New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
the value OF existing private water companies sup
piy-ns in the city Of NewYork.
THE ONLY CONSISTENT COURSE.

piying " ater in the city of New-York.
THE ONLY CONSISTENT COURSE.
Mr. Grout added that it the only consist
ent course for the board to acquire the fran
rhise for those water companies. In addition 10
the companies then supplying the city without
contracts there three whose contracts
would expire in 1900 in 1901. and twelve
pther contracts which would expire in 1902. Mr.
Grout said in closing:
If there we're nothing in the situation except st
board 10 determine at an early date the poies 20 70
s lions T., G furtberps0ce ~ OF that nocy promptly
the date of the expiration of each contract
When the report was read Mr.. Grout offered
q resolution asking the Commissioner of Water
Supply to report the cost and advisaolllty
of acquiring the Brooklyn Water Company, the
FIatbush Water Company and the Jamaica
Water Company. This resolution was adopted
on March 22 1900 President Roosevelt. then
Governor of New-York. made public a letter
written by Mr. Grout, addressed TO Henry W.
Goodrich. OF the Merchants Association, In
which Mr. Grout attacked both the political
organizations of the State as defenders of the
Ramapo Water Company.
AT that time no repeal act had been passed
Nothing had been done except to pass the
..Fallows stop gan" as it was termed which
gave to Controller Coler power to veto any con-
tract with the Ramapo Water Company. The
Ing the Ramapo Water Company completely In
possession of its great right, and only posslply
hindered from obtaining S2o,pVtoo contract
with the city Of New-York by the authority
granted TO the Controller that year to veto any
such contract. The FaIlows bill, conferring
upon Controller Coler this right TO veto, was not
al that time in Governor Roosevet's hands.
The letter written by Mr.. Grout was accom-
penied by another from Mr.. Grout to Governor
Roosevelt. In which he expressed the opinion
that the true way TO attack the Ramapo Water
Company was to repeal the act passed in 1870.
Mr. Grout. from that letter appeared to be dis
appointed over the action of the legislature in
rejecting the bill Of Senator McCarren which
repealed the law of 1896 forbidding the city 10
acquire water rights in Suffolk County without
the consent of the Board Of Supervisors of that
county He found fault with the Merchants
Association for not aiding him to pass Senator
McCarren's bill In the letter addressed to
Henry w Goodrich. which he inclosed TO Gov
ernor Roosevelt he said on February 13:
single handed 10 speak before the Senate Com
,nittee on the repeal OF the suHolk county Ia w.
Supply Department as represented by its Man
haitian Office was opposed TO US and every, Man.
Tepesi Of the law the Merchants Association
Il Il the s' snae last shq wee as TPS PractcsS
fpe5Se n ths STATE ot sash AIN ha a. esefpt hesa rbeed #
Would Id haTe Solved the Water Situation for New
York City for fifteen or twenty years to come. and
Rsmapo contract. for suffolk County will supply
M the pera TsieP Of hn1 % we all the ddtion wants
OF Manhattan and The Bronx can be supplied from
Of sufficient storage reservoirs to preserve the mill
over the Croton dam.
FaLI.ows ACT ONLY TEMPORARY.
In his letter TO Governor Roosevelt Mr.. Grout
esid
peal of the Ramapo act Of 1895 is the only effective
n 59r y sS. f ~ me 6af there IS grave
misunderstanding as 10 the scope and importance
ens h @ s 1 a9P5 m9Sae 1PanI 6 DO o nf' is by
reason of an injunction which procured early last
fore Justice Wimot N smith. that action by the
since the Controller 5 injunction vacated. II
you VIII persopally examine Section az odsy o1 me me
right TO condemn water rights anywhere In the
First-Except as limited by Section 1919 Of the
charter and the Suffolk County act.
or in part 20 the supply of any other municipality.
81 o Of he the aPsa PRamapo Gr e Of @
the heart OF this water situation. the Merchants
bi fT0'ia f'0H centred attention upon this Morgan
About the third week of March. 1900 Presi-
dent William F. King Of the Merchants As
sociation sent TO members of the Board of Pub
1ic Improvements request for their approval
Of the Morgan bill as a means of securing
rights for an additional water supply for the
city.
Mr. Grout wanted the Merchants Association
communication laid the table Il am be-
ginning to look on the Merchants Association
with suspicion he declared. II think this
Morgan bill is a sham. The Merchants As
sociation would limit US to twelve counties in
the State for water supply.
Controller Coler said that the Merchants AS
soeiation. acting under difficulties, had done the
best it could. and was entitled TO credit for the
results accomplished The only way to kill
Ramapo is to repeal the act of 1885, Mr.. Coler
said. Mr.. Grout nodded assent TO this. There
was unanimity in laying the communication on
the table.
Mr.. Grout offered a resolution directing Mr..
Dalton, the Commissioner OF Water supply 10
take steps to secure a water supply from Suffolk
County, and test the law which forbidS out
side county from obtaining a supply OF water
there. The resolution was adopted.