New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-24
TIE WATER PROSPECT,
tt!y

To-day's conference at Albany ought TO re-
move the last shadow from this city's prospect
of getting promptly the additional wafer sup
ply which 1t so urgently needs. Negoua'lonS
among the various interests involved have Tor
some time been proceeding upon the lines sue-
gested in our columns, with the result that there
is now substantial agreement, save upon the
mart of a single county. This gratifying end has
been reached largely upon the basis OF the ex-
cellent measure prepared by the New-York City
government and introduced at Albany IN Its be-
half although as we intimated at the outset
would probably be necessary some additions
have been made to that bill in the direction Oh
safeguarding the interests of rural communities.
1t may be said unhesitatingly that in that direc-
ton New-York has now gone TO generous ex-
tent. The city proposes to take no water that Is
needed locally, to let its mains be tapped for
local supplies when needed, to make full COM
pensation for all property taken and to pay full
taxes on all the property it acquires Apprasals
and awards are to be made within year from
condemnation and there will be no more burn
ing of houses and barns at an hours notice.
These are the chief amendments made to this
BILL which is thus put into a shape which should
command unanimous support from the city and
which can scarcely, we should say, provoke any
reasonable opposition from the rural counties.
1t is said that the representatives of the rural
those Of Ulster. We really cannot see any rea-
sonable ground for listers continued oppos-
ton. That county has a water supply enor-
mously in excess of its greatest possible needs
1t cannot now use and will probably never be
able to use per cent of the flow of its streams
1t is capable of giving to this city all the addi-
tional supply needed here for generations to
come, and at the same time of remaining, for all
local purposes, just as we'll watered as it Is to-
day. 1t certainly does not seem reasonable for
it to refuse to New-York the vast floods that are
now running to waste. Its continued opposition
would be the more unreasonable and would be
the more open TO unpleasant suspicion because
of its very different attitude toward notorious
speculative corporation. Practically. 1t IS will
ing TO concede to Ramapo that which it denies
to New-York. It is quite willing, and indeed APP
parently eager. to let private corporation grab
all its water and then sell it to New-York at an
eXtortionate profit but it Is not willing to let
New-YOrk itself take the water directly without
the middleman of Ramapo. That, we submit,
is neither commendable nor a defensibIe atti-
Jude.
We cannot believe that Ulster County will per-
sist in such an attitude or that if it should I'M
happily do so, its opposition to the pending
measure would prove effective New-York City
must have more water. The most available-we
might say the only practically available
sources, without an enormous and unnecessary
cost are in the Hudson River counties New
York wants to tap those sources, and is willing,
and will legally bind itself, to pay an equitable
price for the privilege Of doing So and to afford
all just safeguards and indemnities to the rights
and possessions of the people of those counties
In such circumstances 1t is scarcely conceivable
that any opposition to the city's plans will be
effectively made