New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-06
THE WATER PROBLEn

Three views are taken Cf the present problem
OF Aew-York's water supply One is that the
enactment OF the Smith bill for the protection
Of Duchess County has delivered us bound into
the hands of the adversary, and there is
therefore nothing for us to do but to rail at
the Governor and lie down and die Of thirst.
a second is that the city authorities should
promptly take the Governor at his word de-
mand special session Of the legislature and
oner Tor enactment those reasonable guarantees
which the Governor has suggested for the pro-
lection of the people OF Duchess County. The
third is that there is no occasion TO get excited
over the situation, for there is now an adequate
supply from the Croton, and will continue TO
be for long time TO come If we ever succeed
In getting the Jerome Park Reservoir and the
Cornell Dam finished
The first of these views is unworthy Of con-
sideration. Il is inspired by counsels of in
Justice and despair. The second has something
70 commend If. 1t is at least straightforward
and courageous. If the need OF a more ex-
tended water supply is as urgent as some have
represented, and if the city is ready TO deal as
fairly with Duchess County as it has promised
That view certainly seems to be the logical one
TO take. The third may or may not be unduly
optimistic, We hope It is not and we are in
clined TO believe ii is not if only the city will
IL
eeives, and il in some way we can induce the
Aqueduct Commission TO complete the Jerome
Park Reservoir and the Cornell Dam within a
reasonable time.
1t is conceded that ut present we have O safe
supply, regardless OF drouth, Of 250.O00.ooO gall
Ions day. The supply is. in fact, considerably
more than that, and on the completion of the
works now in progress il will probably be as
much rs 3O0o00000 But let us be conserva-
tive and take the lower figures Now, if we
use from ITO to 100 gallons day for each in
habitant, as we have been doing, our 100000
people will use up as they are doing pretty
nearly the whole supply, and we may well say
an increased supply will be needed very soon
10 meet the increased population But we are
not convinced that any such consumption Of
water is necessary. Other great cities which
use water, for public purposes at least far more
freely than New-York consume only from one
third 10 one-half that amount Paris uses about
80 gallons day, London little more than 40
and Glasgow 30. Why should New-Yorx use
from two 10 four times as much as they?
If we used no more water than GLASGOW
which has an inexhaustIble supply In Lake
hat1ne, and therefore does not have TO stint
The use of it-our 2J00O0o0O gallons would suf-
fee when our population had grown 10 1000
GOO, which viii not be for many years. If we
were, content with London's rate OF consumn-
tion, ii would be sufficient when we had reached
100000. IL we should conserve the srnnIv n =
Paris does, we should have enough for n c,t,,
OF more than 100000. 1t might be yvell-1vo
have offered the same suggestion before-to see
what could be done in the way OF stonninc
leaks and waste introducing meters, and using
salt water from the river for street washino
and e1angusiing fres, so as TO bring down our