New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-04
DRINKING SEA WATER.
RICHMOND SUPPLY BAD.
Commission Reports or Staten Island
Necds-CIcrcland Letter,

make IL az ssgrses seriously chsecsieesMe - INC
users To iynprcve the service she o'N - q"
the point of taking oNeT. 81 an assresa'e V'S'
OF Sl5SSooo the three principal water COM
pennies supplying she fsis06. Fos years the p"'-
pie OF Staten Island have complained that al
tines the water furnished soS domestic use con-
taiaed sea water The water companies have
denied this New cosses an official report by
commission. consissirs es Professor William II.
Burr l. n De Narons. Nelson p Lewis, chief
engineer OF the Board ~ Estimate and Appor-
tiarment: Allen Hasen and J. Waldo Smith,
chief engineer or the AQueouct Commission
saying that the water OF the Staten Island Water
Company whose service covers more than half
the island. contains water. In their report
these engineers say. IN part:
There are seven sources of supply now in use.
One oi these that Of he South SHORE wa a. eol
IN connection with general SUPPLY t4r s1 5he
plyinS probably moro water than any two others,
is a. West New Brighton This water contains al, an
q me n such GpaP so as TO F ma5s an
saptdhDig p1 I Ep k a55ia increa sing This
tie mineral matter which il contains and the pol.
Pm Re s P9p% II iR I Pou f haTe not yet
been serious as Indicated by The analyses 81 tae
time goes and at no rernoIe date viii make me
in our judgment, should be used only until such
Tine as better water can De secured ana II
This means that the city is on the point of
buying water company whose product Is or
quality to warrant its abandonment by the city
3ust as soon as other and better water can be
provided. In making its appraisal Of the various
companies on States Island the commissioners
say:
The value of the sources Of water supply has in
each case been determined by capital'zing the net
value OF the water from each for a period of ten
years, the cost of operation being estimated: while
been assumed be SO a million gallons less such
amounts as may be larry assume IN each case 10
water, such hardness. salt and iron, and also
possible pollution To the capitalized value thus
Tor al Of the land from which the supply is de-
AS result OF these Investigations. the commits
OF the companies the presen= time. forth
IN detail in the plans and papers accompanying this
report:
Staten IsIsaa Water Supply Company ss S2 sS % %
South shore Water Company 1900 90
Total valuation companies $4,000 90
II the city can purchase the plants and property
stated above. at an approximation thereto we
that such @ be fh m6e ae fa9qd
OF Appendix Is. that the small pumping plant
to the city, and hence that no allowance has been
made for it in the estimated value Of that property
Concerning the future needs Of Richmond, the
report says:
Apparently the Catskn water will be available
necessary 10 have II available as soon as possible
because existing will not permanently sup
t9e supply Il obtained ALSO is but tenn
porary arrangement. and the contract runs but
The works, for bringing the catski water to
ply the entire island for some time When once
source auaiabie and Without taking capital Charges
into account. II viii be cheaper 70 supply It than
and. Assuming the whole operated by the city. u
of supply on tho island will be put out OF service
when The Catskin water is available. or in about
This viii be so. even though the cost Of pumping
the cost o Of S the Sats waters devefed S on the
island when the capital charges on the investments
the value of the water which be secured from
OF operation, may be taken representing the fun
sion OF water by other parties sinking wells ii UPON
their own land. drawing water from the same
sources Of supply as the companies, and having an
equal right 70 the water. the further possibility of
yeIiT 80 a SII ,d iag me companies rom
fully ohsetting the values OF the possible Of
these sources WILL therefore be valued on this
To the value obtained must be added the sal
Esge value Of the plants which value should be
probably Will be more valuable after ten years than
present worth Of the entire sa a Sgt v az TAKE o me
plants as equal 10 the present estimated value OF
contract eth has been made for Temporary supply
contract is now being tested by the courts II the
contract is upheld this water will be available
event the first OF the new supply will be TO
West New Brighton station. This station should
then De put out OF use at once account Of the
at the minimum amount taken (three million
this station and viii also to slight iiT" extent aIle take
The place OF water obtained other stations and
ew-Jersey water which can be brought to the
ssslahd under tins contract will not suffice for
iuA supply Of the island.
AT the meeting Of the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment Friday E. F C Mccain,
nephew Of Richard Croker, appeared in behalf
az taxpayers 10 urge prompt action by the city
in providing better water service for Staten
Island. in the absence OF printed copies OF the
report Of the engineers already referred to the
matter put over It looks as IL more than
half the people of the island will be compelled
20 keen on drinking the tainted water unless the
Ne~-Jersey companies allowed TO furnish a
temporary supply.
President Cromwell of Richmond Borough re-
Gently wrote 10 ex-President Grover Cleveland
IN regard 10 the efforts that are being made to
obtain permanent and abundant water supply
for Staten Island by piping from New-Jersey-
He asked Mr.. Cleveland's opinion the matter
and received the following reply which he has
just made public:
West.s s.d- PRINCETON F 4 l. February 2 1909
ough of Richmond New-York City
Desr Sir; The question Of sufficient supply OF
community that find myself much interested in
st mas been put before me touching the situation
can easily understand your anxiety in the matter
cannot fully appreciate. and an outside OF
the immediate situaton that do not feel like in
tet-ering IN a very active way.
one fast. however. seems stand out quite prom
and Wholesome water 10 Staten Island without i'm
e srst i Hei5e As Jsrssyran do not think
o. ner itss fortunate bors; and believe that