The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-05
IMMENSE WATER SUPPLY
New York Makes a Handsome
Profit on It's Plant.
AG0NCILL0 A MOCK HERO
SIMPSONS Ridiculous Exhibition OF Him
&, self in His Controversy With
7y Schley - President Coogan
Is Success.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
New York. Feb. 26.--Among the num-
erous evidences of the magnitude of
Greater New York, none is more strik-
ing than the recent report of Commits
sloner Dalton of the water supply de-
partment. The figures almost stagger
one. For instance, what does the citi-
zen of the average city think of a mu-
nfcipality which in 1898 expended 81
535.526 in the maintenance and i'm
provement of it's water system? And
what must he think when informed
that the revenue from the water SER
vice for the year was $6,474,090? This
is a showing which speaks eloquently
in favor of municipal ownership of wa
ter works. In the year 1898 Greater
New York supplied itself with water
and made nearly three millions of dol
lars in the enterprise. That is better
than giving the three millions to pri-
vate individuals. The average water
supply for the year was 375. 100000 gal
Ions. The total length of distributing
mains, 1874 miles; number of fire
hydrants, 20,S22.
II is interesting to note that the re-
serve supply of water is 44.200 900
gallons, or enough to supply the city for
1872 days. The water supply of the big
city is adequate for the present, yet
those whose duty it is to make a study
of the question are compelled to pro-
vide for the future and as a result plans
for the increase of the supply are be-
ing perfected 1t might be remarked in
passing that the almost incredible con-
sumption of water by New Workers
would be encouraging to prohibitionists
were it not for the fact that every
brewer in the city is growing rich.
free, independent Americans is no small
achievement.
If, as reported, Agoncillo is the COM
ing hero of the Philippines, the Fill
pinos are hard up for hero material.
What has the man with the second vio-
loncello name done to mark him as a
hero? What service has he rendered
worthy of note? In what has he risen
above presumptuous mediocrty? That
he has represented his country as envoy
extraordinary is true, and a most eX-
traordinary envoy he has been. At the
first rattle of musketry in the vicinity
of Manila he fled to Canada. He has
talked much and said little. He has
posed as a statesman and acted like a
very bad private secretary. He has
threatened dire disaster while fleeing
from imaginary disaster and tremb-
lingly sneaked from nation which
would shield him from bodily harm as
1t would helpless child or wounded
sheep.
And yet, they talk about Agoncilo
the hero. Shades of the heroes whose
names are upon the scroll of fame!
Agoncillo is not even picturesque. He is
ridiculous.
Is it not about time to call off the
rival aspirants for the glory of victory
troversy has reached the sickening
point-and this, too, without reference
to embalmed beef-and now comes the
unseemly dispute between Sampson and
Schley with each of these officers be-
lifting himself in pose for glory. Had
Schley rested upon the laurels of bat
tie he would have Jared much better at
the hands of the people. He was there.
He was the commanding officer during
the fight. Sampson was absent. Not
withstanding the fact that he had been
chiefly responsible for plans of battle
the public realized that no matter what
previous arrangements had been made
the battle must necessarily have been
fought on the spur of the moment, with
such judgment and force as the fleet
could command.
The history of the battle of Santiago
is history of prompt. decisive, char
acteristic American action in an emer-
geney. Each vessel acted Independently.
There was no time for consultation or
planning. The time for action was an
nounced by the Spaniards-not by an
American officer. The moment the
Spanish vessels poked their noses out
of Santiago harbor the American fleet
saw and performed its duty. 1t was
time to blaze away. The officers of
each ship acted promptly, effectively
and heroicallY. Each made a glorious