New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
TEN MILE RIVER WATER.
WHERE THE CITY COULD Sc
CURE AMPLE SUPPLY
FOR YEARS.
THE GREAT WATERSHED OF DUTCHEss
CoUNTY-TAKING 1T WOULD IN
VoLvB DESTRUCTION OF
MANY HOMES.

MANY HOMES.
with the approach OF each summer with its long
stretches OF drouth and prospective water famine.
public interest in the city's water supply, after
lying dormant through the winter, is aroused in
Nsw-Yorkers from The Bronx to Richmond. This
year timely decision Of the United States Supreme
Court brings up the question. while the reservoirs
are still bank full and plenty of water running
through the aqueducts.
The opinion which the court has Just handed
down declares that New-York has the right to use
the water Of the Byram River by paying fair and
equitable damages 10 riparian owners. even though
the river flows into the neghboring State OF
Connecticut There seems to he, in the opinion of
many engineers, no reason why the same opinion
msy not hold good In the case of the Ten Mile
River In Dutchess County which offers addi-
tional supply Of hundred and fifty million gal
Ions OF water day. and a source of supply
Is. they say. unequalled in directness, cheapness,
simplicity, economy Of operation and facilities for
quick construction
The Ten Mile River has a watershed Of two hun
dred square miles from which to draw, and is so
situated that single dam $50 feet high would form
q natural reservoir Of fifteen square miles water
Hurface In this reservoir 81 100000 gallons of
water could be safely stored from $50 100000
gallons a day could be drawn. even in years of
extremely low rainfall. BY opening sIuice gate
st Pawling. the lower end Of the reservoir the
water could be sent without pumping into the
East Branch Reservoir of the Croton watershed
could be carried this city by the aqueducts al
ready provided The cost of the whole work as
estimated by competent engineers would be less
than 100000
The Water Department of the city has done
nothing with the Ten Mile River project since
the lower courts gave adverse decision in the
Byrsm River case more than year ago. Previous
20 that time preliminary surveys and extensive
Investigations were made for the city under the
direction Of John r. Freeman, civil engineer and
II is from his extended report that the figures IN
the foregoing were obtained. In 1895 the water
shed was thoroughly examined by the city Of
Brooklyn, with the idea Of adding loo0ooo0o gallons
day 10 that city's supply.
Commissioner J. Hampden Doughertv of the he
partment of Water Supply is not so sure that the
city is free to ahead with the Ten Mile River
water project He admits the necessity Of adding
TO the citys supply Of water and favors Mr. Free
mans plans II the legal difficulties can be cleared
away When asked yesterday regarding the ef-
feet Of the decree and the policy of the depart-
ment Mr.. Dougherty said
] have carefully read the opinion of the United
States Supreme Court in the case brought against
the city Of New-York by Pine Miller and othere
commonly known the Byram River case am
reluctant 10 express opinion on the opAstiop
"hether the city might not confront serious legal
aifhcules If il undertakes 10 extend the water svs
TEN into the Ten Mile River district The Su
prerne Court of the United States seems to ba,e
oeteated the riparian owners along the Rvra,n
River on the ground OF laches-that is 10 saw nag
ArEt ot IneF rlgnts. " is well
IN equity. where party seeks ntuncti,,e relief n
Insist on vigilant action When the owner sIeare
On his rights courts Of equity do not view his
course with favor. and usually refuse 70 erar+
equitable relief. Hence. my inability TO nropnoe+;
cate what might happen if the citv shou1d n,,r
chase land and begin the construction Of reservo,r
in the Ten Mile River watershed
am deeply sensible of the importance of the
annexation OF that watershed 10 the citv's system
u practicable and L heartily indorse Mr.. Free
Efe eupSre
those previously expressed by Alfred T Uhite sv-
commissioner of City Works in BROOKLYN and b,,
the engineer. I. NJ De Tarona 7 can add notbine
10 the statements regarding the desra bilitv of the
Ten Nile River project which have already hear
made by these men and bv Mr. Worthen
Probably belief that the CITY will ar onoA ,o,
10 the Ten Nile River has already influenced own
ers IN thst region TO estimate their farms higher
figures. and the cupidity Of promoters has been
aroused schemes are said 10 be foot for the
organization Of companies TO acquire water rights
and sell out 10 the city at extravagant prices I
have been given 10 understand that some New
Workers are interested IN these transactions All
such enterprises. II there be any. premature
for il may be found desirable to seek additional
water supply elsewhere"
In reopening the Ten Mile River project the au-
thorities having charge of the water supplv are
likely 10 omit the consideration Of a greater
projeet-a combination Of the Ten Mile and Upper
Housatonic watersheds-which would furnish an
average daily supply Of 750.oDo0OO gallons and solve
for q long time the problem OF water supply for
this city. By the construction of single dam be-
tween Granite Hills a mile below Merwinsville
Conn, dam the same size the new Croton
dam, both rivers could be combined and diverted
say engineers. and natural reservoir formed with
1sl ooeooooo0 gallons available storage More than
that, this enormous supply. according 10 Mr. Free
man, could be economically delivered by gravity 10
this city under sufficient head afford pressure
OF 100 pounds tc the inch street level
In front Of The Tribune office. The estimated ex-
pease 70 the city for carrying out this vast and
conclusive project would be $49 251 600 The water
could be delivered az the city limits at a cost Of
50 = million gallons. az which price Il is esti-
AMI pay off the bonds for entire cost I'm forty
years and then own the works free and clear and
in excellent repair.
But this joirt watershed project all depends on
the charity OF the Connecticut legislature The
legislature Of the State of New-York cannot give
the city the right 10 divert the water II is possi-
bic that change Of State boundary line might he
arranged that the Housatonic Reservoir would
lie within New-York. Rhode Island and Massa-
chusetts resdjusted their boundaries for such a
purpose Providence and Fall River Another
way would be for Connecticut give the city per-
mission to purchase the rights Similar difficulties
surmounted in the case OF the diversion of a
portion Of the waters Of the Nashua River from
New-Ha mpshire for the aid of Boston and of the
Blackstone River in Rhode Island for Worcester
Mass.
But all this speculation is obviously of the future