New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-31


supply They make clear why private citizens urge
Il, desirs personally to thank you for the irmness
chants Association of New-York in opposing the
projected monopoly. Your action and your
stages. and what has been done by you has been
that which was best to be done under the condi-
F., ~. n. FhGSER1cR ID DE y RERARD
THE WATER SITUATION IN NETWORK
The second communication is as follows:
1. Brooklyn is In imminent danger of a water
2 This -, danger is, due to conditions that have
3. To avert it speedy action is necessary.
~ Ac.ion Is not being taken to avert it, but, on
impeded a GNU "' A'00D are systematically
5. Water for the speedy relief of Brooklyn can
be got from only one source-namely the eastern
part of Nassau County.
the part of Nassau Conn Wasr he neee n
sary wa water er rights are now used in whole in
lagos; hence, the city of New York neither buy
Az to acquire any property rights Hy such
T. The contractual powers of the city of New
York as to water supply are not wholly derived
and by whom Contract shall be e MADE iee''nes now
Statutes OF 1888 (or 1884 repeating and amendaory
permit the city Of New-York to contract for Water
with the Ramapo Water Company. and with no
assuming that the city CONTRACT with other
form OF contract for water approved BY the Cor
poration Counsel. authorizes the company with
and represenaSe of the city Of e so sf far
be for he S2 aP o Ss
and Chapter ss5 Laws of 1882 authorizes the Rama
town or village age: and to other corporations and to
Hence contract by the city with a Nassau
Of an indirect contract with the Ramapo Water
eastern part Of Nassau County and of Suffolk
for water tnerefro whether made In its own
Gates owning water rights there
9; In case Of water famine In BROOKLYN the
possible means for getting more water 1t can only
be got by contract: it can only be got from one
company, either directly through its contracting
CAUSES OF DEFICIENCY
10 These condition are due:
First-To existing laws drafted or nstigated by
ey of Sd yns department. OF supply OF the
sec0ndTo neglect or refusal Of the he officials h.s Of
Public improvements, the Board of Estimate and
the city of NewYorR to take the necessary legal
steps for procuring an additional supply Of water
ii. sufficient supply of water for the imme
the eastern part of Nassau County at very small
Az Of the city charter are removed D.. -oon.
M fa this made s ito
to secure a change in that law to amRlify their
9ireet necessity for more water as their reason
w the to sb
the city would be mulcted to the extent of more
r. The city authorities of New-York, who have
neglected to obtain at nominal cost from an Oh,
source of supply. the water which they alege
laws ee wSich dsauafy the city from obtanns
water. except by contract and finally have sought
der the of the laws drafted by themselves.
is he Legislature a
city containing half the population OF the state
The Merchants Association then goes to
detail some of the facts upon which the fore
going allegations are based.
The water supply of Brooklyn, the report says
is drawn chiefly from the Rdgewood system
which was extended some years ago from Rock
| Vile Centre to Massapequa but the conduit con-
| nections from Rockville Centre to the reservoirs
| at Ridgewood were inadequate to transmit the
| water and a part of the supply at times
wasted.
The Merchants Association then gives his
tory of the attempt to provide for additional
| conduits the movements failure, the water
famine in January of last year, and the attempt
| about that time to fost upon the city contract
with a private water company which could ar
ford no immediate relief
The statement also treats of the alleged at
tempt to brighten the populace into sympathy
with the proposed contract by order which
would have utilized two polluted ponds to make
| I'D for the deficiency in Brooklyn's water sup
ply This order was issued. but not enforced the
prompt action of the State Board OF Health for
bidding such a menace to the health Of the ctti-
zens.
THE CITY'S HANDS TIED.
The as ociation discusses the dangers which
| threaten the city follows:
Section Al OF the city charter permits the Com
| missioner of Water supply, he contends. to
enter into summary contract for water with a
private company, subject to the approval OF the
which has not yet become law, places safeguards
around the Commissioner powers of contract. II
is obvious that these safeguards to the form OF
a contract will have little weight when a
the quickest way, regardless OF cost or manner
The compusion of necessity will be upon the
pie. compusion Of law embodied in Section 472
will drive them to buy water at an excessive price
rat her than not TO have ii at all. Under that
ton they get it only by buying 1t through
tract with private companies. 1t Is alleged that
these provisions of law drafted instgated by
some of the present officials of the Water Supply
Department In the years 1885 and 1885, and in
iected by them into the city charter. 1t Is these
laws that tie the citys hands and make ii power
drew these disabling laws Is among the officials
who for several failed to act in the form
required by law to obtain Ii, 100000 or O,0D0o) gal
Ions OF water by the building OF the conduit re-
ferred above. 1t is these officials who ordered
the waters from polluted ponds 10 be turned into
the water supply of the Borough OF Brooklyn. In
order that public apprehension might thereby be
created and the way great water contract be
made smooth 1t is these officials whose omissions
have created the danger of "A famine in Brooklyn.
II is these officials who still have power to do again