New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-29
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
NEW-YORK AND RAMAPo WATER
Argument Based on Incorrect Figures'of Cost
of Present Supply.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: One would hardly expect The Tribune.
which has always had reputation for fairness In
it's treatment of public matters. in abiding to the
water supply question to speak of the Rnulapo
company, inferentially. II you please as body OF
men without character. devoid OF all principles
notorious speculative corporation" the editorial
OF to-day describes Them "a private corporation
which Ulster will 'let grab all its water and then
sell It to New-York at an extortionate proht'I a
gang Of ''grafters." in the slang Of the street
So far as have IN the newspapers the
names prominently connected with the company
have been those OF distinguished in affairs,
men who are sought after because Of their stand
ing and influence with the business public. With
foresight they saw the need Of New-York City in
the near future for additional water supply. and
considered perfectly fair business proposition
TO offer the necessary supply. They felt the truth
OF the remark Of commissioner of the Croton
Board when he said the then projected extension
of the croton system more than folly. most
costly makeShift. the expense OF which would be
vastly greater than was contemplated, and when
completed would yisld 30 small additional supply
TO mako necessary seeking new sources His
If recollect Alright, tho Ramapo company pro
POSED to % make contract wita 1ae cty fSs tofy
required. at $40 million gallons, the water to
cost Of construction and maintenance to be the
company's. The CITY would thereby be saved the
enormous cost or building plant and the expense
6ecsAfe The New right In tis3 And how o
greater to-day.
Men assemble themselves and organize railways,
elevated surface and subway; they establish gas
telegraph. telephone and express cosnEanlesi why
ter df1erY If you propose paternad government,
other IKE corporations under government control;
S S9 as asa daily e T reader Of gonF Paper DO net nk
VINO declare corporations should not exist for pub
lie purposes bat do you imagine the Pennsylvania,
systems would meet the demands, Of the public Is
well If under government control? recollect mr.
Greeley some years ago, in disgust with poor
over TO the great express companies.
engnesei G Rouis have Sesn Suis By the city IN
SO short time. and when finished would have
ably but thinks It would have dragged along. at
great cost, as all our city improvements do
length Of time and quality of work which the city
has undertaken It is useless to PaTticglalize
which has met with the approval Of The Tribune
private corporation Ramago or any other II others ;;
Be required to bGild the works BY TIE city, then
the enormous expense Of maintsnanS ICE, and. 4 by
should get control, what army OF patriots would
the time he KamaPo grqD9sa was made sSs
tunnbled another in their mad haste TO get
the the p ah had held ti their o
righteous crowd as New-YoTiE did when Ramapo
the map. It was a senseiess cry, and those who
talked most knew least As Greeley 9nSs SAID OF
doesn't Know how to spell the word
speak Of RamaRo as i has aRPearsa in IN your our
the present Croton costs more than 500 per million
in the name %, Of the pR hy o5 not s s1ss
though the projectors turn an honest Rf s9nyyf
paying return for the risk they may take, and
surely the cost Of building a plant TO supply New.
York with 5o9o e gallons daily Will fnr Be gTeTt ana
New-York, March "a. 1908