New-York tribune., 1899-08-31
RAMAPO SCHEME KILLED.
BOARD OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
VIRTUALLY VOTES 1T DOWN.
A STRONG STATEMENT FROM CONTROLLER
COLER-CoNvINcING REPORTS FROM
HIS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. HOLA-
HAN ANGRY AND DEFIANT


HAN ANGRY AND DEFIANT.
Controller Bird s. Coler made a vigorous and
effective attack upon the proposed Ramapo
steal at the meeting Of the Board Of Public I'M
provements yesterday. He presented his report.
and backed it up with reports of three engi-
neers who had been making Investigations
The Board virtually killed the Ramapo scheme
by adopting the following resolution. only Presi-
dent Holahan and Commissioner Dalton voting
against it:
Resolved That it is not in the public in
terest for the public veal neither Is 1t neces-
sary that the city should contract with PR.
Vate corporation for its supply or water; tnat
upon the expiration OF the term of the exstlne
contracts for such purpose proceedings should
be taken to acquire the rights OF the persons or
corporations holding or owning any such rights.
TO the end that the municipality shall own It's
water system exclusively.
In his own report the Controller made the well
come statement that the city was we'll within its
debt limit. and that there need be fear that
the city could not spend millions in extending its
own water supply. His statement leaves no
doubt that the city could go ahead with the
work OF building the rapid transit road without
danger OF exceeding its debt limit.
The present debt Of the city is within the
| constitutional limit thereof by more than ST.
100000" the Controller declared AT the next
election an amendment to the Constitution is
to be voted on, which, IL adopted. will add near
! ly $3O,OOO,OOO to the debt incurrins
| capacity OF the city AS this amendment has
| been favored by both the principal political
parties Of the State there would seem to be no
| reason to doubt It's passage Assuming Its
| adoption, the city will enter upon the fiscal year
a Of
bonds for new liabilities not now contracted
! for"
| The rooms of the Board of Public Improve
| ments were crowded for half an hour before the
meeting began with persons interested In the
Ramapo Water CCmpany's application for a
| franchise. Representatives Of the Citizens
| Union and Of the City Club prominent
| President Haffen OF the Borough Of The
Bronx presented a telegram from President
| Grout, dated at London, which read; Would re-
| quest that the Ramapo water matter be post
| poned for weeks"
| The secretary then read communications from
the Social Reform Club, the Board of Fire Un-
derwrlters and others, in reference to the appl-
cation of the Ramapo Water Company.
When the secretary had read the clause Of the
! Contr 1llers report declaring that the city was
! in condition financially to undertake the work
! Of providing additional water supply, Mr.. Hola-
han interrupted by asking. ITO what extent"
"If the president will give heed to my report
he VIII get that information" said Mr.. Coler
! - &c your estimates based on the increased
ai.ation In taxable assessment ." asked Mr..
! Holahan.
"They are, but the 500 100000 debt incurring
canacity I speak Of is over and above every
liability incurred by the city," rejoined the Con-
troler.
THE CONTROLLERS STATEMENT.
The report Of Controller Coler was as follows:
At q meeting of this Board held August 10,
1000 tba Con1u,issioner of Water supply pre-
sented report urging the approval of contract
| with the Ramapo Water Company TO supply the
| city of New-York with 2OOOOoUU gauohs ~
water daily. at the rate OF $40 per miliioh gal
| The questions involved in the execution OF
such contract were OF the o,,s u.aroso a1nond
portance for apart from the enorinoSuso So o 900
ture contemplated thereby-about SZ"'uo'oVo
during the forty year term OF the cohtracl-
the resort to private company tor 'he lueuae ~
| naods ~ tho city meant the reversal OF con-
sistent policy Of municipal ownership when mas
for many years governed all the large c'''e' Vi
! this country. ,. . ~.
When This matter was thus brought TO the
attention OF the Board a motion was MADE 10
defer action for four weeks, In order that d
! reasonable opportunity might DE hau ioi '
tgaton and discussion; -, .
This motion was lost by a tie vote
similar motion 70 defer action .oi rtI -
! weeks was likewise lost by the same vote flnai-
! ~ q doIav Of two weeks was granted. to enable
| the Controller TO present report on tnis su-
! premely important subject. .,.. o
! Durine the two weeks just elapsed l nave en-
deavored with the utmost diligence to OBTAIN an
| tho facts essential to the forming OF an lntslI-
gent judgment on the proPoS,si0n enetneer
/ ing force Of my department nave efnpioyeu . eA
perts of National reputation TO examine ilto ~
f,ttt
res1noct ~ ts water supply. but also the ability
! OF the Ramapo Water Company to supply water
from the watershed alleged to be WITHIN lts con-
! troll.
"MONSTROUS' SCHEME
The time allotted has proved altogether mad
equate for the purpose Monstrous as e LIE er;
| osition appears to me. ii has been urged serl-
ouelv and II is nv desire to treat II with all the
seriousness due to its overwhelming irnPoi
/ To do this involves examination, Whicn' IL
| or5un,ad With nroper care and thorouGhness,
! cannot possibly be completed In any such p'iei
| period OF time - 80, .u,o,ood IN oh
| +oininp the necessary information l call atteh-
| tion to the following correspondence WIN .e 1ne
| Department Of Water supply, anu ~ oo , ~, vet
| that the data fheieih redu
| been furnished.
"f-,tv NJ New-York, Finance Department.
controllers Office. August II, lS99
ITO the Hon. William Dalton. Commissioners Vi
nrooar 60 S,r. In order that I may have before
mo all the information possible in regard to the
proposed contract with the Kamapo Ma.er @
| Comnanv 7 respectfully request you 10 trans
! nit ali the data upon which was based your
report. presented to the Board OF Public I'M
movements at it's last meeting on Wednesday
| "r also request 10 be advised OF the plans
| ,rodo nv vour Department for utilizing the water
! delivered by the Ramapo Water company 10
! ,ha ci,v ~ New-York--i e. the size and loca-
| ,in, -, tho storage reservoirs. aqueducts, pipe
lines nrincipai distributing mains, and other
| accessor,es necessary for the distribution or
80 7ra,ar together with your estimate OF cost
| thereof. -, ,.... 4. -oo H.,
| the Board Of Public Improvements lot an eA-
| VIZ, ,.t ] - ,bie ir,mensely important subject