Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-22

RAMAPO WATER SCHEME.
Project That IL Stirring Up New
York Just Now.
New York Hernl1l


Controller Coler is confident that he can
defeat the scheme of the Ramapo Water
Company TO jam through It's 100000 900
contract with the city. -
He will confer with former Judge John
f. Dillon to-day in regard to the legal
aspects of the Ramapo water scheme,
and steps Will be taken to restrain the
Board Of Public improvements from act
ing upon the contract.
An effort will be made to discover who
holds the S2,5O0.0OO of stock, how much
was paid for IT, and what has become of
the money.
In view of the fact that the company
seems to have been for twenty years
football of politicians. the question Of
its responsibility is looked upon as inn
portant, especially since some of the po-
litical leaders whose names have been
identified with its history now disclaim
all connection with il.
TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY.
Another scheme of the Ramapo Water
Company is the utilization OF its surplus
water-power for the production of electri-
city for lighting and power purposes. n
hint of this purpose was given al the hear
ing given TO the company year ago. The
Herald at that time inquired into the de-
tails, with the following result:
'Messrs. Nostrand and jerks two Of
the engineers Of the Ramapo Company,
told me that electrical energy could be
developed by Harvesting the waters Of
the Catskills quite as readily as II had
been obtained by the Harvesting OF Niaga-
ra Falls. A system OF turbines, they eX-
planned. would be used. and by this
means almost any quantity of power could
be developed.
In order TO avoid any hitch when the
time for carrying out this great scheme
comes the politicians in the company
have obtained from the Legislature an
amendment to their charter. under which
they can expand their capital stock,
now placed at 100000. and pave the
way for investing many times that
amount in developing In the Catskills
electrical energy to run the railroads and
factories OF the metropolis"
WHAT THE CONTRACT PROVIDES.
President Holahan, of the Board of Pub
lie Improvements, has new copy
OF the proposed contract with the Ram
apo Water Company. Here are its eleven
clauses:
/. The Ramapo Water Company shall
mission, water TO be taken from the
Esopus and its tributary watersheds, and
delivered at the rate OF $40 per million
gallons.
2. No water shall be drawn by the
company from any stream or lake the
surface of which is less than 400 feet
above mean tide level. and all water sup
piled shall be OF greater purity than that
from the Croton and Long Island sources
of supply. as shown by the official analy-
SEES OF the Croton and Long Island
water for the last year as compared with
a like analysis OF the Ramapo water
TO THE CITY LINE ONLY.
g. The Ramapo Company agrees 10 fur
nsh at the northern boundary line Of the
city daily supply of 2OOOOO,OOO gallons Of
water for forty years, beginning in 1902,
subject TO the right of the Commissioner
OF Water Supply Ito reduce the quantity
Of supply to such number of gallons as
to his judgment may be required upon
notice thereof TO the party of the first
part, except. as hereinafter otherwise
excepted conditioned ana provided"
4. The water company agrees To con-
strllct and maintain its works without
liability TO the city other than the pay
ment of so for each 100000 gallons of
water supplied.
5. The city of New York agrees TO ac-
cept such water as it may require not ex-
ceedng 2OO000,O00 gallons daily, and TO
pay $40 for each 100000 gallons
6. The city of New York authorizes the
company TO act as its agent and repre-
sentative in doing whatever may be ne
cessary in fulfilling its contract, providing
that the city shall not be liable for any
expenditure in connection Herewith.
7 II Is agreed that the city shall ac-
cent such amount of water as the COM