New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-16
THE SMITH WATER BILL
Full T6rt of Reasons Why Coz
ernor Signed Measure.
luY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


Albany. May 15.-The following is the memo
randum in full filed by Governor Odell with his
approval yesterday Of the J. T. Smith water bill.
summarized in to-day's Tribune
Under the charter OF the consolidated city Of
New-York that municipality has the right 20 go
purchases In adjoining states for the purpose OF
securing an adequate Supply OF "1 b @ Of
this charter an exception was made TO its operation
in the county OF suffolk; and that county Is now
absolutely exempt from the operations OF the ch ar
tered law so Tar as 06teITdh3S 3I Seealse Of
the fear that the drainage % water would inter;
Cultivation SSa t ~ tRo farms that this measure
enacted Assembly BIZ NO. zoo entitled an &c. aSt
20 the acquisition OF water rights, seeks now 70
TRePe Is t nothing so necessary as nor should any
obstacle or cautious opposition De perTntted 70 IN
granted both under general aud special laws 70
water Is concerned The situation which is pre-
scented IS peculiar n many Fe ;S d dTs SpIev
devoted % manufacturing, and upon the operation
o. the 0 mills i sg5Sd snere e} aePShha ie
where else along the line Of the proposed enlarge
sented Il is peculiarly manufacturing section ton
PFS az h ana me TO Proteet and sce
ary PTseHgons has been N Sner Whefe
similar conditions existed. for the protection OF
vors should be built that while furnishing water
for domestic purposes there should be no lack OF
situated along the streams thus made use Of.
MORE THAN 100000 IN MORTGAGES.
am satisfied from reports that have been cen made
lions in the watersheds Of Dutchess County that
the same safeguards can be secured for the manu-
however. has arisen, which; In al fairness, not
only 70 the people OF New York Sity but OF tne
ings banks In Dutchess County By report made
eTty or the oEsratives and residents who are in
diatey affected by the proposed extension OF New
Were II not for the fact that the constitutional
Impossible. EVEN II The city should desire TO DO so
for n 90 compensate IN any way for property
day might well be left to the ordinary operation
Sdr .ho W. eS ara nreIiminsT sr
veys and plans which have been approved here
tights which are 10 be- actually TAKEN menacins
thereby end making insecure the loans that have
without being actually taken for the city's use
Tor their payment This condition is rot over
stated nor are We Obliged TO SO outside the bor-
lion Of What Win follow the destruction Of tbs
i@PeriN IN ire IPe.T9 GI thS sreater
shed. formerly the property OF he late A +. Stew
CT tST many Dag s'S Of ga 10 WHEN tS
ga M ma n ho aG G2 s 6E
orators. During the last fifteen years or so this
shrunken in value that it is neither available for
rental purposes nor can its owners secure loans
q s a deserted village. and the same fate awaits
babitants should waters be diverted which now
furnish power and made use Of for other pur-
AWARE OF CITY's NEED OF WATER
am fully aware OF the fact that the needs OF the
great municipality at the mouth OF the Hudson
OF greater importance perhaps so far as numbers
and were satisfied that even this great loss were
OF NewYor ne should not hesitate IN lsapprovns
this bill nor do I believe there would be any diff
contributing to the help and the comfort OF the
no n n Improvement
II Is that the engineers estimate that within the
FOR the utilization OF this watershed. There can
be no objection however 20 s99h use, provided the
corporatcd as part OF the law, thus making
thus remove ali fear I'm The minds Of those who
are most directly interested In the watersheds Of
allow this work 70 proceed under existing law and
to that query Is that IN the mean time IL will in
should not be tolerated because they unneoes-
There has been much talk of the Ramapo Water
terests OF the citizens OF New-TOrk. II viii be
acts in 1891 was my approval OF a bi which re.
peals the extraordinary privileges and powers
possesses no more power and greater rights than
an lndlvlaHaL Us rights are not pre-emnent and
city. II there are any rights existing or which
have grave doubts. in the same manneT and follow
ing me same pToceduFe as would apply Ia any other
condemnation proceeding.
or this there certainly can be no doubt. because
the Improvements proposed % be made under the
that OF Mayor Low In the very territory which
II Is now claimed Is part OF the original Ramapo
territory a., NOTHING therefore. Is gained or lost
cerned. The same rights will be In existence after
my signature existed before. But the bill guar
antees until a future session OF the legislsture
however. such Immunity az will secure. not as a
matter OF favor. but as an absolute right con-
cessiOns which are promised, but for which there
Is present guarantee and will enable the civ
OF New York to secure even this watershed m N
contents itself with what Il claims TO be is desire
for surplusage only.
am constrained. therefore. 20 believe TINT the
bill II wise IN far II safeguards private in
terests and by these interests mean not those OF
corporations. but OF the humble home dwelier who
mas perhaps all OF his savings invested In n home
representing IN many cases the result or years Of