New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-14
MILLIONS SQUANDERED.
Il LONG DISTANCE YEAR.
1t Cost SS,OOO,O0O TO Condemn
SO. 900 900 of Land.

Terning il public spoliation under the forms
Of law" the Merchants Association issued a
statement yesterday bitterly attacking the con-
duct OF the Aqueduct Commission in acquiring
Croton Valley land for water supply. and in &C
curing land TO prevent pollution. The city's
money has been squandered recklessly, the
statement declares. while commissioners Of aP-
praisal drew salaries far in excess of the $40
q Day allowed by the city charter, in some in
stances drawing money from two commissions
az the same time.
The expenses Of acquiring the land were near
~ half much paid for the land itselt
IN most cases. In 1894 the Board of Public
Works spent in acquiring lands TO prevent the
pollution of the water supply Sll9 Oh in fee ana
expenses for every 500 which was actually paid
for land These condemnation proceedings IN
volved only land values the Merchants
Association, and We're exceedingly simple. as
compared with those in New-York County
where complex valuations were involved. yet in
the ten years during which they drew salaries
the appraisal commissioners in this county re
ceived only S54.1S0. while they appraised prop
erty worth S3943.93S so. costing the city only
l-37 per cent Of the value of the property.
In an equal period" says the Merchants As
ISOLATION covering the entire time of the pollu-
don condemnation proceedings, the commission
ers appraising farms in Westchester County
valued at So so, 1913 % the number of separate
appraisements being very much less than in the
city proceedings and the valuations being for
the most part extremely simple. The country
commissioners had q quick and easy job, kept il
going as many years possible collected pay
for every working day in the year. sometimes for
two and three different jobs at the same time, at
two or three times the legal rate and drew from
the city treasury compensation equal TO 1874 per
cent of the value of the property appraised by
them"
1T WOULD INVOKE THE LAW.
Carefully the Merchants Association has made
an extended investigation into the outlay for
water supply and the acquiring of lands. II has
made an elaborate series of tables which show
the awards and expenses for The new aqueduct
from 1854 TO 1909. for lands in Westchester.
Putnam and New-York counties and for SAM
tary protection Other tables show in detail the
amounts paid to each commissioner or appraiser
IN each proceeding. The association makes pub
lie these facts ii says, so that the law may be
invoked TO protect the taxpayers against con-
tinuation OF these abuses.
The statement declares
Out Of a total Of SS.s64S4 IS expended for lands
IN the Croton Valley between the date when the
Aqueduct Commission was created and the end of
9aired. and s. ss4 4 o. was paid for the expenses
OF acquiring it For land acquired by the Depart
westchester and Putnam counties. TO prevent pol
luton. for each 500 paid to property owners S5 06
paid 10 condemnation commissioners. special
counsel. experts. clerks. and for incidental
penses. In the Of land acquired by the
Aqueduct Commission for waterworks, the
expense in Westchester County $43 60 for each
800 of award; in Putnam County the proportion
So 65 while in the city and county of New
York the expense was the relatively moderate
OF s. . per 500 of award. The general average
pense OF acquiring each 500 worth Of property
81 IS
The appended table gives d summary of the
awards and OUTLAWS: