New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-21
THE RAMAPO WATER PLOT.
IT'S GIGANTIC IMPUDENCE HAS AROUSED
THE PEOPLE THOROUGHLY.
CONTROLLER FORCED TO START AN IN
vEsTIGATION INTO CONDITIONS WHICH
AN HONEST CONTRACTOR WOULD
WILLINGLY DISCLOSE.


WILLINGLY DISCLOSE
The cool proposition OF a paper company that
this city should change its whole policy OF water
supply for its benefit. should furnish II with
capital enough TO set up In business, and should
then buy water from 1t at higher cost than 1t
could get II through its own aqueduct system. has
aroused such hurricane OF public protest that
the fgureheads who are pushing the proposed
Ramapo Water Company steal would surely be
inclined to drop the whole matter, for the pres
ent, anyway were 1t not that they evidently have
orders from who break them II
they do not obey to keep up bod front and close
the deal II possible. In connection with this. con-
siderable comment has been aroused by the fact
Shat neither Croker Mayor Van Wyck has ex-
pressed the slightest disapprova OF the proposition
which nearly passed the Board OF Public I'm
provements last Wednesday-to pay this company,
without visible assets. s20oOOOc0 In the next forty
years for supplying the city with 2oooo0o0 gallons
Of water daily
The investigation OF the Ramapo company and
the Ramapo watershed, which the Controller has
been forced to undertake. for lack Of any informa-
tion offered by the company or its hackers Is ex-
pected TO show. among other things. that 1t would
require eight or ten years for the city to construct
a distributing system for the 2DOc.O gallons or
water day which the company proposes 10 de-
liver at the Yonkers line that this would call Tor
outlay OF about s7oc0OOo. that for about $1,000
w tne city COuQ take up all tHe NdVloHou NP-
tions which the company processes TO hold and for
less than 800 900 could construct the necessary
works TO distribute throughout the city all the
additional water It will need for the next forty
years.
COSTLY CONSEQUENCES
Another strong argument against this Job Is the
belief OF engineers that the water mains now laid
in the city not strong enough TO resist
pressure such would result from the delivery OF
for elevation
the company. The promise Of an elevation or three
hundred feet Is probably elusive. but II II were
made good some engineers declare. not only the
water mains under the streets. but the water
pipes in almost every house In the city would De
burst by the pressure. and would have 10 be re-
placed by heavier ones This would add an i'm
mense the cost of such DEAL for the tax
payers.
Now that public attention has been directed as
before 10 the extraordinary nature scope anu
llberaty Of the powers which the Legislature
granted to the Ramapo Water Company for moth
ing envy OF It's luck has naturally been excited
in many quarters. The Controller is reported 10
be among those who regard the company chd'tel
with jealousy-not personal. but an ofncial Jed'-
ousy-and he is quoted saying that he VIII nave
a bill prepared for the next Legislature whch
will give this city similar powers to condemn lands
for a needed water supply. Mr.. Coler is also pre-
pairing TO make legal attack upon the COMPANY
and II the Board of Public Improvements seems
likely 70 push the ncfarious job through. IN spite
Of all the public protest against IT. an injunction
may be applied for to prevent H. on groun's u
public policy.
President Grout OF Brooklyn Borough, who IS IN
-pnrropf mas Been asked by cable to come home IN
time 10 attend the next meeting of the Board he
is confidently expected TO vote against the scheihe
and n # is held that borough presidents can vote
on the subject at all his ballot may defeat the
nroiect since the las: vote stood 8 10 .. Inc
Mayor. however has vote II he chooses to attend
the meeting How he looks the steal Is PROP
lematlcal yet
ONCE ASKED LOWER RATES.
The efrontery OF the schemers who are behind
the proposed robbery IS thrown into strong rehei
by the discovery OF the fact that the Ramapo
water Company offered in 1884 to supply the city
with water at the rate OF $3.50 for a million
gallons. Now it wants $50. 1t proposed at
that time to give bond Of $4,000 as security ior
the fulnlment Of It's contraG, nov nrdnosed un
dertaking I'm 1884 was only one fourth as large as
that which It now offers TO- perform an, 1arIe- us pte-
soners investigated and rejected Recorder sIhy M
was one OF ne inyestsatGrS M had no property
only options on Ramapo watershed farms Inc ne
company hen he vnTs as n9w y ne leaving the city to
Hubert o. Thompson. Commissioner of Public
Works was APPLIED to for an estimate of what
II would cost TO install the lncrsased @ an55
PPe agTreS II AZ $40 600 on these and other
grounds the proposal was rejected, aithough e Ine
company I'm IFS eagerness TO secure the contract
offered TO take even less than $50 80 million gal
Ions Just how low IT was willing TO reduce r. the
price was not ascertained but 1t goes TO snow
that the price asked now is sheer eXtortlon.
WATER BONDS AND DEBT LIMIT.
The subject OF whether the city Is In financial
condition Just now 10 incur new item OF indeot-
edness sufficiently large to purchase an additional
watershed and install In connection therewth ne"
dam and aqueduct system. should Mr. Coler's In
49,. In GhT
water supply is really necessary for the citys de-
mands in the near future is a somewhat intricate
one. Article WILL Section TO- of the state Con-
stltution tells for what subjects and under what
conditions cities shall not make appropriations Vi
money 1t also sets a limit to the Indebtedness
which city may incur. the limit being not 10 eA-
ceed 10 per of the assessed valuation OF the
real estate last subjected to taxation. There are
exceptions allowed. Here is one:
Nor shall this section be construed to preven.s
the issue of bonds to provide for the supply nr0 OF
vide this supply of water shall not exceed twens!
years and sinking fund shall be created on 'he ne
Issuing of the said bonds for their redemption. Dy
raising annually sum which VIII produce, an an
erSs Of eg%i sad iS bonds as at aa% hS @
tihcates OF indebtedness or revenue ponus issIeS isS
IN are mott PeTed 9 Within m sye years after their date
of issue. and bonds issued TO PROVIDE lot rd te Nv
env portion or part Of the city. If there shall be
any such debt shall be included In asceriaining i1
s Whenever hereafter the boundaries OF
any city shall become the same as those OF the
&C unity the power OF the county 10, become ~ ~,
debted shall cease. the debt or the county d.
that time existing shall not be included as d part
OF the city debt
BY the section the city has a right 10 issue
water bonds TO any extent. But there are condi-
tions and restrictions. The time must be TOT not
longer than twenty years. Every year. one
twentieth Of what the sum OF the principal ana
the interest OF the bonds will be at their maturity
must be raised and the amount OF me wnqie be
issue when ordered. must be charged aealhst siie
power OF the city or county to incur Indebtedness
HAFFEN SAYS HE'S AGAINST II.
DECLARES THAT HE VOTED FOR DELAY
AND CONSIDERATION
Louis F. Hanen president OF the Borough OF Inc