New-York tribune., 1905-08-21
WATER OR FARMS?
Mr. Armstrong's Plan for Duct from
Erie Commented.

which II was stated that the inhabitants of the viii
lage overwhelmed with grief caused by the
water board having decided to build a dam and
reservoir which would utterly ruin the place and
blast the hopes of the people.
In conclusion it said that Mr. Armstrong
had outlined plan for obtaining an abundant sup
ply of pure water from Lake Erie. which would
render the building of reservoirs in Westchester
County and its vicinity unnecessary. Mr. Arm
| strong's article published in Of the daily
evening papers last February. and doubtless es-
capped the attention of those for whom it in
tended
With your permission I propose to give a syn
opsis Of the plan which Mr.. Armstrong has outlined
believing it be both feasible and practical and
worthy of the attention of city authorities
1t is true the plan will involve considerable ex-
pense the city and State but We must remember
| that in a few years New-York City will be double
its size and able to bear its proportion of
the expense.
The island Of Manhattan is so narrow that the
population must of necessity extend northward
and occupy land which is wanted for dams
and reservoirs, but which would not be needed if
water is obtained from some other source.
Mr.. Armstrong; plan is TO build large duct
alongside the old Erie Canal having outlets to sup
ply adjoining cities. which would materially lessen
the original expense The water through this duct
could be conveyed to the upper part of the Cornell
reservoir and in this abundant supply of
pure water for all future time could be obtained.
Mr.. Armstrong; idea is that the turning of the
present reservoirs and water sheds into taxable
property, well the saving Of their cost of
maintenance, would create q sinking fund
that would wipe out the heavy first of the un-
dertaking and result in a handsome income to the
State. Water, pure abundant is an absolute
necessity in the domestic economy of a large city
We will find this TO be if study the history
of such ancient cities Carthage and Rome
which had complete and perfect systems OF aque-
ducts over hundred miles in length and
veying to cities having a population Of
million
It has been estimated that for every 5000 persons
in the city of New-York square mile of fertile
land in the beautiful valleys comprising water
sheds is required to furnish the necessary supply
| of water. In other words square mile of our
valuable land is rendered useless in order that
5000 people in the city may be supplied with water
| If. then. New-York city contains a population of
| five millions, one thousand square miles of fertile
| land must be sacrificed for their benefit. 1t fol-
lows therefore. that if in few years the popula-
| ton of New-York city is double what it now
is two thousand square miles of fertile land will
| ing of the immense expense of keeping them in
order. after having purchased the property and
blotted out of existence the houses and driven on
the inhabitants thereof.
square miies are Worfh today sSo SQUARE
mile and some of it much more. This means the
at least SIPS ooO0o. but what TWO thousand square
years hence calculate. If the above
statement is correct (and who will call it in ques
tonD, it seems perfectly evident that an abundant
supply of pure and sweet water for all future time
must be obtained elsewhere than in Westchester
| / am very confdent that Mr.. Armstrong; plan
is the only satisfactory solution to this problem of
water supply
He proposes that water be taken from Lake Erie.
veyed into large dGct built BY the side Of the old
| Erie Canal, and beneath the surface few feet
$50 0J0O00 requiring years It's construction
provided it is built contemporaneous with the en-
| largement of the Erie Canal
This duct is TO be built of first quality cement,
and with steel wire wound around it and embedded
| in the cement like the Brown segmental wire
heretofoTe designed
MAGE IN m tins way the duct VIII De Gapaoe OF
and will last forever. This duct will follow the
York, the canal until schenectady is reached when
i can be run In nearly straight line TO NewTork
enough TO deliver one billion gallons of water every
This vast amount of water is only one four-hun-
dredth part of the water that flows over the falls
destroy the beauty 'G and spendor Of the ana'S fas
large es OF b Sat- uerv OF one eeaF o bS GSf o on fhg
be glad Of an abundant supply Of pure water and
The reservoirs already built on the line of this
duct could then be sold, and turned into fertile
In this way, if the water IS carried directly TO
rendered useless and tbe cs of opePaHe wouS tSe be
over $500 900 GOO year. you'd be saved. Al the con
cesds use used tfg TO pay for ttdas 5his pipe d line
condemnation proceedings no Gisturbance nf the he
vast Industries Of the State, and no land to pur-
lagos destroyed and no hard feelings engendered
by loss of property for which no adequate compen-
| sation had been received.
! Let imagine for a moment that the Ram
apo steal is dead It is only sumbering. and when
| a favorable opportunity il will crop out
! again and IT try to fleece New-York out of untold
millions. The Ranapo Water Company private
| corporation Of political scheners proposes TO
charge the city of NewYork so per 10000 gallons
on a forty. year contract for an indefinite and
| scanty supply of frogpond water and marshy land.
! Every one who has examined this subject knows
! that this would be exorbtant price. No one
knows what this would ultimately cost the civ
! owing ambiguous language n9t,l of
! the contract.
| by appointing men OF marked ability. men of
honesty and strict integrity including one or more
civil engineers well qualified carry out this gt-
gantic project of Mr.. Armstrong TO a successful
| completion, would be a grand undertaken for the
State and city Of New-Yor
| It would be the most popular and beneficial meas
ure ever devised by human skill and ingenuity
! 1 have thus given you in few words as possI-
| Bile the scheme devised by Mr.. Armstrong and
/ II Is 70 be hoped that our legislators and the
powers that be- will give this matter their serious
consideration, and not throw It aside visionary
project and unworthy of their attention. a G,
] Lrntnn EalIs " y