New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
WATER FOR THE CITIES.
OBSERVATIONS BY THE CHIEF ENG1-
NEER OF THE CROTON AQUEDUCT.
NEW YORK HAS ENOUGH WATER FOR FIFTEEN
OR TWENTY YEARS. AND BROOKLYN CAN
DRAW on LONG ISLAND INDEFINITELY
ACCURATE SURVEYS BY TIE
STATE DESIRABLE.

-AtCtR RATE - Nv ElS IL lit'
STATE DESIRABLE.
In talking with representative OF The tribune
yesterday on the ciiy's future water supply ana 'e
proposed survey Of various sources OF supp! ny
the State authorities Chief Engineer Brdsah OF
the Croton Aqueduct said that the Croton wafer
shed would nc sufficient 10 supply the needs oil 'Ae
present New York City. allowing FOR the norman
rate Of growth. for fifteen or twenty years li'
dd not think that it would he wise 10 ara" on
the Croon region for the sake OF helping out
lyn after consolidation. in case OF snort supply III
that city Brooklyn. in his opinion "ouid nave
10 go further out on Long Island, and he believed
that plenty OF water could be found there
enough 10 last that city for many years. ~ tle
same time Mr. Brdsall expressed much interest III
the plan for determining the feasibility OF Sec"'
ing water not only for Greater Newly 'rl' but 'or
other cities. either from the Adirondack region Ut
the Great Lakes
several wears ago" he said IAN investigation
was started 10 dete mine the possibilities OF me
upper Hudson Valley - furnishing water 10 a'u
navigation and for the canals, ana also 20 sup
ply some OF the cities Of the STATE. mat worn
was stopped after time for lack OF mono! 10
carry it on or course. it i easy enough 10 make
an estimate Of the amount OF water IN region
when the drainage area j. ascertained. but Ia Is
different matter 70 estimate, with any approar" 20
accuracy. the cost o. carrying That water 'o'S
distance to CITES that need f. In the BAL no" oe-
fore the legislature ! understand that an dnp''-
irritation OF $1,000 10 called FOR. TO make COM
pe.e report on the subject 70 VIII ne n"'css"r. 10
carry an appropriation of that amount alons Tor
f'ur or five wears. \ mass OF Information mas ooen
collected by the state. which s usefuI as lar as
{, goes and IL has been used AS basis for est
mates rs TO the cost Of bringing water from '"e
Adirondack. 10 New-York. ] am familiar with all
that region. and could tell fairy well no" iaHcn
water is available there. but IT is another tang 10
work ont an accurate estimate as 10 the cost OF
storing t. and building the necessary ddleducis.
va would be- the best way Of bringing tho
water iron, that part OF the State 10 this city MI
Brdsal asked
"One p,an proposed by an open canal, nut
that is objectionable for several reasons one IS
that IL would be- a difficult: thing 10 manage IN WIN
TOR and besides il would be- exceedingly nara TO
keen such a cana, free from pollution FOR 50 great
a distance In m opinion, the best way would be
nv twin aqueduct= Instead Of one immense aque-
duct should build TWO smaller ones, 80 that Il
one got out of order the other could De used WhHe
repairs were in progress.
How long would il take 70 build the worNs Tor
such a large WAFER supply
I'm csse Of necessity the work could be done In
five years It is true that 1t took six years 10 oud
the new Croton Aqueduct, but on a WORK OF SO
great magnitude IL would he possible 10 carry on
operations In many places at the same nm ana IL
think that, If necessary, t. could be cornpe'ea IN
@What do you think Of the Great Lakes as
some time ago was told by, prromiHent man man
in Chicago that the water problem for New orh
woi,ld meyer be solved until went TO Lake
Erie The advantage Of Lake Erie over Lax
Ontario Is that II - so Inuch hlEhSE tH."n
those sources ought TO be investigated so ln't
clear knowledge OF The whole question may De
How much more water can be drawn for New
York from the Croton region: ,.
think we can ct enough To last th" CITY nItrn ol
twenty years. at the present rat Oh Ia
gallons day There is bill ai Albany 10 pTrvtnr
/ MS from purchasing any moro land IN NeStchosl'I
County but / do not mink II VIII pass we nee"
TO AXE about 1900 acres more. - .,.-
'"XVnuld Ncw-York De able TO furnish any Walri
TO BROOKLYN after consolidation IN case the suPP''
in that part OF the city got Shor . Ia .b.,
prol,Itn can get plenty OF water By going out
further i'm Queens and Suffolk counties ne uoupl"
land but they sink wells and mus Gra1ln 49, w.
from large area. II mas 10 De u, u t'ii,i a.
somewhere and what the people on IiiT this v.ay
yg.i,bout their leave so they have -oIsht legls-
Iatlon 70 restrict the Brooklyn authorltcS b'l
I have no doubt that ther" - plrNlN u' W. rcer
dbt,ir,J nv mat city until such time as o. arg
ou,t is furnished 10 these and Other cities by mo
state the cities. Of course pay ~ Io' 4" "' Wv
1;yVhaf do YOU think OF the use ~ "aI,r meters
Il am strongly IN favor or nom. W. ".,ii '' Tor
city or town. introdue.ng a T ,r M all means
begin right and keep right al 9lqnT; ne r.he,o
nGtered city in this country Is f1u HlgeIi r,r
| The consumption Is fOrty-nNr f'I4oi- " "'. -.
nv inbabitanf In Providence where many
meters are used, the consumpiI3n Is iiitS nv,
Dalions Here We are using l2o gallons per chpls1
dIt ~, If waste is I'm the tcnement-housoS. sun
Nnw-York has more meters man .iN otnj '' -
~, t,'stross places: meters are not used 10 any
ct a. nrivate houses II they should be employgn
genttaI' oo"ree last much longer than the fifteen
W ;v,,entv wears which / named.