"
After discussing the Delaware and Adirondack
watersheds Mr.. White said that every city in the
civilized world was considering the water sup
ply problem. and the need Of consideration would
only when the cities ceased TO grow. ana
Brooklyn shows no symptoms or ceasing 70
grow. At the present rate Of growth, II VIII
take only thirty-four years. he said. TO see 10
100000 people living within twenty miles or the
Brooklyn Bridge.
PROFESSOR LEEDS'S REPORT.
The latest contribution to the condition OF the
water supply OF this city is the report OF Profess
sor Leeds, embodied by Engineer De Varona In
his report to Commissioner Of City Works Theo-
dore B. Willis. The examination was to cover
the following points:
First-What is the specific cause Of the OBJ
jectionabe odor. taste and quality OF he water.
and where does II operate?
Second-What is the remedy to apply TO cure
the present evil and . hat measures should DC
adopted to prevent its recurrence?
Thirds the of the water in its present
condition dangerous to health?
Samples Of water were taken from the Ridge
wood Reservoir. from Springfield pond and from
fourteen houses in the city where the strongest
complaints had come from The report says
there was nothing wrong with the water at
2idgewood or the other sources Of supply. and
that the cause Of the trouble can only be found
by a careful analysis. and II is surmsed that the
trouble arises after the water has entered the
distributing system.
no DANGER AT PRESENT.
Professor Leeds, in his report. says:
In connection with the small amount OF albums
mold ammonia il should be brought prominently
into view that in its normal and usual condition
the brooklyn water contains this constituent In
fXce1d,ngy mnIe qu nrdinary state should be
ranked first in regard TO purity or any OF inc
supplies of our principal cities MS enco-
MUM is made deliberately and advisedly, ana is
has ID upon a comparison OF the analysis. spread
over twenty-six years Of the water supplies or all
the important towns in this country and canada
liary favorable habitat for the multiplication and
growth OF these vegetable organisms which In tn
have secreted the products that have rendered
the water turbid. and. IN course OF their decom-
position have originated the foul tastes and
doors.
He then summarizes the situation in these
words
water are due 10 vegetable organisms coming from
the supply. and which produce their Objectionable
after the water enters the distributing sys
There is no danger in the use Of the water at
present.
renee OF the trouble detailed and systematic
study OF the of supply is necessary
Hasy or ill-considered action would probably lead
The trouble may arise from the exposure to air
and light OF the driven well water Cleaning or
the reservoirs and ponds now would not remedy
the present evil which may OF itself pass away In
q few days. -
II IL were necessary to the present trouble
the only sure remedy to apply would be
that il IS wise to attempt IL until the pre-
yentive measures have been studied