New-York tribune., 1902-06-05
I. nj. DE VARONA INCENSED
HE TAKES A FEW FILINGS AT MESSRS.
DE LONG AND UGE-COMM1SSIONER
DOUGHERTY INQUIRING.

L NJ De Varona chief engineer of the De
partment of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity
in Brooklyn, at the department offices. IN
the Park Row Building yesterday. He was
greatly incensed against Herman A. Ruge, the
engineer who submitted TO Commissioner
Dougherty report Baisley's and Remsens
ponds. and made some sarcastic criticisms of
Mr. Ruge's ability as an engineer. He also took
a fling at Deputy Commissioner De Long.
Tribune reporter asked him if he had been re-
quested 10 explain why Basleys and RemseHs
ponds had not been cleaned for eight years.
No he replied, "and 1 don't think that
will be asked the question. because Commits
sioner Dougherty fully understands the facts.
The explanation is extremely simple. Both
Baisleys and the Springfield ponds were aban-
doned as sources of supply eight years ago. and
it would have been foolish to patrol and clean
them. especially when at the time there was no
intention of ever using them again. Now that
this supply is to be filtered and used again the
streams will more be patrolled and
cleaned.
What about the statement that you are re-
sponsible for the disgraceful condition of the
ponds. creeks and brooks that drain into the
ponds. and that charges are to he preferred
against you for neglect of duty?
That assertion is laughable and hardly worth
considering" said Mr.. De Varona. If Deputy
Commissioner De Long has made that statement
he has talked about what he does not know. and
hardly think any charges will be preferred.
Mi De Long has before now been reported IN
the press saying that if he had his way he
would fire out Mr.. De Varona. but have paid
no attention to that and do not propose to give
it any thought. 1 have been in the department
as many years Mr.. De Long has weeks. and
I am quite willing TO stand on my record 1
don't feel at all disturbed about the reported
Ta bic nj
Mostly
Have You read the report of Mr.. Ruge the
Commissioners engineer, in regard to the filter
ing plant?" asked Mr.. De Narona replied:
No. and 1 sorry ! nave not. because it must
he quite curiosity. BY the way, did not know
, time a draughtsman in the Tan Department: that
he held later some position as surveyor in the
CatskiIS. and has lately been appointed in the
his duties are but / think they are mostly confined
iItration. I do know that he is unique and has
9fh m sked 70 be my fdT M 'h If
the alum which was in the boxes was the that
was used to wash the sand before the water was
Uttered. and if this inquiry sufficient
TO make him famous. ne supplemented it by again
and used 10 pump the alum solution in extremely
measure the millions Of gallons OF water whcb are
daily altered at the plans M The third ohand as
filtration are expected with interest. that the
contrivance Of BrookIyn' hardly think Mr Ruge
viii be accepted as an authority. on filtration.
sgs5eGs s It Is f2et mat the meh0d Of MIRA ton
cessfuIly employed in hundreds Of plants in this
country. although fully believe that Mr.. Ruge
so so far have been successful and fully comply with
the world to say that the altering is too rapd and nd
can't imagine where the statement came from
has certainly Interested himself greatly filter
condition and mode of working 7 viii bavn befora
i MN IN t" Gays an of1Gal report OF the first Two
| When Commissioner Dougherty learned of Mr.
De Farona's outburst. he simply remarked: Il
am sitting this matter thoroughly. and will come
| to some decision in few days. l am sorry that
Mr.. De Narona has criticised Engineer Ruge
so severely. Mr.. RuEe is a competent engineer
and has made study OF filtration. That is his
specially"
Deputy Commissioner De Long who was pres
ent. laughed heartily at Mr.. De Varonas re-
marks, and observed: DE Varona is more of
politician than engineer. while Ruge is an
engineer and politician. Mr.. De Varona says
the ponds have not been used for eight years
| They were not used for six years up TO three
weeks ago. when without being previously
cleaned they were again utilized and a
sequence Brooklyn has consumed about 90.
100000 gallons Of stagnant and impure water
When 1 gave Ruge's record TO Commissioner
Dougherty. he said: L guess we haven't got
man in the department well equipped he
is. De Narona's assertion that the filtration
system has been tried before in hundreds OF
places is wrong. There are only two other such
plants in the country. one at Binghamton n. Y.
and the other at kankakee. Ill" Commissioner
Dougherty assented 20 this statement.
Mr. Ruge's record is the best in the world -
continued Mr.. De Long. He studied civil en-
Sineering at Zurich Switzerland. and has served
engineer in England and Berlin. He won
a prize in public competition for drainage
ks HernnStaa6
land. He had charge of the construction of the
East Hungarian Railway. Transylvana; was
chief engineer of the cable railroad in Zurich,
and chief engineer of the Sihl Valley Railway,
Zurich He has made thorough study of the
filtration system of NewYork.