New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-18
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
STURDY PROTEST FROM NEW-JERsEY.
An Argument Against the Staten Island
Water Supply Scheme
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
or May 1 ask your attention to the attitude
W controller Grout of New-York in reference to
-, supply Of water from New-Jersey to certain
/ a-'SeS on Staten Island in Greater Newly ork
ne controller has announced that, notwith-
standing a law drawn by the Attorney General
p"'Seo by the New-Jersey legislature, and APP
PioNeu by the Governor. he proposes to have the
1 Do"'o OF Estimate approve a contract made by
mn with the Hudson Water Company to take
| 80 80 from New-Jersey for the supply of Staten
91"u towns The water which it is proposed TO
comes from the Passaic River watershed, all
- "nich Is in the State of New-Jersey, excepting
IN small branch, which finds its head in New
A''A state. and is known as the Ramapo name
i'ot SS'Fory to New York nostriIs
-, i'ssaics waters impounded at Little
- ~ D. near Paterson. Not drop in one
eu comes from New-York State. The COM
pahy lmpounding the water is the East Jersey
1ei company, a monopoly which owns con-
an me waters for domestic supply in North
- - Jersey excepting the supply of Newark.
- 10 leased 10 the Hudson company the right
- water from its Little Falls plant 10 a
0uelate quantity presumably To supply Bayonne
~ - me Hudson company has offered to make
o"'I'ct with greater New-York supply
- ISIahc from this New-Jersey supply. To
5,.lS >e"-Jersey objects by law. because every
own peopIn is water is needed for the uses Of its
York for Tb II objects % the diversion TO New
appears that 3ie Peneht Of private monopoly. 1t
IpI,Ists 10 the State of New-Jersey.
will
teat 81, 10 involve the State of New-York in a
To sa%iHf us sister State of New-Jerssy, order
panv he me greed of subordinate water COM
bog;!a,.a lang contract with monopoly
latter IN P1WerIul the financial alliances of the
az HTer IN IN New-York may be. We Of New-Jersey
inon,,,oI GLpe enough with these greedy water
with New-York 9 " ~"
to d Km0w the Ramapo water schemers anxious
st greater Newly ork TO schemes for pri
he SiTpPiy and do not doubt that they regard
70 oIstdakGil55 supply principle important
w. tapllsh IN this way. If they get New
~ - commit itself to private schemers by way
S'"ten island, it will be easy follow the path
r. aa oIeheG Tor a Ramapo scheme. / had sup
pU US INA, mat NeW-i ork committed the gen
I iuea mat its water supply should be owned
T.! ne people. trust that the State of my birth
- oi Ilut 70 De cozened into a deal with water
I4loLopolslS such as those who throttle New
- s'SI excepting Newark, which paid huge sum
70 achieve its independence
LIE, me staten Island contract is the beginning of
PFaIe ownership OF NeW-Y Orks water supply:
uI., entering wedge Of the Ramapo scheme
-NeW-Je jerseys new law is designed to preserve
us L die water supply for New-Jersey uses. II
t'lt zeal with Its own nonopOlsts its own pro-
!ScIoh' provided they have no other market for
IIilelI wafer If they sell New-York New
better off. " " i~
Either Controller GroUt does not understand the
SITUATION or he is endeavoring to advance the
pincpe or private ownership of public water sup
plles even at the expense Of Interstate dispute
Newark, y J.. May Is. 1906