New-York tribune., 1899-06-22
prRE WATER ~ OUR CITIES.


Harlem have cause to rejoice over their water
supply. Few Of the leading cities Of the world
are so fortunate as this Island of Manhattan. 1t
is true that the convenience and comfort Oh
MANY New-Yorkers would be much promoted
were the pressure everywhere strong enough 10
roise the water to the highest stories without
the use OF pumps. Moreover, 1t is TO be desired
TINT water should he furnished in such volume
that 1t might be used lavishly for many grace
ful fountains for flushing the streets and sewers
and to pour such floods upon fires In lofty build
ings that the flames would be speedily checked.
But scores of millions of dollars have been wise
" spent upon the reservoirs ana aqueduc's
which provide the hundreds OF millions OF gal
Ions that are used daily. The resources or the
Croton Valley will not be exhausted Tor many
year and when the reservoirs now uhuer wa!
and the great dam near the Hudson are COM
pleted the metropolis will have made use or the
Croton system with notable sagacity, enterprise
and foresight.
Above the Harlem after the Jerome Park res
| ervoir is finished. and after the work already
begun on other additions TO the Croton system
| IS accomplished consumers will be IDeraily
| cared for In Brooklyn the outlook Is less EN-
| couraglng A great deal of money must De
| snent and n great deal of work must be done
| beforc BROOKLYN will have the plentiful supply
which II ought TO have, but in the Borough OF
Manhattan the quality Of the water Is excellent
| ond tho supplv Is generous The long term of
drv days this year has been almost without
precedent. but at no time has there Deeh dahgef
that the water supply of this borough would DE
reduced TO a menaclng extent. ana there mas
been no serious falling off In the wholesome
| qualities Of the Croton. Melancholy indeed Is
the state of things in the second and thrd cltles
OF the country. Chicago and Philadelphia, i'll
comparson with Manhattan Island. The hood
| of sewage which pours into Lake Michigan from
| tho Chicago River Is so copious that when the
wind is blowing in certain directions the water
I'm important districts in Chicago becomes so
foul that the Health Department finds II neces
sary to issue warnings to the citizens. con-
siderable percentage of Philadephas supply is
uncIeanlv and harmful. Not long ago the people
of London were complaining bitterly that the
nr,vote companies which chiefly control the
water In the greatest city OF the world were aDle
10 provide consumers with only fitfu dole anu
| that the water was evil to the taste and evil IN
| It's effects.
| & Iouis IS one OF the well-known places In
which the water has been too often OF rlch
brown color and thick with dirt. Several or the
nonuIous towns OF New-Jersey have passed
throuob seasons Of dire tribulation because
the,r water has been contaminated. The state
of Massachusetts is spending money as pro-
fuselv ms the city OF New-York Is spending II,
and BOSTON and the neighborng towns are look
ing forward TO an immensely augmented ser
| vice from the huge reservoir which Is to DE buIt
| in Clinton. Worcester County Municlpai dis
government has inflicted grievous injuries upon
| this community but Manhattan Island mas had
| annie reason for contentment with lts Croton
during most Of the period since the arches OF
High Bridge were set up over the Harlem NOT
tho least among the attractions OF this metropo-
liz is the fact that visitors need fear no injury 10
bealth from the water While less favored cities
are afflicted with typhoid fever ana other ds-
eases due to polluted water, the death rate or
Manhattan Is not increased by unwhoiesome
water Before Brooklyn was Joined TO Mahhat-
tan New-York held one OF the foremost positions
I'm the world In the excellence and abundance OF
It's supply Since Brooklyn has been taken III
this honorable distinction has been somewhat
dimmed. as the supply Of Brooklyn has IRE
ouently been unsatisfactory 1t Is clearly the
duty of those in authority to take such action
that the supply in every part Of the city snail DE
as generous and as pure as that which Mahhat'
tan possesses