New-York tribune., 1901-07-09
GREAT CITY TASKS
question.

In no previous period of the worlds history
have so many cities been busy at the same time
with extensive aud costly public enterprises.
The daily reader of the news of all countries
cannot fail TO have noticed that the closing
years of the nineteenth century and the open
ing year of the twentieth have been marked by
the beginning or the continuance of municipal
undertakings the total cost of which will
amount to hundreds Of millions of dollars. In
London and Paris and in other capitals Of Eu-
rope, local railways underground and on the
surface. are in course of construction or will
be begun at early date. The tendency TO
improve the facilities for local transportation
is widespread. and seems now 10 have become
Irresistible in many quarters. Progressive com
munlties with ample resources and conspicu-
Gus for population and advancement are enter
ing upon notable tasks for the benefit OF their
citizens and of the strangers within their gates.
Rapid Transit is watchwerd and rallying
cry both in the Eastern and Western hemi-
spheres, and armies of wage earners are toiling
In subways. on elevated roads and on the street
levels in dozens and scores OF we'll known
places here and abroad But the principal cities
of the globe are concerned with other great
works than those which will effect the swift
distribution of hosts Of passengers. Schemes
Tor the CONSTRUCTION or new DOCKS ana piers on
the most ambitious scale, for the deepening
and broadening of harbor channels and for the
opening OF wider avenues of commerce and
trade in the best known ports of various cOun-
tries are more numerous and are planned on
more generous lines than in any former era.
And the provsio: OF more abundant supplies
of water for cities which consume huge quan-
titles is drawing millions upon millions OF
dollars from municipal treasures In the United
States and In other countries
The taxpayers of New-York have always been
ready TO approve any expenditure which seemed
10 be necessary to furnish the metropolis with
plenty Of water for general use and for the put
ting out of fires 1t is conceded that the men
who had in charge the construction OF the first
Croton Aqueduct. OF High Bridge Of the reser-
vOrs in the Croton Valley of the Fifth-ave
reservoir and Of the system of mains and pipes
in use before the Civil War were faithful New
Workers who did their duty well. They spent
to the best advantage and with thorough super
vision the public funds taken for the water
supply. There were no scandals bruited about
concerning their labors in the municipal service
Unfortunately since the second auueduct was
! begun, there have been many causes for sus-
picion that the interests of the people were not
always carefully looked after The settlement
OF certain Claims or contractors on the second
aqueduct had in ii some elements of an extraor-
dinary and disquieting character And now
our taxpayers are disturbed by suggestions that
II may be necessary TO reconstruct parts of the
dam of the Jerome Park reservoir because
there may be quicksands beneath il. and also
to rebuild portions of the gigantic new Croton
dam for various reasons. If the ahlest engi-
neers, experts Of the highest reputation and free
from suspicion of interested motives report
that errors have been made with respect 70
those mighty walls, and that the danger of
JohnstOwn disaster some similar calamity
can only be averted by rebuilding those dams
then they must be torn down and raised anew
although the changes will put still heavier bur-
dens on the STOPPING shoulders of the discopso
late taxpayers We must have safety. But if
any parts of those colossal barriers have been
set up on qucksands or have been put together
insecurely, some one or more persons have been
gravely In fault and ought TO be held TO ac-
count. Who is he? Or who are they?