New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-01
yEw.YoRK cITY'S WATER SUPPLY.
THE POSSIBILITY or OBTAINING 1T FN""
THE UPPER HUDSON VALLEf-AH

RAFTERs fNVESTiGAfioNS
Albany Nov ~ ,speciaD when soc Merchants
Association ~ New-York begins its Work ot ihsss,
tigatine the Ramapo water Company ah'"s ~
the possible sources OF an Increased water supply
for New-York o. VIII learn that mere g
considerable Information Of an Official nature 81
ready collected and accessible here w AiahJ IN
relation TO the possibility of obtaining "atsr t''
New-Yofk from the upper Hudson valley
GcorFe " RATE who was one 81 mo en-
glnccrs OF tho state tnsineer made aha
yestigation ln 1855 which he continue i" 49,
upon which De made reports i0 me Nis' sf.s
neer e2acer1ins ih' eses rna ii b. found Ia
The annual report of The STATE ENGINEER 20 me
b LesssIq' FOR eoP be l.S. W., and @
Tne objects of thls surye' by az lsailef r ,'as
f1r "a possible enlargement Of che Champ.hn ana
and to provide flr au mcf'hf ni in' t'li.sn ~
pouring into the hudson river o. henflI 200 IN
prove tAf navigation 20 inc HUDSON 81. 800"
in year, ~ drouth by toe lowuoss ~ wHtrr hsar
Troy and Albany Iha lari ni ia. ll'H.. h,,'
f5r. f tho canal boats wtte lnpfd'i N I't-i,te
NcW-l 1rk haruor fn' InNnrrr 'I iir Nt'TF p" '"~
H. Rare, ln b. ar.t report stalled tnat ihs
Hudson kiyg ", Trey h'a , ara'n.s % .,..r.
mile. and q, G.ens Fals of III" .laare miles
The Mohawk River the lonse.i .lhl,aly oi ths
ting,. I'm. I.,r, 4a..t. atf 4. ir.''..r. srsa n
tributary 80 importance ~ tte Hudson IL ths
Sacaudaga River. which has q dfalnaSe ARA %
90 square miles At Thurman The Schrcou River,
which has a drainage Of 80 square miles. enters
the Hudson, - 49,. -.
The Legislature appropriated sop for Mr. Raft
ers survey. and the United states bofsrnment
was induced TO contribute 5000 Tor Typographical
surveys within the upper Hudson drainage area
Reservoir sites marked out Niihin the Schroon
eral large dams were made. together with water
power profile OF the Hudson River from the FEEDER
dam at Glens Fails 90 North River village, n iis-
lance Of sxty-hve miles. In addition. MI. kstter
states "a thorough reconnaissance was made AZ
the beginning OF the entire area, In the course or
which nearly every pond lake or river valley was
visited which could be In any degree consceret
available for storage purposes
Mr. Rafter SAYS. 1T may be stated that The IN
nuence OF the forest on stream Yield 10 quite ma
terial and incidentally a proposition 20 ntiite the
leads one 20 the conclusion that tho dement's OF
such storage may be added 20 by rational system
OF forestry" .-
That was written IN 1875. Since then Governor
Blacks policy OF purchasing large areas Or Adtron-
dack forest lands has been adopted. AMI hundreds
% thousands Of dollars have been expended IN ths
purchase OF these lands. Rapidly under the opera-
lions ~ the state Forest Preserve Board, manlie
OF protection has been thrown over many % tbs
forests OF the upper Hudson Valley.
Engineers 81 the State think that N suncient
son Valley for New-York and the other cities along
the Hudson n large quantity could be ohiainet
from Lake ChamPain. II would need only CUT
Of nifty feet for several miles 10 permit The waiess
OF Lake Champlain 10 flow southwark 20 New
York