New-York tribune., 1905-02-22
MAYOR PLEADS FOR WATER
DEPENDS HIS MEASURE.
Nr. Io7c FarOrS 1t as Vel as State
Supervisor.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

Ne,v-York City for an immediate extension OF
its water supply before joint legislative com
nittee and in his explanation of the urgency OF
The situation and the necessity OF an immedlate
extension OF the system into Ulster County was
heartily supported by his recent Mayoralty op-
ponent, ex-Mayor Low. But, while Mayor Nc
CleIlans championship of his administration
measure was the most important feature of the
hearing Duchess Westchester and Ulster coun-
ties were all represented in the opposition, and
many other water measures were before the
committee
1t was when he had completed the extended
explanation Of the situation in NewYork City
that the Mayor, laying aside notes and reserve.
directed himself to a personal appeal TO the
legislators. He said:
have no pride of authorship in this bill which
have had introduced. had il put in as being what
/ thought the best way of meeting situation
that IS urgent. don't care how you amend 'ue
ment If you viii; amend it so that Brooklyn shall
ought 10 have one Change the bill in any respect
you may see fit, so long as you do not enascuIate
il so as hurt three essential principles on which
New-York CITY wants water: it wants water
never before. All ask OF you is 10 give Us legis-
lation that wIl let Us ahead IN q business-liFe
manner, without the interference of politics with
out changing the three ideas underlying the bill
those of non-partisanshp. home rule and speed l
this bill and Change il as you will. but give US
will let so ahead this spring. Enough time has
been wasted 10 waste more would be crime
.Wim YOU consent 10 amend your bin so to
exclude Dutchess County, queried Assembly
Smith. whose law of last session shut New
York out of Duchess County.
4 viii consent TO any amendment that will
carry a provision enabling TO get half bill
ion gallons Of water, and get it at once" was
the reply. We want go to Ulster County
first Give US the source for our water and l
will agree TO any amendment"
Il guess Ulster and Dutchess and the other
counties will have TO stand together" was Mr..
Smiths significant comment, indicating that the
rural members intended 10 block the measure.
The gist of the Mayors speech was contained
IN the detailed statement of the present situa-
Iion Of the water supply. In describing the con-
dition he said earnestly:
We have reached the limit of our water sup
ply at present. One dry year would cause US in
tense discomfort: two successive dry years mis-
cry beyond telling; three successive dry years
water famine the consequences of which would
be too dreadful to contemplate"
ADIRONDACKS AND LAKES TOO REMOTE.
Mayor Mcclellan discussed at length the pro-
posed sources of increased water supply. He
declared the Adirondacks, the Great Lakes and
Lake George were too remote and too costly to
be considered. He Indignantly refuted the as
measure ble difference would result, showing by
figures that this waste was not large enough to
count.
If every drop OF waste stopped he de-
clared. sarcasticaHy suggesting that this idea
had been advanced by New-York Assembly
man. who fathered water bill. the saving
would not he great enough 10 meet the increased
demands Of ten years" He added:
j has been suggested that a State commission
Is Is, me proper ] way & 10 get supp SuPpy State con-
that seem similar in character. These would ap-
80 80 , ,Ile- ,apPofuon me various watersheds
gnu, S,ad report ;; back ~ one year. Now either "A
q State commission 10 do the work.
be approved. If the State determined 10 do the
work for the city by State commission. then in
such case il would be years delay fhen de-
9isioR 10 spend 10000 ] Of state money such as
proved By vote of the people, and THAI would take
70 begin work to-day. On the other hand. if the
commission decided We should take the water from
Ulster County. why. already have the plans Of
the BuTr Commission, and with permission could
The Mayor was warmly applauded at the close
of his address. He was called back for fur
fher questioning Of Mr. Smith as quoted above
Mr.. LOW AGREES WITH MAYOR IN PART
Ex-Mayor Low was the next speaker In the
main he agreed with Mayor Mcclellan the prin-
cipal point Of difference being that, while the
former Mayor approved Of ali that had been said
OF the urgency, he explained that he saw in the
solving of future problems and in placing a
limit on the water taken from streams TO protect
local interests utility for State commission
Mayor Low said in part:
! agree fully with the Mayor in every word he
The work should begin tomorrow If Deqnjssio o a.
granted now 10 go to Ulster it viii take five years
h -
ernor's message that he has in mind no s1Igenstion
fully agree with Mayor on the home rule 5rjnL
cipie 50 Iar as il means that the city is entitled
70 spend its own money by its own agents. But a
State commission might usefuIly decide the Dues
localities might not De injured. IL might so regiI-
late that the city might be called upon to main
Would nave exhausted its ners Su 'ns snc thk Th IT
Siple IS am Informed, uniformly employed in
J think the Mayor is entitled to great credit for
the spirit he has shown here to-day. ] believe his
hill might be amended by embodying in it author
itE 70 take water from Esopus. Rondout and
tetski "reeks and TO construct the Ashokan
on 2as ara a e xpe6Ge5 1RFogsh 9 ths 5 b Bu m eGmmI
cation and preparations for plans Then il might
be further amended 10 allow the State Comms-
taken. This is the precise point where the State
e me hs t%o might R hs Mag Il Rmt
n the question is sent to any commission TO
there seems to me no reason why the city should
rot lie giVen authority 70 begin.
Mayor Low then outli1 ed a number Of oues-
tiors of future moment that a State commits
sion ought TO take UP. namely. the question OF
additional supplies. the problem of Hudson
River sewage. II this source were TO be used and
the negotiation OF an agreement with the State
RI Connecticut for extension of the system Ia
the upper House tonic He closed thus:
Il in entire accord with Mayor Mcclellan
on his three points Of home rule speed and
what was the third ?" he queried turning to III,
Mayor with bland smile