New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-22
HERRTNGs IN NEW YORK WATER.


Some potential changes in the New York
water supply campaign have been approvingly
commented upon in these columns, and we see
no reason for changing our judgment Of their
general principles. 1t will, as we have long
contended, be a good thing 10 have Suffolk and
Duchess counties reopened to this city as
sources of supply, and the prospect that they
VIII be Teopened is to be welcomed. 1t seems
probable, indeed that Suffolk County, at any
rate, has never really been closed, the law os-
tensibly excluding the city from it having been
unconstitutional. The municipal authorities are
acting commercially in testing the matter by
entering that county, and there is no indication
that the county means TO invoke the law against
them Should the case be taken into court,
there is reason to expect the city would win.
But perhaps the best conclusion Of the matter
would now be to repeal the I'll devised exclusion
law. That would be easier, simpler and quicker
than to have it annulled by the courts. 1t would
be we'll, also to have the Smith bill excluding
New York from Duchess County repealed. AS
we have already said, that bill would never
have been enacted, or would have been repealed
long ago, had the city government then been
willing TO make the agreement which it has
now made in the case Of Ulster County, but
which it would then merely hint at in an ire
spOnsible way. On the other hand il is to be
observed that some of those who were then
/ most resOlute against New 4orkS ever being
/ permitted to enter Duchess County are now
most eager to have it do so, and are seek
! ing legislation to compel it to do sO-nOw that
there is a prospect of getting huge sums from
! the city treasury for indirect damages"
We have hitherto expressed, and are now all
! the more confirmed in, the belief that the city
| ought to secure all the water from Duchess
County that is not needed up there for local
consumption 1t ought to do the same in Suf-
folk County, and also in the CatskiI region.
| When ii has done so 1t will have a daily sup
ply the year round of at least 1900 100000 and
perhaps Of 1,5O0OO0OO0 gallons, which, with
| reasonable precautions against waste, viii be
! enough for a community of 100000 inhabi-
tants, or three times the present size Of New
York. There may be reason for doubling that
| New York will ever grow beyond such size. If
| 1t does not, then these sources Of supply will
be sufficient for its uses for all time. At any
present generation TO incur expenses and re-
sponsibilities and TO make plans for any greater
expansion Of the metropolis than that TO 12,OO0,-
900, while TO object to the utilization OF a most
convenient and in all respects acceptable water
supply as insufficient because II would not be
enough for a larger community than that seems
to us eXtravagant and visionary The duty OF
the time is, rather, to proceed with all posi-
bic expedition TO the making Of these supplies
available for the citys And that work
should be done with the double view first OF
making a large addition TO the citys supply al
the earliest possible moment and second. OF
utilizing in time the entire supplies from all
these sources according to a harmonious and
economical general plan.
u There have been introduced at Albany re-