The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-22
KNOCKS FOR RAMAP0 DEAL
LITTLE DoURT wow oFHEADTHs OFF
THE PRoPOsED GRAB.

water SuppIy-tOlerh Engineers iilHR
Up Material to Fight the Project With.
New cohorts were added yesterday to the
forces that are waglng war against the Rama
DO Water Company deal. First. 1t was an
nounced that the Mazet Committee was going
to take hand in the fight. that subpnnas had
been served on four city officials and that four
moro were to be served. The officers Of the
Ramapo Water Company are also to be called
before the committee. Other new allies In the
campaign arc the City Club and the Citizens
Union. James W. Pryor. OF the City Club. and
Mr.. Fulton. OF the Citizens Union, called on
Comptroller Coler yesterday and declared that
their organizations would give him all the aid
In their power They snid that they were go
ing to appear before the Board OF Public I'm
provements tomorrow and demand to be
heard on the question.
we viii probably be thrown out" thew said.
land told that we will have chance to talk on
Aug. 30. when tho matter comes up again for
consideration. But we are taking no chances.
We want to be heard. and II they won't let US
talk tomorrow. why. we will 20 there on Aug.
30. and will then be better prepared"
Mr.. Pryor declared that the City Club had
paid some attention to the Ramapo Water Com
pany before. He said that in 1896 the club
employed number OF eminent foreign engi-
neers to make a careful survey OF the situation.
and that book had been printed setting forth
their findings. This book is now out OF print.
but the engineers reported that the present
system provided ample water supply for New
York for many years to come. He added that
the City Club intended to turn Its attention
Immediately to the wilful waste OF water that
is now going on in the city.
Comptroller Coler agreed that the question
OF daily waste was an important one and said
that he also was studying the matter. He de-
clared that there was a waste OF over fifty mill
lions Of gallons a day.
The news that the Mazet committee was to
investigate the deal was by no means welcome
to those connected with 1t. Subpoena servers
succeeded In finding w. ]. K Kenney. former
Supervisor Of the CITY Record. Morris L. Holo-
han. President OF the Board Of Public Improve
ments. Water Comm issioner William Dalton.
and George W. Benbell. Chief Engineer OF the
Water Department. All Of them were cited to
appear before the next sitting OF the committee.
which will occur on Sept. IL.
Comptroller Coer declared yesterday that In
his opinion the Rampo scheme was practically
dead. but that he did not intend to take any
chances and accordingly had his engineers hard
at work. The engineers are now going over
maps and data to determine the present extent
Of the water supply OF the city and thus show
that there ls no immediate need for an extern
work. they will go to Ramapo and inspect tho
watershed there. They will also consider the
means OF bringing the water to this city. and
although the time is short before Aug. 30. they
| hope to be able to mako complete report at
| the m Getting OF the Board OF Public Improve
| ments on that date. They also hope to be able
| to make q general report as to watersheds in
the State that would be much better than the
Ramapo watershed In case the city needed an
| increased water supply.
Albert Boardman. OF Tracy. Boardman &
Platt. made q statement yesterday in answer
to the insin uations Of the Democratic press Of
this city. He said that the firm uneQuvooally
| endorsed the position Com ptroller Coer had
| taken In the fight against the granting OF a
| contract to the Ramapo Water Company. and
would do all In its powe- to aid him. The
| flrm he said. did not believe In grant, con-
| tracts to private corporations but that the city
should own and con troll its own water plant.
AS to the Ramapo proposition" said Mr..
Boardman. I'VE think 1t is ridiculous one.
1t is huge swindle and ought to be disposed
OF at once. Mr.. Coler 10 perfectly right In OPP
posing It and we believe that he will succeed.
| This 10 the view that I understand Gen.
| Tracy to hold. He has no connection with the
| Ramapo Water Company. although at one time,
| believe. he acted as its counsel. 1t Is merely
| paper com pany and has no real existence.
am not sure that Gen. Tracy was ever paid for
| his services. but am positive that he has had
nothing to do with the concern for the past five
years. Gen. Tracy Is In Paris now but I am
sure that he is as unalterably opposed to the
| deal as l am"
| Comptroller coler received q letter yesterday
| from Alfred 7. White. who was = Water Com
missioner under Mayor sohieren. OF Brooklyn.
| In which Mr.. White said:
Il see by the papers that an effort Is boinG
made to rush the city into a contract with the
| Ramapo Water Company. and am pleased to
| see that you and some other officials are Wig.
orously opposing the iniQuitous scheme.
send you herewith the report on additional
water supply for the city OF Brooklyn prepared
in 1895 by Engineers W. E. Worthen and I. NJ
dc Varona. This report covered surveys OF the
Ramapo district. the Ten Nile River and Lone
Island. think no one cap read these reports
without feeling convinced that the city can So
cure the amount required at not much ovel
half tho price asked by the Ramapo Company
by the construction Of public works"
| Bridge Comm ission or Shea issued the follow
ing statement yesterday:
THE Ramapo Ia q branch river and rises II
Orange county. near Madison. 1t drains 16(
square miles. Of which liz are In tho State o
New York. The maximum flow OF that particu
ar stream 10 90 cubic feet The Ramapo Il
| to-day threatened with pollution from SuYern
N. Y, and Tuxedo. whore sewer Is alread
discharging into the stream. In my judg
ment. It would be infinitely better for tn
city that an examination and survey SHOULD
be made OF all sources. and a determ inatiol
made BY it's own officials OF the efficienc
Of the gathering ground. the elevation. &c
and the route through which tho waite
ia to be conveyed to the desired reservoir an
II new ones are necessary. This last is tn
most difficult part OF the problem and the mos
vital part OF the whole affair. The Siphons witt
which the water ls to be carried to the river
intervening between New jersey and Lon
Island. are no trihing matters and once undo
water cannot easily be gotten at. unless laid il
a tunnel under the rivers"
| vouYa r0YTE TLSy1T MURnrRED