New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-30
SALE or AQUEDUCT LANDS.
NO LARGE REVENUE TO BE DERIVED BY
THE CITY FROM THIS SOURCE

In connection with the opinion given by Corpo-
ration Counsel Scott last Monday as TO the city
right to sell the land acquired for the purposes OF
the new aqueduct it said that the result might
be a gain TO the city treasury Of hundreds OF
thousands of dollars. This is not the opinion of
some CITY officials who are familiar with aqueduct
matters Chief Engineer Birdsall of the Croton
Aoueduct when asked for his views had this TO
say:
II am unable to see how the city is to profit to
any large extent by the sale of aqueduct lands for
there is little land to be disposed Of This decision,
I may say does not have any application TO the old
Croton Aqueduct That was built near the surface
for the greater part of the distance and if the
city should want TO sell the land 1t would be un-
able to do so. 1t is bound to use the property
only for aqueduct purposes. and if the land ever
ceases to be used for the aqueduct it Will revert to
IN, original owners. You will remember that this
question raised in connection with the attempt
to make a bicycle path along the line OF the ola
aoueduct a year two ago. il was found that
such use of the property would be illegal, ana N
consequence Governor Morton vetoed the bill passed
by the Legislature.
The new aqueduct was built a different
principle For the greater part of the way it was
neither nor less than a tunnel, and the city
simply acquired an easement to permit IL 10 ne con-
structed paying for whatever damages were
caused There were shafts about every half mile
and between thee there was no disturbance of the
surface The damages were determined by COM
mission, and its findings were approved by the
courts In some cases during the process Of con-
struction wells and springs drained, but in
iuries of that kind gradually being repaired
by nature. All actual damages were paid for.
LAS to land taken for aqueduct purposes, pe-
lieve that most of it sold some time ago. and
practically all that remains unsod is within the
limits of New-York City. l doubt IL it is worth
500 900 altogether. In fact some Of 1t has already
been sold but the purchasers have declined to take
il because of the seeming cloud on the title. AS a
matter of fact there Is not the slightest Likelihood
that they will ever be disturbed on account OF the
aoueduct which may be fifty one hundred feet
below the bottoms of their cellars. or course, we
should object to their boring down wells and pump
ing water out of the aqueduct II repairs GeIe
necessary at any time entrance 10 inc aqueous
would be made through the shafts. ana there WOMB
be no interference with anything on the surIdct.
$50 far as the new aqueduct Is concerned. theie Is
little of the land purchased for 1t TO pe sold ho"
fact IL was not necessary TO buy mucn ldh!' az
tho construction was carried on in a tunnel the
greater part of the way and there was no uistu,
ance of the surface OF the ground except at me
shafts In crossing certain valleys, though, me
aoueduct was so constructed as 10 be above ue
lowest point in the valley and arrangements
were made so that in case Of need the aqueduC
could be emptied into the natural streams ~
sHch placos perhaps thirty or forty acres were pur,
chased but this land will. OF course De retdIleu
for aoueduct purposes. The fact that the aqueduct
lies beneath certain land has been regarded as
Something of a detrimert 10 the property ana pre-
vented the giving of clear tlc however, - ~.
taint upon IT, for there would be no thought oil
gaining entrance to the aqueduct from any pom!
save one of the numerous shafts IN case any "oih
upon IL were necessary