New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-13
FRUITS OF REFORM RULE.
OBJFCT LESSONS, IN GOOD GOVERNMENT SHOUN By.
A COMPARISON OF DEPARTMENTS UNDER
TAlfM4NY And UNDER Low.
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY.
FUSION'S RECORD.

An amazing change in the spirit Of things
came with the fusion administration. J. Hamp-
den Dougherty, the first Commissioner, was in
office only six months but in that time he put
into operation great reforms. He made investl-
cations showing the way in which meters were
tempered with. and advocated a law compelling
the metering OF every house. He also showed
the terrible condition Of the Brooklyn water sup
ply and the neglect and abuse OF the reservoirs
on Long Island. When he resigned in July, 1902,
because he wished to get back to his profession.
he had laid the course for the voyage of fusion.
His successor, Colonel Robert Grier Monroe, the
present Commissioner. was a man fully capable
Of carrying out the scheme and simplifying It
To his work are due to-day the enormous saving
Of water the great increase in water revenue.
Kidding the department Of crooks" and graft
eTs' and the reorganization of the entire working
force OF the department. With this reorganiza-
ton came honesty and efficiency, that to-day
the Department of Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
tricity is run more cheaply and better than it
ever has been.
In the plan for a municipal lighting plant
Commissioner Monroe made a great step toward
the condition where the city owns the public
utilities and administers them for the public
That his measure was defeated by Tammany
have hit the ring and the monopoly which sells
the city fits light.
one OF the first reforms begun by Commits
sioner Monroe and his new engineer. Nicholas S.
Hill. 3r., a cleaning up OF the Croton water
shed Proper treatment Of the sewage, which
formerly found its way into the rivers, was
made. At Brewster there is an electrozone
plant, and plans are prepared for a larger sys-
TEN; at Mount Kisco there is the pan system
while plans have been made for filter bed there
and filter plant at the outlet of Lake Mahopac
and Lake Kirk Much land was condemned and
the buildings thereon removed. A sanitary pa
troll was established under an engineer whose
headquarters are at KatoRah. archaeological
and biological laboratories were established
Weekly analyses Of the water from all the reser-
voirs are made.
BY acquiring the property OF the New-York
end Westchester Water Company last Feb
ruary. the Commissioner opened the way 10 a
great Improvement Of the service in The
Bronx. Hydrants and mains were repaired at
once while miles OF new mains are being
laid there. Most of the money saved through
various economies IN the department itself
has been put into the extension Of the Man
haitian and Bronx distrbutive systems. At
the end OF this year more miles Of mains Will
have been laid than IN any five years pre-
Boulevard. Bailey and Sedgwick ayes. forty
eight inch mains have been laid The Jerome
Park pumping station. using temporary con-
nections, Will go into service next year. In
Manhattan and The Bronx there added to
the distribution system during 1900 1901 and
1902 IS miles Of mains, 500 fire hydrants and
524 gate valves. BY the end Of 1903 there will
have been added 80 miles OF MAINS about $500
FIRE hydrants and about 500 gate valves, far
more IN one year than IN the three years pre-
ceding. In addition. plans have been made for
extensions of mains amounting to 46 miles more
one Of the most important reforms made
the minute investigation into the question Of
water wastes as a result OF which, while the
work has not been half completed. the daily con-
SUMPTION OF water in Manhattan and The Bronx
in The first six months OF 1908 from six to
eight million gallons less than in the CORE
spending seriod Of 1902. The natural daily in
crease would have been from six TO eight mill
ion gallons so the saving IS one OF from
twelve million to sixteen million gallons. In
this survey the city was divided into districts
which. in turn. were subdivided into sections.
The water sent into each Of these sections
was measured each day. the daily consumption
was recorded. and house to house inspections
were made 10 determine the amount OF waste.
This has resulted in a great decrease in the
number OF leaky pipes and hydrants. and has
put the repair companies on the alert. They
are doing more work now with fewer men than
thay did last year. The department is also ad-
vocating the use Of water meters by every large
consumer. Meters have been put into all the
public buildings. including the schools hospitals
and fire houses The hotels. railroads and
breweries have been metered, resulting in an
increased revenue. as well as a lessening OF the
water waste.
There was a notable increase in the money
collected by the Water Department With re-
organized bureaus and honest men IN charge
there was little chance for grating" and DO
htcal pun didn't count. The water revenue for
the entire city in 1902 was SSSSs 931 20, and
the total revenue for 1901 was IS 0s5 191 10.
The increase in 1902 was $500. 739 A. nearly
10 per cent. The collections OF 1903 are showing
large Increase over those OF 1902. From jan
usry 10 July 81 the water revenue for the
whole city was S577l. 244 IS. During the cor
responding seven months OF 1902 the total rev.
enue was S54zs $50 80 making an increase Of
so-Z.f2s " over the corresponding months Of
last year II this rate Of increase is maintained
throughout the present year. the total revenue
OF 1913 VIII exceed that OF 1902 by S526 224 rs
Inc Increase of 1903 over 1901 a. that rate
Will amount 20 1892, SEA -. The increase act
Nalis reAlzed during the nineteen months OF
me present COMMUNICATION Cup to July 81 1909
ceding is Sl.126. 5I2 30 ~
fp7 meg