New-York tribune., 1901-09-27
TANMANY DISREGARDED 1T
WHY MIR. CIRCUITS RESOLUTION OF 1899
WAS NOT OBEYED BY THE WIGWAM.
NINE PRIVATE COMPANIES STILL SUPPLY
ING WATER TO PARTS OF THE CITY
PLAN FOR A SPECIAL WATER
COMMISSION.

An examination of the records in the Depart
rnent Of Water Supply shows that there are nine
private water companies supplying water to
parts of the city, and that they have contracts
that are binding. All were made with officials
of towns municipalities previous to consolida-
ton, and were in force on January /, 1898. All
through the present Tammany administration
the nine companies have been collecting money
from the city for supplying water for fire ex-
tinguishng purposes. and have been selling
water to residents terms which the city
has control.
In his efforts to stave off the threatened Ram
apo contract, Edward NJ. Grout, In April, 1899.
got resolution through the Board of Public
improvements, calling on the Commissioner of
Water Supply to make report on plans for
taking all the private water companies.
either by purchase or by condemnation pro-
ceedngs. The resolution never has been obeyed.
Tammany officials were too anxious to pass the
Infamous Ramapo deal to begin proceedings for
the requirement of water rights belonging TO
any private company. They have made the
! that the city could not afford to spend
money in extending its service to portions
of the city supplied by the private companies.
Why" said official in the Department of
Water Supply the other day, the Health Board
has had the nerve to ask to supply water to
| a new school on Barren Island. when the city
mas no water pipes on that island.
NAMES OF THE COMPANIES
The Jamaica Water Supply Company has
contract with the city to furnish water in ia
maica for fire extinguishng purposes. the water
rental for each hydrant being $50 a year. This
contract made between the water company
and the officials of the town of Jamaica and
was renewed December 30, 1897. People of
Jamaica get water from the company on the
Company's own terms
The Queens County Water Company supplies
water to Arverne-by- the Sea, to Rockaway
Beach and TO Far Rockaway. on practically the
same terms. the contracts having been made
with the town officials Immediately before con-
soldaton so to be binding on the city
The Citizens Water Supply Company's con-
tract was made with the officials of the town of
Newtown There Is no stipulation to protect the
people of Newtown against exorbitant water
| rates. but there is a provision which scales the
rate for a fire hydrant from 50 year to SIS
a year when the number of hydrants is in
| creased above two hundred
The Upper New-York City Water Company
obtained contract in 1896 for furnishing water
TO the village of East Chester and it is now
binding on the city. This company collects $40
a year for every fire hydrant in its district and
| makes its own rates for water supplied to the
| people of East Chester
pany has been in the hands Of receiver some
time, but II still supplies water to Williams
bridge. Westchester Pelham and Wakefield un-
der contracts made before consolidation and col
| lects $40 a year from the. city for every fire
| hydrant in the districts in which its pipes are
laid.
The Woodhaven Water Supply Company fur
nishes some of the water used in Jamaica under
a contract made in December 1897 Its fire
| hydrant rental is $50 a year.
The Fiatbush Water Works Company supplies
water To a part OF Brooklyn under a contract.
receiving $4,000 a year from the city. 1t is not
| private buildings than the city charges for its
| own service in other parts of Brooklyn. The
| Board OF Estimate and ApportiOnment some
time ago passed resolution authorizing the
! city to begin condemnation proceedings to
quire the companys plant, but the resolution
has been held up in the Municipal Assembly.
The Crystal Water Company OF Edgewater
has contracts for furnishing water to Middle
| town. Northield Southfeld and Edgewater, in
| the Borough of Richmond These. contracts
! contain stpuations as 10 water rates. the
! nual rental for each faucet ranging from 81
! year TO 50 year. and the meter charges from
SO 80 per 1000 cubic feet 10 81 SS. according to
the quantity of water used in building. The
| company gets its water from driven wells on
Staten Island.
The staten Island Water Supply Company
| furnishes water to Port Richmond Northfeld.
! New Brighton and Westfeld on practically the
same terms. and gets S25 year from the city
| for each fire hydrant.
HOW THEY LOOKED AT IT
! While there was a possibility of forcing the
! Ramapo contract the city it believed
| that the Tammany officials wanted 10 keep the
| city buying part of It's water supply from the
| private companies. They could say that the city
! had to buy part of its water anyhow, and why
| not buy more? Legislation at Albany early
| last spring destroyed the power of the Ramapo
! company. by taking away its rights TO condemn
/ watersheds in any part of the State. Other
! legislation secured to the city the right of
! eminent domain, by which it can go into any
! part Of the state and get additional watersheds
/ The Merchants Association of New-York aided
I in securing such legislation. 1t had caused
! tensve, surveys TO be made by eminent
/ gineers and had collected and printed a vast
/ amount of information about the water system
of the city and about the available sources of
supply.
Months ago the Merchants Association of
fered to Mayor Van Wyck all the maps and
surveys the engineers had made, a means
by which the city could make preparations for
( getting additional water supply for the
future. An amendment to the State constitu
tion prepared by the association has passed
/ one legislature and will come before the people
without having the cost count against the citys
| debt limit.
If the present Tammany administration does
nothing before the end of the year to take ad
! vantage Of the opportunity to secure additional
water rights for the city the Merchants As
sociation will take to the legislature bill for
the creation of special water commission
! with powers equal to those of the Rapid Transit
Commission, nave entlre conroi or New
| York's water supply system BY the passage of
such a bill, it is said, the whole question of the
! city's water supply could ne taken out ol Poi
! itCs.
CAN'T GET IT'S SHARE OF EXCISE MONEY.