New-York tribune., 1902-02-06
BIG Loss OF CITY WATER.
MIR. DOUGHERTY SAYS CONCERN GOT
HALF MILLION GALLONS A DAY
THROUGH METER BREAK

Water COMMISSIONS Dougherty has been in
Vestigatng the operations of the New-York and
Westchester Water Company which. il is al
Ieged has been using 100000 gallons more water
day than it has been charged with. Mr..
Dougherty asserts that the company owes the
city something over $4,000. But the company
holds that the city owes it a balance Of $50. 900
over and above all offsets
The NewYo-k and Westchester company has
contract with the city to supply with water
nVe hundred hydrants and schoolhouses. fire
engine houses and municipal buildings in West
chester. WNlamsbrdge. Wakefield and other
towns. To carry out this contract the company
in July. 1897 made q connection at Glen Park
Yonkers. with the city's 4S-inch main. The con-
tract was signed in December. 1897, and by it's
terms the company was allowed to use 50OO0O
gallons Of water day.
No meter was installed until last May Six
teen days after the installation the meter broke
When Mr.. Dougherty took charge of the Water
Department he had a new meter put III. Since
January the meter has registered an average
Of about 1,0G0000 gallons a day The last ac-
count made out in the Water Department
charged the company with SS;} 900 for water.
figured on a basis of 100000 gallons a day, and
allowed a charge against the city of So, $50,
leaving a balance due the city of S6o240. Com
missioner Dougherty believes that the company
owes the city much more. RE expressed great
surprise that the meter should have broken.
W. H Ellis. president Of the Westchester com
pany, explains this breakage as follows:
We have had nothing 70 do with the meter since
Mr. DOughcrty took charge. | know. however,
that quantities of fish and cells have from time
10 time so cosEed our pipe where II connects with
the City's iS-inch main to make the proper
registration OF water uncertain matter. We
have been taking from the city 100000 gallons day
and not 100000 gallons. a greater amount than
$4,000 gallons day could not go through the con-
ucCtiOD under the pressure We have
ing station. When they worked 10 their fullest
capacity 900 Oo0 gallons a day-we require little
city water Our supplying the city with water is
a great favor on our part without our company
W WuIanlSprldge' MakeheId ana 0tner points Wollo
have no water. The company has always been
ready to adjust its claims with the city. After
making the proper deduction the city owes us
some 500 on 7 have been trying without success
for four months to get settlement of this bill
We have options on all the available water sup
20 do without city water. We ready to sell the
city entire plant. Not a dollar of the bonds Of
the company is I'm the hands OF a politician.
Commissioner DOugherty has drafted a form
Of amendment to the Penal Code which will
cover cases of tamperng with water meters
and his draft has been approved by several
lawyers He inten Is to have il introduced in
the legislature soon as possible.
Corporation Counsel Rives said he did not
believe II was worth the City's while to bring
suit against the water company, adding that as
soon as the concern which is now in the hands
Of receiver. was reOrEaniZed, the city would
enter into new contracts with il.