New-York tribune., 1901-02-24
LONDON1S RAMAPO.

If II were possible 10 teach by example New
York would learn lesson Of warning against
Ramapo through having attention called 10 the
experience Of London. The British metropolis
has a Ramapo Of its own. or perhaps IL would
he more fitting 10 say that there is a British
Ramapo which has London in its clutches. Ger
tainly II is quite right TO say that one Of the
very greatest evils 10 property, health. comfort
and life from which London suffers to-day is
that of private control Of its water supply.
There are several companies engaged in the
water business. They are non-competing. and
SO cooperate for their general gain; in brief
they form what should call a trust They
have grown enormously rich from the profits
OF poor service. and have been able 10 con
troll legislation and official action concerning
them 10 extraordinary extent. Thus they
have secured the adoption OF an arrangement
under which they can collect pay for water
whether they furnish II or not In 1895 and
1899. for example, when there was scarcity OF
water. and people suffered and died wholesale
in consequence. this British Ramapo trust kept
right on collecting pay for the water it did not
furnish and for lack Of which the taxpayers
were diving.
The latest move in the case is an effort Of the
British RamapO 10 mulct the people and put
them 70 further suffering for its own profit. 1t
wants 10 abolish the present system of having
constant supply Of water always "On tap" in
the pipes. Instead il would compel each house
holder. n his own expense, 20 build water
tank i'm his house, holding a certain quantity
deemed by the company sufficient for a days
uses. That tank would be filed each day. and
from il the houses supply would have TO be
drawn; and use Of water would have 10 be re-
cd In ha nm 1fV in sl,a
under penalty Of going without any more until
the next day, A good many people already
know what tank water is-a tepid decOctiOn Of
dust and dead mice. At the menace OF so
scandalous a scheme tho London worm has at
last turned. ana there is reason 10 hope that
not only Will the proposal of the RamapO Trust
hc rejected, hut an adequate water supply
under municipal ownership and control will be-
fore long be secured
New -lOrl's RamapO is not. Of course. pro-
posing at present any such denominations. ON
the contrary. il is protesting with smooth
SanctimOnOusness thar its sole aim is 10 give
the dear people purer and mere profuse sup
ply Of water than now is provided. But there
is no reason 20 doubt that the wretched plight
Of London il true fOreshadOwing Of what
would befaH New-Nork were ;his city 10 aban-
don the only safe principle of nlunicipal own
ership and give itself up 10 the tender mercies
Of Ramapo. The power that could secure the
fulhlment Of the iniquitous conspiracy Of 1895.
and hind this city to pay sa00.OO0.OOO for
something worth only a third Of that sum.
| would he able 20 make such supplementarv
bargains as suited it's unclean desires. To
what extremes IL would go NAV be learned
from the experience Of the last year with a
needless water famine forced upon the city for
the fnrrherance of RamaPoism. Once let down
tho hars and the whole herd may flock in. The
only security is in rigid. inexorable maintenance
Of the principle Of exclusive municipal owner
ship and control. There should be not even the
remotest suspicion OF a compromise with Ram
| apo. Aew-lOrk must not place itself under