New-York tribune., 1905-01-28
MAYOR CAUGHT MAPPING.
RACE WITH APGAR BILL.
Work for More Reservoirs-Lght-
ing Plant Troubles.

Mayor Mcclellan yesterday requested the Aqus-
duct Commission TO push with the utmost yisor the
work OF acquiring sites for two additional ressr-
voirs in the Croton watershed Chief Engineer
Lewis OF the Board OF Estimate and Apportion-
ment received a similar request concerning the
plans for the proposed municipal lighting plant
The Mcclellan administration is being criticised on
all sides for saying what It is going TO do. and
doing nothing. The years record for results Ac-
complished is exceedingly meagre.
The Introduction OF the Apgar bill. which pro-
poses to shut the city or from building more
reservoirs in westchester and Putnam counties.
emphasizes the lack OF energy on the part OF the
administration in providing for an increased water
supply. Although the Water Department has
known for months that the city would soon need
to acquire new reservoirs in Westchester and Put
nam counties. nothing was done to get the work
under way until after the meeting OF the legis-
lature Now 1t is a race between the Apgar bill
becoming a law and the city acquiring new reser-
voirs. 1t will take at least eight weeks for the
city officials TO get things in shape so that title
to thu necessary sites be obtained The legis-
lature is likely to adjourn early in April Mr..
Apgar stands about good a. chance OF getting
his bill through Assemblyman Smith did year
ago. when the Dutchess County bill was intro
duced. If the bill becomes law. and the city Is
prevented from getting the desired sites at Cross
River and Croton Falls. it will be wholly owing to
tardiness on the part OF the administration. Il
was perfectly well known six months ago just what
would be needed. 1t is estimated that the new
taken to the sites The water supply OF the city
VIII De increased by almost twenty billion gallons
or enough TO last the city about seventy days
chief Engineer Smith of the AQueduct Commits
sion said yesterday that the surveys had made
and that it would be feasible to advertise for the
appointment OF appraisal commissioners within
sixty days. After the two proposed dams
punt the storage capacity OF the city will take
care of all the water in the CrotOn watershed. At
present fully one hundred days supply runs to
waste each year.
Mayor Mcclellan discovered yesterday that Il
was one thing to plan for municipal lighting plants
ana quite another to get the business under way.
II was the Mayors idea that plans for a plant to
supply Manhattan and The Bronx with electric
tIshlnS could be got up in month. That idea
ne gatnered from talks with Cary T. Hutchinson.
the consulting engineer retained by the city That
PIsns Tor similarly equippins Brooklyn Borough
with electric lights. Then would follow plans for
plant TO supply to the public electric lighting to
take the place OF gas. The scheme is not working
out smoothly.
After the meeting OF the Board OF Estimate yes
terday, but before the formal adjournment. Mayor
Mcclellan called the attention OF the board to the
statement OF Cary T. Hutchinson that II would
take until summer to prepare plans for municipal
nghtlng plant, and about year TO make plans
as the city.
He seems proud to think that his COMMITTEES
has not yet organized" the Mayor said referring
| tell why"
| IAN your commission has TO do" said Mr. Grout
| TO Mr.. Lewis. a member. lis to calculate what
kilowatt capacity is needed to light the city and
how the current can be best distributed We do
| comes We will get constructing engineers TO do
| that"