New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
RAMAP0 HAS OPTIONS.
CONTROLS WATERSHEDS.
Erpected to Make It's O7cn Terms
Under Tammany.

The city's engineers, in prospecting for an
additional water supply for the city. have run
plump against the Ramapo Water Company.
While the Ramapo company is not in the same
threatening position that IT occupied three years
ago. before the legislature gave the city eminent
domain in acquiring watersheds. still. il has
numberless options on watershed territory just
where the engineers from Commissioner Mon
roe's department have for the last year been
boring rock and surveying for huge reservoirs.
from which the city is to draw its additional
supply from the Wappinger Valley and Esopus
creeks, the one on the east side of the Hudson,
and the other in Ulster County on the west side.
Coincident with the prospective return of
1ammany Hall to power on January l. is the
Tammany Zip" that William Dalton, the ex-
Commissioner OF Water Supply, will succeed
Colonel Monroe. thus restoring TO the control
Of the department man who never could see
anything wrong in the cty's entering on a fifty
year S200000000 contract for water supply
that II would not own. In fact. Dalton and
Maurice T. Holahan. Of wandering boy noto-
riety. recommended the deal
On November 20. in Wall Street. were sold six
ty-fve shares Of stock of the Ramapo Water
Company at Jos. This price surprised the men
IN the Street. who had supposed that the Ram
apo Company was defunct That il is not dead.
but that on the contrary. IT Will block any at
tempt or the part Of the city TO acquire water
shed rights along the FishldIl. Wappinger. jan
sen Kill and Esopus creeks except on its own
terms is becoming more and more apparent.
Tammany stood for the Rarapo deal before,
and il is a fair assumption that it Will stand for
il again. Richard Croker refused to allow Bird
S. Coler 10 be nominated for Mayor in 1891 be-
cause he had opposed the Ramapo grab.
As before stated, the company is not now in
shape to restrain the city indefinitely from ex-
tending its water system, because the Iegislat-
ure. on Governor OdeTs advice. gave the city
power 20 go ahead and condemn property re-
CURED for extending its water supply. AT the
same time, with its options on the watersheds
in Dutchess and Ulster counties. there is reason
20 believe that the Ramapo company viii get a
part Of what it after when the legislature
clipped its wings in 1900 and 1901.
WHAT DEALING WITH RAMAPO MEANS.
A Tribune reporter yesterday saw some of
the lawyers who hitherto have represented the
Ramapo interests one of them said:
The Raulapo interests control the Bsopus and
Wappnger creeks watersheds. long time ago
eminent engineers IN the employ Of the RamapO
Of me before the city Would have to get more
water II took care At that time 70 get opti0,ns
Mayors commission on additional water supply
me flshkli- Jansen XII ana Wappinger when
practically comprise one supply; second, the Esopus
The reach Of the backaow of the tide above the
city of Poughkeepsie.. The commission has rec rec.
means that If The city is sensible, it will first build
b3s BEFORE If tries ibe less desirable scheme Of
fiterinE the Hudson River water above Pough-
keepse.
II is expected that Messrs. Burr, Herring and
Freeman. the commission additional
water supply. win turn in their full report to
the Mayor some day this week. The commits
si0uers are not concerned with the ownership
o. the properties comprehended in their tenta-
tive plans. 1t is enough for them that good
water. can he obtained in sufficient quantities.
That the Ramapo company owns ltions on
the Wappinger and Esopus creeks is of no
moment 10 them. 1t does make a difference.
however, to the taxpayers whether the city viii
have 10 deal with plain citizens who would part
with water rights at reasonable figures, or with
e combination including shrewd politicians and
wirepullers in each political party-men, in
short who will like nothing better than holding
up the city until it gets its price. That they
car do this. despite the fact that the city can
have appointed commissioners TO condemn is
certain. It is the appointment Of such commits
Eoners and the methods employed by them in
dealing with the Ramapo crowd that is OF vital
interest 10 the city.
The record Of Charles f. Murphy as treasurer
OF the old Dock Board is an indication Of what
may happen 10 the city If he has the debating
OF the choice Of commissioners.
The Merchants Association is alive to the
fact that the Ramapo company Is coming back
after what it lost in 1900 An officer Of the as
ISOLATION said last night:
While the Ramapo company was scotched by
the repeal % the law which prevented the city from
exercising the right OF eminent domain N secuI-
sns watershed territory. u Is not oeao. II has
sfge option holdings on the territory needed by
80 e1is where the city water supply Is 10 come
TeS.n aId there is no doubt whatever taat win
E-l5aLy back iu power the company VIII Pul On
O''e tront and prepare 10 do business again
NesSrs. Burr, Herring and Freeman in a pre-
urinary report, submitted 10 Commissioner
@-on'oe last September, have this TO say:
HEroHT OK SOURCES or SUPPLY.
& "e -lo mat it Is possible 10 obtain an adeauats
tTf5ii,, ygi,b~ ~ssStlent water from streams lying
a--.at s-Ialtt me State Of New-York
80 - 70 secure additional supply,
TIr.S 49, T~ss--, t5tsent CrotOn and Bronx supply
fIeStt brooklyn suppIy ca De HE az grad
"a 4est.oE nent up 10 50G5 6Gh gaflors . 3dav
t~- - --..yHtIs sources. E-rOr1 oertafn ~
,--,-- s-.t-,i les q the Hudson-nanev T..
oe,ies Ss upper Wsppinger and he M
tis raIoe5 hi S,ii 1.4i 90 from portion OF those
o. E-5pls creek, On TIE easfe-i,, ts LLs~I "esI
- - = ~ pumping and 6lterre yvstar
t-E-- tt.tl ttt 4-~-son Rlger sz r-tTss e. rec~a
sSo.t -. 1Fe i5-e, o. near Hyde ps-le -, a.
LeseL olfs TO ue constructed n tiee -
1oF the purpose - Ireveuting ~ % III,
Continued fifth par.
SHORTEST ROUTE TO wts,,,,,,, -