New-York tribune., 1906-02-26
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
"AN AUDACIOUS SCHEME"
Correspondent Says Croton Commits
SiOn's Impudence Is Colossal.

Sir: The effort OF the Croton Aqueduct Commits
sion to prolong its tenure of life and enlarge it's
powers. through legislation authorizing II to build
100000 filtration plant at the Jerome Park
reservoir has not received the public attention
which the a1dacious scheme deserves. The i'm
pudence of this commission Is colossal In 1895
II made contract for the construction at Jerome
Park of a distributing reservoir with capacity of
from two thousand million three thousand million
gallons. When the project was first designed the
necessity this addition the ctys distributing
reservoir system was well understood.
The only distributing reservoirs in Central
Park, and they hold less than three days supply.
The Jerome Park reservoir. IL completed planned.
would contain at the present rate of consumption
of water. about eight to ten days supply. break
In the long line OF the Croton Aqueduct which
brings the water to the pumping stations at High
Bridge and T7sth-st.. a clogging of the siphon
under the Harlem River would render Manhattan
absolutely dependent upon the storage in Central
Park. which would soon be exhausted. Hence. the
reason for the Jerome Park reservoir To finish
the reservoir would mean suicide for this commits
sion. Hence its policy of inactivity; hence, ALSO the
filtration scheme which neither the history OF the
commission nor the law of its creation warrants
its undertaking
The contract for the Jerome Park reservoir
bound the contractors TO finish reservoir. to be
constructed in two sections, on November l. 1902
This time limit several times extended but
has long since expired The contractors a year ago
made an unsuccessful effort for more time. In the
spring of 1902. because of complaints Of labor
strikes operating to prevent the completion of the
reservoir the legislature induced to enact law
which authorized the Board OF Estimate and APP
portionment and the Aqueduct Commission. with
the contractors consent, TO bring the contract
under the eght-hOur system.
The original contract of 1895 long antedated legis-
lation fixing the hours Of labor. The supplemental
contract was entered into October g 1902. The
provisions of this last contract require careful
notice BY its terms the contractors. In consider
alton Of the payment by the city TO them Of an
additional consideration based upon what
sumed to be the additional labor cost by the sub
stitution of an eight-hour for ten-hour day,
agreed that they would finish the westerly reservoir
on August 1, 1903 and the easterly reservoir on
August 1. 1904. the penalties for delay be
forth in the original contract. And they further
agreed that for all laborers employed by them at
the reservoir eight hours should constitute days
work and that no laborer employed in the perform
ance of the contract should be required permitted
one calendar day. except in cases of extraordinary
emergency, caused by fire. flood or danger TO life
or property.
1t was in consideration Of the contractors
for eight hours a day only and that they would
complete the sections OF the reservoir as above
tionai bonus, liked by the Aquednct Commission comm at
Sitaa 40 BY variations in the character Of the
the bonus or excess cost has already far exceeded
is not half completed! The cost of the reservoir.
according to the original contract, TO be So
to add s4s4 as o. Yet the actual payments aresdp
amount to s6747 243 &c. excess the estimated
done. 1t is estimated that the additional payments
for what remains TO be done will amount to
Needless to say neither the easterly the west
eTly reservoir finished at the time designated.
There have been extensions. but further time was
refused more than a year ago. But the increased
coTdRg to the sae feRs labor p ns e to
have defaulted upon both clauses OF the contract.
1usHhed, | am at loss to understand.
If the statement of the Commissioner Of Labor be
this extra fund They have defauted in COMP complet-
in applying the eight-hour day What consideration
is the city getting for paying them 10000 In
But what is to be thought in this view Of the con:
r ouc1 or tne ,Aqueduct commission? am well
Species Of ese maeste to ortcs ehsr shs
these things as facts, but they need thorough ins
vestigation That the time limit upon the faith of
been eFssedsd: is: think. gndspatsd.
T to G % s the h @oaen o; o Ss m
faS as dd G ss9GSfF t4s f
these m to be mSds S Not the 3 rapses @ e3
roTs Fl The eent9o of fhs Course
self with the subject. Some explanation of these
payments ). should o. be demanded They may be all
inf9rmed Id oga1 Of all the, the fasts would
new lease Of life to the Aqueduet Commission. It
would probably go further 1t will probably provide
e se they f0E to 5se ss S e
deprived Of the to finish Their
present contract is losing one for the o9ntraetors
time had the city been able TO relieve them from
its terms.
In conclusion. I wish to ask why, the Aqueduct
Commission does not I'LL the westerly reservoir to
eP6ssd sPH aS@ bs bs fhe ehe w Th
course recommended by Messrs. Burr. Freeman
and Herring. but so far as am aware such test
J. HAMPDEN DoUGHERTY.