New-York tribune., 1900-11-27

HoBOKEN, MI.

the water and what could be done to improve
it, said Mr.. Birdsall. "and l told the Grand
Jury that the water was all right yesterday, but
I couldn't answer for its condition tomorrow
Mr.. Birdsall said the rainfall of Saturday and
Sunday amounted to about two inches in the
Croton region and on Long Island, enough to
fill the reservoirs and lakes from which the city
draws its supply of water. He continued:
We have turned the corner now. and if we
get some more rain before the frost comes there
Will be water in abundance for all parts OF the
city until next spring, when we expect more
rains. This is the first day since June l that
the water has run over the Croton Dam we
have been drawing stored water for Manhattan
and The Bronx for 232 days, and our stored
supply had got down to about 1OOUOOuuVoO
gallons. Last year drew stored water for
237 days, but did not have to draw so rapid
ly and we had 10000 600 900 gallons left in the
lakes and reservoirs when the water began to
run over the dam again last fall.
l will allow the water to run over the dam
tomorrow before beginning to store up the
water, in order that it may get httIe
clearer. The rains have rolled the water con-
sderaby. l suppose for a day or so the water
in the city will be a little more turbld than
it has been, and may not taste quite so well as
il did. When the fresh water mikes with the
old water in the reservoirs it usually makes the
taste of the water stronger for few days. The
water in the reservoirs has been working all
summer The recent warm and muggy weather
had made the water work longer than usual
Cold weather will put an end to the vegetable
growth that gives the bad taste to the water,
and then the people Will have no reason TO SuS-
peCt the purity Of the water.
The water has been pure and wholesome all
along, but stored water will work in warm
weather. There has been truth in reports
that there were many dead fish in the water
and that the dead fish attracted the sea gulls
| to the reservoir in Central Park. The gulls go
| TO the reservoir to catch live fish. They will
not touch dead fish. | always contend that
water that live fish stay In IS good enough 10
| drink When fish die in water l don't want to
| in Central Park became so bad that many FISH
died in the water there We had to put enough
| lime in the water to kill the rest of the fish
| and then remove ali the dead fish. Nothing of
! the sort has happened since that year.
| DR.. George F. Shrady and DR., Charles F. Rob-
| erts, of the Health Department, witnesses
: before the Grand Jury IN the afternoon. At
! the Department OF Water Supply it was an
nounced that 1.7S inches of rain fell at Brew
sters Saturday and Sunday, $50 inches at
! the Central Park Reservoir and 2.39 inches at
! kenScO.
+ President Murphy of the Board of Health yes
| terday said that the specimens Of water from the
| Croton sheds We're in the hands OF the chemist
| of the Board of Health for analysis Eighteen
! samples taken from the bottom, the middle and
! the top of the reservoir had been received. A
! large number of patent demjohns were sent 10
! the CrOton watershed yesterday be filled with
| the water and returned.
DR. William T. Jenkins, a Commissioner of the
| Board of Health designated the fear in regard
! to the CrotOn water as 'hosh" and nonsense "
! In this DR.. Lederle the Boards chemist agreed
/ DR., Jenkins said that for several years periodi-
! cal troubles with CrotoR water had arisen
The spring and fall seasons, owing natural
supply surface supply. and the lack Of
| modern methods Of purifying ii put il at the
mercy of the elements. There was no danger in
using the water this time.