New-York tribune., 1903-01-12
SEEKS THEIR REMOVAL.
Merchants Committee Repeat Charges
against Old .1queduct Board

In letter sent to Mayor Low COMMITTEES Of the
Merchants Association has asked that the Mayor
cite the members of the Aqueduct Commission.
as constituted July 10 1902 TO show why they
should not be removed from office The letter in
closing says:
tuted July Is last with neglect and misfeasaace
Terorne PaFI reseryoir Concerning the former
Cnew Croton DAM. we make specification OF thet-
in the plans which they ordered; the advocacy OF.
If not c2nniVancs & at 4pgoper @ ertg ne OF ns9Ss fy
failure to present the citys side OF the case 70
Of allowing the work of road making; even within
the contract 20 De charged Ior at PfIcss % aso & Lo
much difficult character and their neglect
necessary to be done before the dam be efec-
tive
This letter was signed by George L DuvaL chair
man of the committee revision Of city records
and accounts and water supply Of the Merchants
Association and by Henry r. Towne H A Metz.
D. LIE Roy Dresser. W. C. lie Gendre. William f.
King Isaac y. seligman. Adolph Openhyn, Her
bert L. Satteree and Dick s Ramsay, the commit
tee.
On, JuIv u the committee sent to the Mayor a
COMPLAINT of the manner in which, it was alleged
the Aqueduct Commission was negIecting its work
This letter was referred by Mayor Low To the
commission, and answered by the commission
October 81 The present letter is In reply TO the
answer of the commission, and repeats the former
charges with the addition of further evidence
Special attention is directed TO the statement IN
the commissioners answer that the construction
of a heavy retaining wall In place Of light core
wall and embankment the Croton Dam
done under the responsibility OF Alfred Crnvsr.
former Acting Chief Engineer. A letter from Mr..
Craven is produced to show that this noe
the work approved by him.
The change made IN the plans OF the central zats
house. defended by the Aqueduct Commission.
submitted by the Merchants Association 20 e P
Stearns Chief Engineer OF the Metropolitan Water
and Sewage Board Of Boston, for expert opinion.
Mr.. stearns reported: The changes nads have re-
suited in a somewhat decreased efficiency and
greatly increased COST
In regard to the alleged delay Of the commission
the letter sent TO the Mayor declares:
If the time for the completion Of the dam is left
wears Of extension recommended the commissioners
TO accord three and a half years, then the
prelude TO perpetual power. and the city OF New
York is no nearer ear an aas9ase wTer SGpgy tnan
Regarding the Jerome Park Reservoir the letter
says:
The cost to the city of $4,000 for the fnser-
ton Of the eight hour clause IN the contract would
by the Aqueduet Commission % in naintaining ar
have had concern in the demands Of labor.
Correspondence between the committee and Mr.
Craven and Mr.. Stesrns is submitted. An approx
innate estimate Of 10000 the cost Of changes
in the plans OF the new Croton Dam. extending the
When William II. Ten Eyck. president OF the
Aoueduct Commission. heard last evening OF the
letter of the committee of the Merchants Asso-
citation. he said:
Many. in fact. most Of the changes made were
on fhe unanimous vote of the board which includes
rhe Navor and the Controller These are the
same general charges brought against BY the
Ma-~hants' Association last summer Mayor Low
ratT,rned 10 them reply. intending that.
Yook IN as an the allegations made
against us The Merchants Association has
nSnted its letters but. in spite OF my repeated
quests has not printed answers. AL the
changes referred TO made the advice OF
conInsrent engineers. 1t would hardly be tatr u
ask me 70 make detailed reply othald. charges
which have been months IN preparation
As explained in yesterdays Tribune. the Mayor
ca1not remove the Aqueduct Commissioners. even
should ne And that there has been unisnanase-
rnent as the charter distinctly states that they
are not removable by the Mayor.
The AauAduct Commission consists at present OF
the Mayor and the Controller. members ex-ofncio.
William II. Ten Eyck. president; John J. Ryan.
John p Windolph and W. z. Curtis. the last named
appotnted bv Mayor Low in place Of the late
Maurice j. Power. " r. Hill is chisf engineer OF
IN. commission The commissioners receive s. coo
4 YEAR each. and the chief engineer gets 5000.