New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-15
RAMAPO WATER COMPANY HEARD.
EDWARD LAUTERBACH DECLARES A
LARGER SUPPLY SHOULD BE PRO
yIDED AT ONCE


The Board Of Public improvements yesterday
gave a hearing 10 tho Ramapo Water Company.
sllas g. butcher the president OF the Ramapo COM
pany outlined briefly az the beginning OF the meet
ing what II intended 20 present 20 the Board.
lie said he understood that several men other than
those Interested In the Ramapo company were
present. among them G.. Waldo Smith. who repre-
eented the Wholesale Grocers' Association. Mr.
butcher suggested that Mr.. Smith be heard. Tho
latter merely said that ne wished to emphasize tho
necessity for t. greater supply Of water for New
York.
In order 70 get some idea OF the Ramapo Water
Companys plant. Peter Ebert Nostrand the civil
engineer OF the company. was called upon 10 de-
scribe the facilities the company has for supplying
tho city with water.
President Grout OF Brooklyn had a number OF
questions TO ask Mr. Nostrand. He answered
In instance only. namely as 10 the capital
stock OF the Ramapo company. which Mr. NoH,rand
said about 100000.
Edward Lauterbach made n long speech concern
ing tho Ramapo company. He said that tho
Ramapo company organized in 1893, and had
done everything which II found necessary 10 DO
done up TO the present moment II was not. he
said important 10 the citizens OF New-fork
exactly what state OF progress tho company was In
rs Il was whether not they could supply what
was needed-pure water.
George A. Stanton. a member OF the Board OF
Underwriters made a brief speech. in which no
referred the report OF the Board OF Underwriters
I'm favor OF increased high pressure water supply
for New-York skyscrapers.
brief submitted by Mr.. Lauterbach declared
that AN Increased water supply was necessity and
provision should DO made FOR II at once. Tho petit
lions In It's favor represented $4,000 10000 In prop
erty values. hgh-pressure service In addition
TO the Croton supply necessary as a protection
for tho city against fire. An efficient supply FOR
high buildings and for ordinary high buildings
without private pumping and pure mountain sup
ply TO prevent scarcity IN OF accident 10 the
present system OF reservoirs and aqueducts he
deemed to be necessary.
Tho brief recited the history Of the movement In
favor OF more water for the city. which began In
the rooms OF tho New-York Board OF Fire Under
writer's I'm 1883. 1t stated that more than $780,
100000 of insurance in the city OF New ork IS re-
fused by the Insurance companies yearly because
OF the inadequate water supply
The demand for relief has been continuous, and
was brought 10 the attention OF the Municipal AS
sembly by Mayor Van Wyc.< In his first annual mes
ton OF water daily is 225. 900 gallons and has
sometimes reached $4,000 900 The opening OF the
new main in fifth-ave Will increase this by 25 0O.-
0oo gallons daily. The Croton system is capable OF
supplying only 2i0OW000. so that after the new
mains opened the supply will not be equal To the
demand. The new aqueduct failed to bring rolief
from tho conditions complained OF because OF the
lack of elevation and the lack OF pressure
poses to construct its works without dollar OF cost
TO tho city. and will be paid for the water only
II IL delivered. and only In such quantities the
city takes. The water will be taken from mountain
miles In length and at an elevation OF three hun
dred feet above tide.