New-York tribune., 1902-10-06
FOR BIGGER WATER SUPPLY
CONTROLLER CIRCUIT ASKS THE MAYOR
TO APPOINT AN EXPERT
COMMISSION.

Controller Grout has sent 10 Mayor Low a long
letter urging immediate action toward increas-
spr the city's water supply. He suggests that
tho city appoint unbiased commission OF
three engineers Of acknowledge ability, one
of whom should be John r. Freeman, 10 take
up the water supply subject al once. SO as 10
finish their labors by January l. MI Grout In
his letter TO the Mayor SAYS in part
This administration has 70 provide the eity viii a
sufiee9I water sGeps, ne i6s Tnan-in Of any
proposition made toward increasing the water sup
3nsS / feel tt iucumheu upon me 10 draw 10 your
attention the necessity % adopting plan %i pi9
other public Improvements, and whereby ample
provision VIII be- made financially for Undertaking
T'hs conoiHsions reached by Mr.. Freeman in March.
1890 as additional supply, are, in part bHehy
Although the consumption viii very soon he un- m.
comfortably close 10 the safe limit. with mGoeht
management and with moderate and practicable re-
meIteS as 81 n"9 6y 6c FroTR snd ByTsm water
sheds can furnish a safe and ample supply l,r me @sne
years 40 come thus giving short hut adequate
time in which 90 build works for an addluonai
'6ne year Is p very brief time for the necessary
time Tor building proper aqusducts aud dams
Ihe PRELIMINARY steps SHOULD lmneqlstTN ,3',9 , De
Ply on comprehensive scale capahle OF sulilyS
,isIdnE an esst s..p 1 aS Gallons per tgeuty-four
hours, preferably 75o.e00Oo, and surveys. horings
by twenty more field parties. nearly an the
grounds covered IN the reconnaissance described IN
the present summer so thst construction may be
begun ~ possible carly in the spring of 1901 not
later than 1872
In regard 70 Brooklyn Mr.. Freeman says;
FOR nve wears or more past the urgent need for
an additional source ~ water supply has been 50
familiar viii the Brooklyn waterworks that 7
have not dhogshI ~ prSits 6is 70 devote any fsse I
20 the making - measurements q consumption IN
regarding BrooRl,n's needs
Last summer the city Was reported 20 Be on the
verge ~ a water famine, this has helped 10 check
During the summer % 1879 Brooklyn came 50 near
40 the exhaustion OF its visible supply that no
further demonstration ~ the urgent requirement.
Tor additional supply appears necessary IN This re-
port ,-,.-.
hle villages IN which there Is no water supply what
ever and the present sources appear already taxed
ZION as the island beoo1'es more tlcllv populated
shat they may ultimately have 10 he abandoned"
In regard 10 the new Croton dam. Mr.. Grout
says
It is needless to call attention to the fact that the
some time 20 come. and the NusCoot dam,
ondary dam. i've and oue-haf miles further up the
strucuon.
After reviewing tho suggestions Of the experts,
Alr. Grout says;
A comprehensive psn ~ procedure is 10 my mind
Ihat should fan IN my duty as financial officer ~
the city should q moi prepare finance any prop
ostion which may he presented by the proper au-
thoriues, bur which I cannot mtehgently do IN
advance of definite information.
created the Department of Water Supply. Gas and
control of one commissioner that II is manifestly
neNt 10 Impossible Tor the head OF such depart
tnerewtth, and a. the same time devote sufficient
time 10 tho consideration Of increased water sup
ply as the subject rightly deserves
Again. tho change Of commissioners In that de-
lstrHtion has made the work doubly difficult. and
I am informed by the present Commissioner that
auirements of the various bureaus that a fun
comprehensive scheme of enlargement OF the water
The records OF the Department Of Water Supply,
7 am Informed, contain large amount Of valua-
hle information. Including surveys made OF vari-
Gus sections during the last five six years which
termination which NAV be rived an bur / am
OF The opinion that the decision TO the best
commission OF engineers Of ACKNOWLEDGED ability.
roe and understand hIm TO approve H.
Woula therefore recommend 10 you that such
fly Is obtained: that il lIossihe fbe ssrricee -
John * Freeman he retained, IN order that his re-
subject b taken adyanjSEe or than The MeTeSants
SsTDssf iG,. s,h winch has taken such active and
paolose second engineer; that these two gentle
Shalrnan OF the commission. ex ofico 10 H. t6e
N22mInlssloner Of Water supply Gas and Electricitv
Prise az The beft source of supply for he inn5s
method ~ 1SSe9, dutnre t the most desirable
ibS 1e obtained az the earliest possible time: CS1
which should DE carried on smultaneo1siS v5tb ~
resdr, - ne probable cost during each sue
mission 10 De instructed 10 report nv 1sIi',sr
MY ~ ,ad az wlch time II shall cease to exist
lic iliis matter seems 10 be % such urgent In,
To- ~ 'slSe tiat no time should be lost especially IN
any definite policy can he decided mon o takea nefore
81 .l True u legislation is uecessary and IN is
The time when tho commission shs ms as as