New-York tribune., 1902-03-05

improvements. but the burden OF taxation for in
interest grows apace with every increase of the
gross debt. Since 1899 the amount necessary to be
by 262o98 S. notwithstanding the fact that during
TINS period very large amount Of o. ana I per per
year up 10 s does he amount of bonds falling
Of the SINKING fnnds and this rate
OF accumulation is constantly growing.
REDEEM s75OOOO.OO IN FIFTY YEARS.
In other words. in fifty years. the time for which
the longest city bonds are made to run even at
Of the sinking funds Would redeem s75o Of
debt, without regard to the capital Of the sinking
unds eb ef the at city fe is ong d
net permanent funded debt little less than $685.
is evident that here is something that hat sa SAILS
GENTLY familiar with ali the elements Of the prob
lem TO make any specihc recommendattlon rt DGe !
generation are entitled to some relief from, this
partially unnecessary burden which is already SO
beaver year by year believe some way R can 7Tt be
out prejudice either to the Interests Of the bond
holders or to the city's contract with them.
financial condition OF the city my mind has nat,
uTaly reverted to the recent public dsGugs0n n 0l
tat6n ni olsSi Upon its 1 debt @ @ this
an opinion upon it until I am better. acquainted
with the Gitvs business Inc genera h s
that the city's resources are marvellous on the
these resources are fully proportoned to the great;
ness Of the city In the mean while am inclined lined
given TO the equitable adjustment the nevitable
hope that It may be possible for me to deal with
this question comprehensively at some later day.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
While not attempting this time to consider in
four main lines OF expenditure which must command
the careful consideration Of the authorities First
OF all in Importance place the question OF pro-
viding adequate school accommodations for the chill
eam fos G SSsm must be asad
year for the purchase Of new sites and the cree
with the normal annual growth of the school p9pu.
EdSsaton has pIaced Itself upo9 @ record as beIey
ing that an expenditure Of $So900oo in addition, Is
Without making myself responsible for the ac-
curacy OF either OF these estl!na tes both OF which
lem Of the first magnitude. imagine that so coo =
hcienctos and the current needs IL Is ldle 20 I'M
prove the material conditions OF the city, If It is
sands Of its children in ignorance during the best
years OF their school life. It makes comparaa-
lie improvements, whether they are secured year
three years taken out Of the school life of a child
affect his wellbeing and his value as ctti-
Snt donsdes ons es that as he
the resources Of the city is to make as large apPro.
the financial Condition Of the city will Justify.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Next IN Importance as a problem affecting the
hS e at q duty fgT of h Depart
ment to do everything in its power 70 stop waste;
a large enough supply unless 1t commands an mex
haustible it's doors. On the other hand
the discovery Of accidental leakage must always be
more or less matter of chance. The stoppage OF
domestic waste by the universal installation or
NJ eters is something to which no American city Is
likely to until forced to IT by circumstances
Something, however. can be done In the direction
OF stopping waste; and whatever can be accom-
pshed by intelligent effort in this direction may
be confidently looked for at the hands or the pres
ent Commissioner OF Water Supply Gas and Elec-
trcity.
In the mean while the problem Of a permanent in
crease city's water supply is not so distant
that IL can be safely neglected for a moment When
been made for the storage OF water on the Croton
watershed upon scale adequate to supply the pres
ent needs of Manhattan and The Bronx for an esti-
mated period Of four months without regard to
rainfall What this signifies is best made clear by
the statement that the water impounded by the
Crotou Dam will make a lake 10 % miles long, with
average depth Of thirty feet. The creation OF an
artificial lake such scale as this is ma ally
possible only in hilly country where the land SO
placed under water has comparatively little value.
Unfortunately q question has arisen concerning
the construction Of this dam that may delay the
completion of II for two years or more. The dam
was originally designed a composite dam-that [
is to say, It was to be built partly Of stone and
partly of an enbankment shielding a comparatively
thin wall The present chief engineer or the
Aaueduct Commission has taken the ground that
this dam should have been designed originally TO
be a., stone; and that now 1t is wise to make
II an all stone dam. although the change In con-
struction will involve two years of delay and an
increase in cost Of 100000 more or less. In this