New-York tribune., 1900-11-25

the foundation for the decision is not large. Not
everybody in the vicinity of the pumping stations
Is engaged in growing watercresses and fewer
still are In the business of producing other crops
tnat require constant flow of spring water
One OF the most extravagant statements in con-
hecton with the question is that attributed to
an engineer of the Department of Water Supply
that the pumping of these wells sucks the eartn
Dry within radius of five miles" There is ap-
parently ample proof to the contrary within the
water supply system OF the borough. For in
stance. within few hundred yards of the Janeco
pumping station, one of the largest and most
constantly drawn upon of all the borough's driven
wen plants, Is Baisley's pond, also a part of the
Brooklyn waterworks. This pond was full Of
water all through the recent drouth, notwith-
standing the heavy pumping a the Janeco station
The Springfield pond is similarly situated with re-
gard TO driven well station, and the springs that
supply both have continued to flow during the
pumping.
The application by the Department during the
season for fltering plant for these two ponds
polluted by sewage from adjacent villages, Off
cially cisproves this alleged declaration, for il
the ground were sucked dry for five miles around
there would be in either pond 10 filter
Other examples of the same kind to be found
at Freeport Bellmore, Wantagh and Massapequa
At Wantagh the two supply ponds OF the system
above and only a few hundred yards removed
from the driven we'll station. Neither of these
ponds has failed in the dryest weather and the
springs within them have constantly replenshed
for city consumption
Between the driven we'll stations and the sea
however, the situation is altogether different
The subterranean stratum of gravel through which
the water percolates, and from which IL is drawn
appears dip toward the south side of Long ISL
and. and south of the driven we'll stations brooks
springs and ponds dried up by heavy pumping
Possibly If there five miles of farms on that
side they would all be affected. but, fortunately
for the city. there not The distance between
the pumping stations and the salt meadows that
border the Great South Bay and Hampstead Bay
varies from half mile a mile, and much of this
"trip is not under cultivation Besides, there are
few or no watercress farms south of the system
of driven well stations, and the ordinary farm
products have not ceased to grow there since the
driven wells were established. To counterbalance
this good fortune, however. the clam and oyster
gatherers also have claim according to lawyers
who contemplate suing the city for them.
The driven well station Spring Creek
which the Tarm of Mr.. Forbell, the successful
ntgant. is situated. is the nearest the Ridge
wood distributing reservoirs of all the driven well
stations Of Importance. The most distant is at
Massapequa. and there four others beyond
Mfllburn and five more between Lynbrook and
Spring Creek. Each station has forty tube
wells, varying in depth from twenty one hum
dred and twenty feet. The tubes sunk on both
sides Of large main: through which their COM
bined yield is drawn by powerful pump The
tubes are generally three or four inches in diam
eter. and when the pumps not in operation many
OF the deeper wells overflow from natural pressure
two or three feet above the ground. The overflow
at Freeport early in the season. before pumping
was begun, formed several pretty brooks. which
flowed to waste in the salt marshes. and that at
Merrick made attractive lake just east of the
premises OF William Ryan.