New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-30
WATER DATA In SENATE
CATSKILL LAST CHOICE.
Consulting Engineer FaUors Tap
ping Long Island Counties First.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]


Albany March 29-Complying with Senator
Saxe's resolution demanding the result of the
hearings on the New York water situation re-
Gently held, the State Water Commission sent
to the Senate to-day all the information on the
subject I'm its possession, together with a report
by Myron s. Falk. the consulting engineer. Mr..
FaIk I'm this report criticises severely the plans
for a S161OO0OO0 water supply system I'm the
Catskills. urging that the state withhold ap-
prevail of all Of it save that part contemplating
a development Of the Esopus watershed as a
source of supply. All this information, with
Senator Saxe's original resolution, was referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
In requesting the information which the COM
mission had gathered Senator SAKE believed that
it would be Of just this nature. He intended to
use it in furtherlng his bill removing the re-
strictions which prevent New York City from
going into Duchess County for water. He be-
Iieved, as Mr.. FaIk recommends, that the
Duchess supply. with that available in Nassau
and Suffolk counties, would be adequate If the
city only could be permitted to enter those
counties
The State Commission, in sending its maps,
reports and the report of the engineer to the
Senate, says that it is studying this material
with a view to making its deductions at an
early date" These deductions. 1t is believed,
will follow closely the recommendations of Mr..
Falk These, his report shows, were:
That every borough of New York City is in
need Of an additional water supply. That the
proper order in which to acquire additional
sources for New York City is:
Nassau and Suffolk counties for Brooklyn.
Queens and Richmond particularly u9oOOOOOO
B~Ten Mile River u5O,OOO,oOO gallons daily.
C-Dutchess County (260,00000O gallons
daily.
D-CatskH watershed or the Delaware River
That the present condition Of affairs is such
as 10 require that the city obtain relief by being
permitted 10 acquire the Esopus watershed, petit
toned for by the Board of Water Supply, but
that further relief by the city should be OBJ
tanned from some sources noted above The
petition for the requirement Of the Rondout.
CatskiIl and Schoharie watersheds should be
denied
That the city he permitted TO construct an
aqueduct of 50O00o,0o0 gallons capacity from
the Ashokan reservoir to the CrotOn Valley,
so designed as to permit Of simple connection
with either the Duchess County watersheds or
with remaining CatskiH watersheds
That the city be permitted to acquire the lands
necessary to construct the works needed to
store. TO deliver or 10 purify the water of the
joint Croton- Esopus to the borOughs Of the city.
Then follows a recommendation extremely IA
vorable 10 Senator Saxe's bill that in any future
application it should he imperative for the city
10 show that it has exhausted its efforts to OBJ
tain additional water from Suffolk County the
Ten Mile River or the Delaware River. With
the existence Of the Duchess County exclusion
law the city can make efforts to obtain water
from that county, but it can and should urge
the introduction and passage Of bill for it's
repeal" This Senator SAKE has done
The report estimates that in 1925 the popula-
ton Of New York will be 6,32OOOO. The present
consumption OF water is placed at 5JOOO0OOO
gallons a day, but arguing from the report and
deductions Of J. Waldo Smith in 1905. Mr. FaIk
thinks the danger of water famine is not so
serious as certain persons now interested and
favoring new construction work might wish the
public to believe"
The report goes on to say that the develop
ment of the CatskilI. Rondout and Schoharie
systems must cost more than the S161 900 900
contemplated while I'm Duchess County streams
more available exist. IF the Ten Mile River
source had been taken in 1901. as proposed. all
legal complications would be over now. II is de-
clared. The damages which would have 10 be
awarded to riparian owners on the Schoharie
and Mohawk would render this plan most un-
wise.