New-York tribune., 1907-12-21
ASHOKAN DAN "SCANDAL." "
Professional Support Of The
Tribune's Position.
Engineering Magazine.


The so-calIed investigation" of the contract
building the Ashokan Dam has now developed a
situation which demands the immediate and watch
ful scrutiny Of the entire press and ali the com
nercia civic and taxpayers associations of greater
The building of this great dam is the first and
most important step toward the construction of
been undertaken anywhere. The aggregate cost OF
the entire work will be somewhere between $780,
oOoN0 and $3.50 900 600, and, OF course, mary years
Of time will be required for its completion. Be
cause OF tns magnitude OF the undeItlk anu M
keeping partisan politics and political grafters
out of the work. the legislature of New York pub.
OF three Commissioners of the Board OF Wateg
supply to be selected and nominated by the three
leading commercial organizations OF greater New
YORK In accordance with 1ns oosat6rS pu4he h
city. to secure the services of J. Edward Sim.
Which he is presidsnt Charles n Chadwick' nom
mated by the Manufacturers Association of New
Board Of Fire TnderWriters These are all men Of
the highest probity of character, Of spote7ss in
ness careers. and throughout the recent and sean
and Misrepresentation not even the boldest of the
political intrguers back Of this so-caled lnVesti-
CATION has dared to give utterance to suspicion
Of the straightforward and open honesty OF the
commissioners in the matter of letting this con-
In exclamation Of their action on the first day Of
the essential facts and circumstances leading up to
this THE of e eo%ed by the
cia documents and all the evidence that has since
Counts serves to satisfy that the COMMISSIONERS
of the Board of Water Supply not only acted con-
scIentiously but also with orderly procedure and
deberation and manifestly with the greatest care
served And in coming to a conclusion they not
only had in formal written opinions. the high war
could command but they also had exhaustive
written opinion from the Corporation Counsel prov
ing that legally and technically. they would be
chewing the manifest purpose OF the state Legts-
lature in letting the work to the CONTRACTOR who IN
their judgment. could best serve the citys In
terests.
These important official documents are all in
available typewriter form FOR those who may de-
sre tn read them: and the signed statement of the
three commissioners. above referred to. has been
wisely issued In printed form, so that 1t may be
obtained at by either personal or written apo
broadway. New York. We strongly commend a
reading of this printed document by every one who
NAV be In any way conc~ned. because II failed of
nave not available space for repeating the essen
tiai facts embodied in the statement.
The point of immediate Importance Is that the So
ca lied 'nveSteation has not developed one essen
tiaI fact which is contrary to or in conflict with
the perfectly frank and open statements which the
commissioners OF the Board of Water Supply have
made filed and held open for public inspection
from the verv beginning of the transaction. On
the other hand the conduct of the II. Iury from be-
ginning to end indicates a settled purpose to dis
credit the commissioners before the pnbilc ana II
sentation and ridcule. 10 drive them out or once.
and thus oren the wav for the Mavor 10 secure the
anpointment Of commissioners who VIII manage
the great work as he personally may desire-whicn
law erecting the Board Of Water Supply,
Tn view of these developments. we are highiS
influential Of the New York newspapers nave al
ready sounded a note of warning tQuo,ad,.nnhs .n
from The Tribune THE Evening Post and The
Outlook" followedl