The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-22

stealing water from the pier hydrAnta
we're incompetent II not dishonest The
ANA SOat district Mt South Fes:S ~RS
especially full oF trouble.
what dye do with the tugboats that
take water from the pier Nhydrantsr' ne
why. I chases EN- away" said the
Chase nothing" cried Col. Mike. what
good in thatp They only sneak on TO some
other pier n rob the hydrant there. |
want those guys arrested
Up at Pier 20, Fast River, the Colonel
asked the inspector Of that district where
was the hydrant o n that pier.
There amt no hydrant here, y answered
the inspector.
THE hell there amt" said Col. Mike.
why I lsNd t'wash me feet under II when
was y dock rat" He found II too. care
fully hidden away beneath the pier, whore
il had for a long time lone good service
for the water thieves Of the river.
The upshOt N the ColoneIs invcstiga-
tions along this line was n now system Of
dealing with the marine water thieves.
He bounced the eleven water inspectors,
got = Government list OF all the steam
vessels plying hereRbout, and levied a tax
on all NJ them according to their boiler
capacities and their steam pressure.
Employees Of his Office then went cruis-
ing aboI the harbor and the two rivers.
They are still cruising. Whenever they
come across a steam vessel that isn't reg
istered as having n water register license
70 Use city water they follow II. The
Water Register's boat IL we'll known about
the farbor and the quarry sometimes at
temptS TO escape, hut II is followed unt1 u
has TO give in or blow ny because OF lack
OF water in ito boiler.
A lot ~ EN-, trv ~ tell me-" said Col.
Mike the other day, that they goes to
Jersey FOR their water. Put | make them
prove u. o bet. And e my folks ketch
EN- taking our water only just once they
have 70 take ont a license for the whole
six months term.
In 1910. the first year NJ Col. Mikes In
cumhency. the river tugboats paid S42.A26
for city water. "a against S35,2as the year
before. an increase OF over 81 1000. ana the
increase for 1907 will he still greater. The
books show the receipts Tor water revenue
for The first eleven months If 1907 to have
been s.. 994. ga, an increase 81 nearly HSaO,-
O00 owe the corresponding period IN 1904.
The receipts this month are very heavy
so far. 50 that the total increase for the
year will probably he not far short Of
$500. O00.
The New York Central Railroad is
contributing to this increase about SIS coo
a yeAr for water taken from city hydrqnts
IN us upper West side Yards.
They tried to hluf me out If H." said
the Colonel. but ! had photographs taken
of their men swipinK the ater md putting
II aboard their tugs He exhibited several
such photographs. They looked like good
evidence.
Nith all his activities Col. Mike manages
10 beetow the same care upnn his personal
appearance that has won him the name
OF the Berry Wall Of the Fast side. and he
still remains about the only man who can
always, II no 90 disposed. tell yOu where
you can find Mister Big Tim sullivan. But
If you happen TO have the pleasure o! his
acquaintance you will never find him too
husy 70 prove TO you tina perpetual motion
is alnOst certain to I've discovered. He
will In fact take any side of any question
ami establish it entirely TO the satisfaction
of at least one oc the parties to the con-
troverSy.
Just how the dot,ce he can afford 10 do
ell this for his salary Of SI.OH a year ~ =
matter for discussion. Though there may
be various views on that Doint, COL. Mikes
friends will tel you that he loves his art
sud that he Ia determined TO furnish a
~consplcuous instance Il Fammany efficiency
In Once.