New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-06
SCOPE OF WATER SUPPLY PLANS.


The campaign for prompt enlargement of
NETWORKS water supply according TO a ra-
uonal plan appears to have been substantially
won. The so-called Mayors bill" has been en-
acted, though with some amendments and ornis-
sions, the justice and wisdom Of all of which
have not been entirely apparent. The city is
practically restricted to a single county for
extension Of its water system, an arrangement
which we cannot regard with satisfaction.
Still, that county is one Of the best from which
to obtain water and is capable of supplying
the citys needs for many years TO come. The
elimination from the Mayors bill of the pro-
vision for use of water power for lighting pur-
poses seemed TO us uncalled for and injudicious.
but IT has been atoned for by the enactment
Of a supplementary measure proposed by the
stevens committee, giving to the city exactly
the authority which was contemplated in that
part Of the Mayors bill. The difference be-
tween the Mayors bill and the Stevens bill
In respect to that matter is one Of letter rather
than Of spirit, for we cannot suppose the for
mer measure was intended to empower the city
to confiscate water powers simply for the sake
of the power, TO do anything which is not
authorized by the Stevens bill
We cannot, on the other hand, suppose that
the Stevens bill is intended to restrict the
powers of the city below what was meant in
the Mayors bill. The Stevens bill does, in
deed restrict the city's use Of water power to
the water supply actually needed for drinking
and other purposes. That is entirely proper
This city has no business any more than any
other corporation has, TO go grabbing water
power all over the State just for the sake of
securing a monopoly Of it At the same time
we assume the bill will not be and is not meant
TO be interpreted so literally as to confine the
city to such Of only the water that actual
" flows through its aqueducts TO Central Park.
II, Tor example, there should be q surplus of
water continually flowing over the spilway of
the new Croton Dam, we assume the city would
have the right under this bill to put in a tur-
bine and utilize the power Of that overflow
So, If there shall be such a surplus at any Of
the dams which may be built in Ulster County,
the city Will have a right to use it for power
The essential condition is that the dam shall
have been built end the water shall have been
impounded IN good faith. primarily for drink
Ing and similar purposes, and not for power
1t is TO be expected that there will be such
q surplus. There ought TO be, for the reason
that the city ought always to have a surplus
Of water supply. II is hazardous, and not an
economical policy for New-York continually to
be living up TO the very limit of its water re-
sources. 1t ought to have constantly at COM
mand not only enough for its existing needs,
but also enough for its needs few years hence.
Ulster County operations To construct an aque-
duct and reservoirs somewhat in advance Of
its immediate necessities IT, for example, 50O-
100000 gallons a day can be got from that
county, and will probably be needed by the
city in the course Of twenty-five years. though
only 100000 gallons are needed now, it
may be doubted whether it would be q wise
policy TO build now an aqueduct capable Of
conveying only 100000 gallons a day, and
1@rrg1
i've years, until at the end Of the twenty-five
years we should have five separate aqueducts
It might be cheaper and better to build at once
an aqueduct capable Of carrying the whole
5OooOOOo0 gallons, even though at first 1T was
worked TO only one-ffth Of its capacity. We
should not OF course, plan too largely for a
too distant date. but We are inclined to think
the city would not be doing so If it now
planned for the utilization of the entire avail
able supply OF EsopUs Creeksanda the adjacent