New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-21
WATER PLANS APPRoEED.

The State Water Supply Commission has
approved New Yorks plans for extension Of
the local supply, and the city may now, we
assume without further delay, uncertainty or
misgivings, proceed with the execution of that
urgent and Indispensable work For this there
is cause for profound and general qualification.
1t is a truism that nothing is more essential
to the welfare Of a community than a cOpiOus
and pure supply of potable water, and it would
not be eXtravagant to credit certain share of
this capitals growth and prosperity, and the
favor with which it has long been regarded as
a place of residence and resort, to the excep-
tiOnaly fine quality Of the water which, down
to a few years ago, was served to its two
chief bOroughs The deterioration in that
quality in recent years has been slight and gen
orally innOcuous. but it has been sufficient to
cause discomfort and disquet, and to empha-
size the urgent need Of further supplies, need
which the state commission evidently appre-
ciates and which it declares with no less di-
rectness and emphasis than the city authorl-
ties themselves have employed.
Upon the other points involved it will be
observed that the contentious of this city, as
they have been repeatedly set forth in the col
umns of The Tribune, are amply confirmed by
the state commission. The Catskill region is
recognized as the best available source for the
immediate extension of the city's supply The
Hudson River. as we have frequently indicated
might be used. but it's use is decidedly unde-
sirable save a last resort to which it is to
be hoped the city Will never be driven. Dutch
ess and Suffolk counties and the Ten Mile
River are regarded as desirable sources Of sup
ply, which unfortunately are at present ap-
parently made unavailable by adverse legisla-
ton, and the state commission urges rs The
Tribune has so often DONE that steps should
promptly be taken to modify or to remove the
legislative barriers so as to give the city's en-
gineers entrance to those fields. This can GER
tainly be done in the cases Of the two counties
mentioned, though there may be some doubt
concerning the Ten Mile River. The need of
stopping ali preventable waste in the process
of distribution in this city is also noted. That
is a matter in which The Tribune may Justly
claim to have taken the lead, and to which we
are now assured practical attention is being
paid by the local authorities, with gratifying
and encouraging results. 1t may be added
with approval, as auxiliary to the general
scheme Of water supply extension, that the
project of a system of salt water supply from
the harbor, for fire engine and street flushing
purposes in the lower part of the city is now
being put into effect.
The question Of the terms, as affecting the
inhabitants Of the rural counties, upon which
the city shall be permitted to take the water
II ACSuS has IciiiJ DeGu the CTuX OF the WnOle
case, and for it the city ITSELF it must be con-
fessed, has been largely responsible. The
scandalOUs shutting and delay Of the old AQue-
duct Commission and Of some former water
commissioners in their dealings with Westches-
ter and Putnam counties unquestOnably and
not unreasOnably created a strong prejudice
against the city throughout the rural regions
and we do not hesitate to say that so long as
they had reason to fear they were in danger of
like treatment the people Of Duchess and u
ster counties were justified in resisting in the
Moreover, the unfortunate refusal Of the city
Of suitable guarantees to Duchess County not
only caused year or two Of delay, but added
to the suspicion and distrust OF the city which
was felt in the country. Happily, equitable
arrangement has been effected, under
which this city gives terms so generous, with
guarantees so ample, that the communities
which formerly strOve so vigorously TO exclude
it from their watersheds are now trying with
10 less zeal not only TO induce It but to compel
it to go thitLer and to perpetrate the "spoIa-
tom which they once decred. It is to he
hoped, indeed that the terms will not be found
to be too generous and to set a dangerous
precedent for extortion.
The state commission takes an ODtimis+ic
view Of the quantity of the new supply. thougl
perhaps not too much So If it's estimates ana
sOnably accurate the contention Of The Tribune
will be confirmed that sufficient water SUNNY
for this city for all time can be secured in the