New-York tribune., 1906-02-02
TO. HUDSON FOR WATER.
CJTY,S ULTIM4TE FATE.
So State Commission Thinks
Would Guard Supplies Purity.


Albany. Feb 1.-The suppostion that New
York City VIII ultimately be forced 10 nave
recourse 70 the Hudson River for its supply OF
water IS made the text by the State Water sup
rlv Commission IN its first annual report 70 the
legislature OF 6 discussion Of the Importance u
the State Of protecting al its rivers from pol4u-
tion
The commission reports that II has been oc-
c,luied chiefly in considering the needs of New
York City for an increased water supply us
application for permission 10 establish a water
system in the Catsiun region at an expendl-
rure OF over Sf60OD0Gg0 involving the taking
OF miles OF watershed and the wiping out OF
several communities. the commission declares 10
be q problern never equalled in Importance by
any heretofore proposed in this country. This
subjec. IS stil under consideration The report
says:
From the statement of eminent engineers, II
seems altogether probeble that New-York City
Ti1er e3+e- rom iis source in the AdTondacks
more economically. perhaps. Al a point aoeEe
PouEhkeepsie. II seems proper. therefore, nj tbs
time 10 cali special attention 10 the movement FOR
the publication and protection ot Streams ans @ ana
cess n Europe and which must ultimately put an
paters Similar Efforts have been made in some
States, and should be earnestly continued ia NeN-
- = ~, - Ss+e9 =, - I-Tficarion Of the largest
-7-s-e---av ir me state the Hudson Rive IL would
De easier twenty years hence ior NeW-1 ork Olly
10 obtain an additional supply Of water from that
great river. The HUDSON River now supplies water
. several cities along Us course i Is not 700 cary
for the state 70 take sclVe slels 10 re!le1e s
and Ell other streams and waterways IN the state
Il is The general belief that The supply Of water
for al communities should be as unlimited as y
DO no better service than 20 provide an aounoance
n wholesome water for Al! us people II
are or may become The source Of water supply:
Polluted water has repeatedly caused outbreaks Of
typhoid fever which have inflicted great hHTdships
and untold sufferings- The cost Of providing an
adequate supply OF pure water is so sItat IIat
some have believed that the Stale should provide
4EIrftes seetirE a safisfactory water supply as il
Goes 10 The construction q gooo ROADS as ior
Ienance of a national guard Study TENDS 10 snow
thar The con Instruction of State water supply sys.
ten II this is neiheT necessary nor pracIcable
The commission has received reports concern
ing all OF the water supplies Of the State, but
SAYS that before decisions are reached and rec
concentrations made, many Of the reports VIII
have TO be amplhed by personal inspection
The commission points out that, although IL
IS directed TO Investigate and report regarding
The purity Of the sources Of water supply IN the
state, u has 40 power OF control IN this work
With the execution OF the work carried on by
1ew OF The larger cities in the systematic exam
.na1ion OF water and those examinations tnfre-
oueutly made by some Of the private companies,
New-york State is deplorably deficient in the
rlublic supervision OF its water supplies, II says
II points ou1 the good results that have been
recorded n Massachusetts from State control
and ADDS:
7 &c unfortunate that this State has never given
the attention 70 This subject that It's importance de-
serves. The cuesions OF pure water supplies ana
the proper disposal OF sewage are very Intimately
s1-rrs 5s-osaI v-o77l5 ne fls- each Community be
required 70 care Tor. its own waste products, 50
- ma n srv other co-7rElrity The fnal dispo-
sir Of belongs
where il originates ana the successful solution Of
marty on The recognition Of this principle
The commission found the greatest indiner-
eroe 10 the disposal OF household sewage. It
says:
Il VIII be difficult 70 correct this condition until
the fun danger of such omission is Impressed upon
individuals as "e-- as on nlil1 p1lt4es. " 4esl!e
- hr-ng 70 the attention of al the people ot ths
@ SSs-e ~ m go - - - - e1s 60 -'I m III ee
providing for rhe disposition IN sanitary manner
o-Se = +r5-o l-~z7 one aleo1~r si-ea 1o-+sefoIS
a single town, 10 d public question affecting the
welfare Of the State II cannot be foreseen at this
time upon what theory a state system Tor the dis
broad question might De considered by the corars-
obliged 70 dispose OF its sewage under q cornpre-
hensive plan with due regard 10 the ezigencies OF
each case.
IN addition 70 the application of New-York
City the commission is considering applications
relative 20 water supply from Oneida, Kingston.
Wa-ervliet Constatlevtle and Lyons Falls.
Complete statistics y 40 waterworks have
been collected. IS wei as detailed information
concerning tne water supply Of all the cities Of
the state For example, il is found that the
bcroushs of Manhattan and The Bronx have
-=-fD oa1h-uhs, Bis 200 washrubs sinks and
basins 10000 faucets 5000 meters and 4l6.-
900 hy yCraurs
The report ~ Gyror s. Falk. consulting en-
Eineer Is included. He suggests that the state
issue certificates q purity for water supplies,
precisely as Is done in the Of milk by local
boards Of health he recommends also the i'm
mediate repeal of al legislation excluding one
municipality from obtaining water rights in an
o-heT county Il this were done. he points out
New OK city could obtain its extra supply OF
water IN Duchess and Suffolk counties without
me expenditure Of over S16000O 600 needed 10
obtain II from rhs CaIskiu Mountains