New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
ELLISON WANTS METERS
Commissioner Says City Needs
Greater Water Supply.

Commissioner Ellison of the Department of
Water Supply IN a statement yesterday says
that on account Of lack OF meters there is large
waste Of water and that the installation of
meters is q crying need
Incidentally. this is just what the sullivans.
big and little and Colonel NJ Clarence Padden.
the new Water Register. wanted him TO say. AS
stated in The Tribune last week. Colonel Padden
has been appointed to the department TO take
charge Of installing about hundred thousand
meters. They will cost about SO each. and IT
would not surprise the suspicious If they were
all of one kind and some friend of Big Tim
Sullivan made them all.
Congressman Timothy D. Sullivan and his
cousin, Little Tim" are sure that the city is
losing millions Of dollars worth of water
through lack of meters. They in favor OF
rneters-Colonel Padden's kind. 1t is PROPOSE
ton in finished brass that will bear watching
and will be watched for the next four years.
Commissioner Ellison says in part:
ing I desire TO state that almost from the day
] took Office / have been conducting an in
vestigation of the methods of the Bureau OF
Water Register, and have consulted the Mayor
various occasions in the same connection
Ny opinion is that many meters have been re
moved after their installation and LOT various
causes. I think that the specific instance re-
ferred 10 In the article Will be found to rest
upon the proposition that they were apartment
houses and as SUCH private residences. No
meters have been ordered removed since the
first Of the year for any cause, as I recall
Furthermore, meters cannot be removed with
out the permission Of the Commissioner, and
have given notice TO the effect that no deputy
shall sign a permit TO remove meter
So far as concerns the statement that many
big buildings that should be metered have been
overlooked, can only say that l believe this to
be d fact, and the explanation oIered 10 me
upon my taking office was that an insufhclency
OF help %hlch M Pfeyented thf at he desired TO
make, had led TO this result. Almost at the in
ception Of my administration efforts were be-
gun TO reach these buildings, and a very SUD-
stantial number Of them have already been
reached. Under the administration Of Mr.. Pad
den as Water Register, if I recall the figures
correctly he has already ordered the instala-
ton of something like 80 meters. His activity
in This respect is entirely satisfactory TO me.
and is along the lines Of the policy that desire
To help Water Register Padden in his efforts
to rneser all places in which meters should be
installed. l have at his request, asked for the
transfer Of ten additional inspectors from Brook
men 1 expect to have subject to the Water
Registers instructions by the hrst or the week
was made yesterday after consultation WITH
Deputy Commissioner Cozier, Of Brooklyn
How much water has been wasted, lost or
stolen. by reason Of the non-masterfng or prop
critics heretofore. I cannct say, nor do believe
II is possible of estimation. That the quantity
mas been large / have no doubt. If the addi-
tional inspection that 1 have already provided
for be successful, I confident it will, there
Will be q revenue derived from our water meters
greater than ever IN the history OF the uePdi'-
nent
That the metering of every structure IN the
city Of New-York would save water enough 70
render fl unnecessary to increase our supply is
entirely fallacious, in my opinion, and doubt
whether or not would save 20 per cent by the
most complete system OF metering and the pre-
vention of waste in every other way.
n I am successful in getting into Suffolk
County with the privilege of taking water
therefrom I viii be able 10 add approximately
15OO0OOOO gallons Of water day 10 the water
supply Of Brooklyn and Manhattan Even under
those conditions the water supply will not be
sufficient at the termination of the time, when.
under reasonable circumstances, we can secure
INC Catskiu water or water from some other
source In other words, the securing OF more
,vater from Suffolk County and the saving 70
which have referred will simply tide us over
until a larger and more permanent supply can
be obtained.