New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
WATER FOR THE FUTURE.
EX-COMMIssIONER ALFRED T. WHITES
VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT.

LOOKING; TO THE ADIRONDACK REGION FOR
suPPLY-NEED OF ACTION By THE COMING
LEGIsLATURE-THE sUBJECT SHOULD
BE INVESTIGATED WITH CARE
IN ALL ITS ASPECTS.
Few men in Brooklyn have given closer atten-
tlon to the question OF water supply than Alfred
T. White Commissioner Of City Works
During the two years he at the head or
the most important department of the city
government it received his constant attention.
ard from his initiative thorough Investigations
were made as to the best sources from which
the future water supply might be secured Mr..
White came to the conclusion some time ago
that the problem a whole was one that couid
be better dealt with by the cities Of New-iork
and Brooklyn acting together thar oy eacr
going ahead on its own account. WITHOUT a'!
reference to the question OF their cohsonua'o"'
From the inquiries he has made he Is OF the
opinion that both cities will come to the limit
OF their present resources about the same time
although his information respecting New orK
is As he is frank to admit, less full and ac-
curate than that respecting his own city-and
therefore he believes that early steps should
be taken looking to an adequate supply for the
whole Of Greater New-Yor from the source
which, after thorough investigation. Is found
to be most available His attention was es-
pccaly attracted by the information recently
furnished to the readers of The Tribune by
the Albany correspondent of this paper In ref
erence to the examination made by state En-
gireer Adams of the Upper Hudson Valley as
a source Of supply. Mt only for the metro
politan district but for all the cities situated
along the river.
Yesterday Mr.. White consented to talk to
reporter for The Tribune with reference TO this
matter and the desirability OF action by the
State to supply the wants Of the great city or
the future as well as to meet the more imme-
diate demands of the millions Of people living
near the mouth of the Hudson.
EARLY ACTION NEEDED.
"I have read the remarks Of State Engineer
Adams as to the results Of the investigation
made under his direction" said Mr.. White, in
answer to a question, "and regard his sugges-
tions as most timely. / understand that this
subject will be dealt with at considerable
length in his next annua, report. which shall
await with interest / sincerely hope that the
incoming Legislature will act on this matter
1t will be a work involving time. fo- cons.d-
Grafton of other possible sources of water sup
ply will be necessary before a conclusion is
important If consolidation is to come than if
it were not contemplated BY the proposed
charter the powers OF the Croton Aqueduct
missioner OF City Works are to be transferred
to a new department OF Water Supply. and in
the circumstances the present officials will hest
tate to set foot any large measures. while
the present supplies of both cities are limited"
do you consider the Adirondack watershed
the best to furnish a supply for Greater New
York;" asked.
my mind leans strongly in that direction, II
other cities are to participate in the work and
the benefits and there is to be an undertaking
under State ratheT than municipal control. But
hope we may have a broad investigation Of all
possible sonra1A Of large supply conducted in
the most careful and scientific manner"
What quantity of water should be sought. in
your judgment?'
Enough for the daily supply Of the 100000
people who may not mprobaby be dwelling in
the cities along the Hudson and on the western
end of Long Island by 1850"
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY
Gould that amount be obtained from the ADJ
rondack region"
Easily. think. The report Of tho State En-
gineer seems TO mo 10 put e beyond question.
even after the canals supplied with the ut
most they require. And his opinion Of the stor-
age possibilities Of that watershed has been con-
frmed by other engineers who have made inde
pendent examinations and reports in the last
twenty-five years"
At this point Mr. White called attention to a
report made in 1874 by +. ~ Benedict on the
results Of survey of the upper Hudson and Ia-
quette watersheds. He said that he had never
<-.,.
partment he had made a memorandum in refer
ence to il. and he merely mentioned 1t To show
that the subject not a one. He also
spoke of a report on the same subject, made, he
believed still earlier. by the late II. q. Eastman.
formerly Mayor Of Poughkeeps.e.
When asked whether a supply OF water for
Greater New -Yorl. might not be obtained from
the lakes Mr. White replied: From Lake
George perhaps, and should favor an investi-
CATION in that direction Lake Champlain. how
ever is too low--it is lower ever than the reser
voir in Central Park. AS for Lake Ontario. do
not think we need go so far for fifty years sup
ply but should be glad to estimates made
Of the cost of construction and maintenance OF
a supply from the lakes. in comparison with one
from the upper Hudson so as to enable us TO
consider the subject in all its aspects. and arrive
at the best conclusion
THE DELAWARE WATERSHED.
You made some mention Of the Delaware
River as a source OF supply for Brooklyn in your
report last January. did you not?"
Yes, and think that ought. of course, to be
included in a State survey There is a water
shed about as large within the State as that of
the Hudson above Glens Falls and the Delaware
at Port Jervis is at higher level than the Hud
Glens Falls. 1t also has the advantage
for New York and Brooklyn of greater proximity
it Is only one-tlird of the distance in a
straigh; line But q supply from the Delaware
would cost a grea: deal more Ia Iespec. to reser
vOirs and per mile Of conduit construction. as
long tunnels would be involved. II NewYork |
and Brooklyn, or Greater NewYork. as the |
case may be- should proceed to obtain an indie |
pendent supply without the Intervention OF the |