New-York tribune., 1902-03-15
CIRCUIT CALLS TT WASTEFUL
SAYS COMBINATIONS FOR CRoToN
WATERSHED COST SS,4o5,2 ,26s.

Controller Crout Yesterday issued a statement
directing attention to the costliness OF the con-
demnation proceedings IN connection with the
requirement of lands for the protection OF the
Croton watershed. Mr.. Grout says that the
proceedings have been wasteful especially in
connection with the employment Of special coun-
sci, to whom was paid 100000. about ST.
76O year since the proceedings began, in 1898
Mr.. Grout does not name the special counsel,
but it Is understood that he had Henry I. Dyk-
man, Of White Plains in mind. Mr.. Dykman'
who is of Justice Dykman, has for years
acted special counsel for the city In connec-
ton with watershed land purchases. and his
friends say that it kept staff of assistants
and stenographers busy a great deal or the
time to look after the city's business
These proceedings have by no means occu-
pied the full attention of counsel employed
says Mr.. Grout. in commenting on the alleged
wastefulness of city money. The Controller
statement in part is as follows
An Illustration of what 1T cost the city to OBTAIN
land for public under the present metnOus noe Is
sanitary protection of the Croton watershed from
May 1898 to December 81 1901 the toIa o S3st % 1I
elusive of small expenditure on N see04nt acc % 81 GGh fb
total the awards paid for properties taken in these
three counties along the tributaries to the Croton
Property the expenses amounted to 5000 7s7 o.
eee bet%eeR %t ne and thirty d
fercnt commissions appointed to acquire as many
separate parcels Of land required for TINS proIec
ton. During the nine years Of the operation OF
this thus these commissioners nave le-
ceiyed in fees a total of S43l.l46 a. an average OF
$47,904 year. These commissioners ices started IN
So S s q is a1d weae for tSe yeaT 1901 s The
fees paid real estate experts in these proceed
ngs have amounted S151712 SO, an average during
the nine years of sl6,S57 per annum; .,o,
In these proceedings there was but one speclaI
counsel for the city for which services he has re-
ceived Sl59S3S 3d. starting in 1893 with $S Sl 40 IN
1897 receiving the highest annual zee Of SZS;-
757 ST. and in the year 1901 was paid 1914 5S He
has received average annual retainer from the
city special counsel in this work OF Sli,ttO- In
tiOn amounted TO $l31575 as Thus, through four
channels alone total expenditure OF $s4 262 oS has
been made, leaving balance of $3233o % that went
for services attendant upon the work of the com
mlssioners. experts and special counsel.
Among these incidental expenses may be cited
of about Sc 500 annually; clerk and messen
ger hire during the nine years OF S8595l 81. an
average of fully $500 a year; printing which
meant the publication in book form of the reports
and notes transcribed by the stenographers ST.
6Sl "a Of about $500 year; advertising.
$G4,326 Il. average of little over 5000 year;
special items. IS 435 %. and miscellaneous expenses
OF all kinds during the last six years OF S23'o 5I
average Of something over $500 year.
While all these expenses and awards were In
Cured and made in strict compliance with the law
providing for the work Is evidenced by the fact
that all bills have been taxed by the courts, one
been wasteful OF the publics money at least in
two directions 1t is shown that the city has paid
for the services Of special counsel total Of a
little less than $3.50 900. nearly $4,000
These proceedings have by no means occupied the
full attention OF counsel employed. and a very
terial part OF this expenditure could have been
the citys legal department placed in the hands OF
one OF the assistants.