New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-12
TO PURIFY, POLLUTION.
SEW1GE CLEANSING PL4N
Mount KiSc0 and De VarOna Take
IN Water Contamination.

Plans for purifying the sewage Of the village
0: Mount Kisco so that 1t viii not contamlnate
the Croton watershed and endanger the lives Of
New Workers were discussed yesterday by l. NJ
De Varona, chief engineer of the Water De-
partment anc Isaac ". Turner president Of
Mount Kisco. This conference, held at Mr.. De
Varona's office, in the Park Row Building was
the result Of the passage by the Legislature
about week ago of a bill empowering New
York City to acquire land IN Mount Kisco. with
the consent of the Mount KiscO authorities, 10
build a sewage filtration or publication plant
President Turner was accompanied by an
engineer from his village. and together they
went over with Mr.. De Varona the plans drawn
up by the Iatter's assistants in expectation Of
the passage Of the bill The discussion was
most amicable and when 1t was over Mir. De
varona was hopeful that the matter would go
forward rapidly. An engineer from his office
will go to-day to Mount Kisco to inspect. with
President Turner and other village officials the
land that the Water Department has il view fo-
the sewage plant.
The matter is Of vital Importance to New York
City for at present the Mount Kisco sewage
flows into Mount Kisco Creek and then into the
Croton River. In 1905 the Water Department
experts realized the danger, and sent TO the
Board of Estimate plans for the condemnation
of land for a sewage publication establishment
At that time the Corporation Counsel said the
city could not acquire by condemnation proceed
fngs land in Westchester or Putnam County.
To enable the city to carry out the plan
special bill was put through the Legislature this
year. and now the Water Department is trying
10 hasten the Improvement.
The village Of Mount Kisco has appropriated
$4,000 for a sewer system, and this will be built
10 connect with the disposal works TO be con
structed by the city.
Rains have increased the supply Of water In
the reservoirs of the Croton watershed so that
the Water Department officials are concerned
more than ever by the polluting conditions in
the Croton valley. The water in all the reser-
voirs has spread far beyond the usual limits
often covering pastures where COWS have grazed
and in several instances extending TO the verge
of barnyards The walls Of several stables are
reached. Especially is this true at the Croton
reservoir. When the water recedes the accu-
rnulated communicating matter OF several seasons
VIII be washed into the supply, and it is feared
that illness in this borough will be increased
There was an unofficial inspection of the
watershed recently. when new polluting sources
were found It is intended to make a map OF all
sources of contamination. and TO go TO work
systematically TO eradicate them Dr. L)arilns-
ton. the Health Commissioner is already ousS
with this task. through the Corporation Gun
sells Office Especially Dr. Darlington IN
messed with the laxity Of conditions where the
new branch Of the Harlem division is being con-
structed at Pur6y's. There a large number OF
Italians are at work. They are practically WITH
out restriction. as has been pointed out IN The
Tribune AS recently as Monday several OF the
labOrers were seen communicating brook Whlch
eTnpties into the Sodom reservoir.
There is a stable in Brewsters which drains
into a tributary brook Of the Croton River hog
pens other stables and various more serious
means Of contamination were found 20 be in as
filthy condition before the Health Depart
meut and Water Department inspectors de-
manded that they be Cleansed. In fact, through
out the watershed Il has been found that warn
spectors have been dcied. Edward Hatch, jr-,
president OF the Merchants Association, said
yesterday that he could not see why the city
should de compelled to proceed in the cumbcr-
some way outlined by the Health Department
last week He said that if any of the nuisances
would take the promptest action and compel
abatement The city, he thought. could act as
private owner and deal sledge hammer legal
blows at the Indifferent violators Of the sani-
tary code.
Mr. Hatch believes IN disposal works He
thinks that the evil should be attacked at its
source. ANY other plan would permit Of a
diffusion Of the nuisances, which would be diff
fcult Of correction
Another resident Of the Croton valley said yes
terday that filtration was a delus!On. It was
likely TO induce indifference in the care of the
watershed. There might also be carelessness in
the cleansing Of the filtration beds. The accu-
mutation Of filth there would have to be removed
often. and lack of attentiCa would make condi-
lions worse than without Ultra ton The Water
Department denied this. Controller Metz said
that he still holding up the filtration
scheme and working his sulphate Of copper
plan He said he would soon be ready for an
experiment.