New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-31


for the distribution Of such water in the several
boroughs Of the city.
Fftb-That the charter OF the Ramapo
Water Company is void voidabe, and that
II is not competent ~ enter into the contract IN
stxth-That the statements to the future
requirements OF the city as 20 water have been
grossly exaggerated in the report OF the Com
missioner Of Water Supply.
NO ADDITIONAL SUPPLY NEEDED.
seventh-That the water supply OF the Dor
ou9hs ~ Manhattan and The Bronx will be
sufficient for many years 70 satisfy the popule-
ton OF those boroughs and that with proper
prevention Of waste the Croton watershed and
the adjoining territory can provide large sur
Mus for the use Of the other boroughs.
Eighth-That the legitimate sources OF water
SUNNY on Long Island for the Borough Of
Brooklyn have been by no means exhausted
Ninth-That the Board Of Public Improve
the execution Of the contract in question ano
that the approval Of that Board would not en-
able the Commissioner OF Water supply 10 en-
ter into such a contract.
Tenth-Thst the city Of New-York is in a
position 10 expend by the issue Of bonds the
necessary money TO provide for the extension
OF It's water system.
The last point being of financial rather than
Of an engineering nature there is no reason
why 1 should not Immediately state my Views
TO the Board. - ia
II has not been claimed that the city would
be unable TO issue bonds to provide for an ex-
tension Of its water system, since, indeed the
Constitution expressly permits the Issue OF such
bonds in excess of the limitation otherwise PR
scrbed for municipal Indebtedness Inc cIalIl
has been made however. that II the necessat
bonds were TO be issued for this purpose th7
citI, vouId he prevented BY constitutional pro
visions from issuing bonds for other highly
necessary purposes.
The present debt Of the city lie within the s con
stitutional limit thereof by mora than sZL'-
100000
THE DEBT LIMIT NO BARRIER
AT the next election an amendment to the
Constitution is 10 be voted on. which II adopted
will add nearly S30000OO0 more 10 the debt In
curing capacity OF the city. AS this amendment
has been favored by both the principal Pohti-
cal perties of the State there would seem 10 DE
no reason doubt its passage Assuming us
adoption. the city will enter upon the nscai
year, 1900, with the power 10 issue SooVpc"O
OF bonds for new liabilities not now contracted
for.
In addition TO this the revenues Of the Sink
ing Fund will amount 70 more than sl9e""p
in 1900 and will steadily increase after that
year This figure. therefore represents the
amount by which new bonds can he annually
issued without any increase OF the citys net
debt
In order 10 Judge the ability Of the city 10
enter into any large scheme of public improve
rnent Il is necessary not only 10 know the estl-
mated cost thereof. but also the period of time
within which payments Will be required Both
Of these elements cannot now be said 70 be def
nitely known-no more to the Commissioners or
Water Supply, believe, than to myself. hope
TO be able TO throw light on this highly impor-
tant question when the reports Of my engineers
are presented. In the mean time, however. at
tention may properly be called 70 the Following
facts:
Prior TO the construction Of the new Croton
Aqueduct with its appurtenant dams and res
ervors the water supply OF the city amounted
70 100000 gallons daily.
BY the construction OF the new aqueduct that
supply has been increased TO 265Oo0.0Oo gallons
daily.
The expenditure required for that purpose
has amounted TO August IS 1890 20 S40.Oo9.-
5S1 10 but that expenditure has extended over
a period OF sixteen years. The average annual
issue Of bonds has been only S2.293,S25 53. and
the largest amount Of bonds issued In any one
year has been 81 10000
II the present Aqueduct Commission were 70
proceed 10 develop other additional sources OF
water supply il might be possible 70 proceed
with greater speed than has been displayed in
the past but il cannot he doubted that the
prosecution Of such work would necessarily
extend over a considerable number or years
and that the payments required to be made by
the city could be easily met as occasion required
II seems to me that the ability Of the city TO
proceed along the time honored ana amply JUS
tifed lines Of municipal ownership is the only
question involved In this discussion worthy or
serious argument; for. if that be granted, the
objections 10 handing the city treasury over 20
private interests become absolutely unans"ef-
able. , g,
think II will he extremely diff1cult 70 disproNe
the city's ability 10 supply its own water ana
in view Of the fact that by common consent an
ADEQUATE water supply is a pubic neeu On
titIed 10 precedence over all other public i'm =
movements IL would seem that the burden or
rrooF Is on those who deny that the city is anIe
- perform its most important governmental
function.
SOME CoGENT DIRECTIONS
fIar re