New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-04
WATER SUPPLY REPORT.
State Board Discusses Se1Cage Dis
posal and RiUer improvement.

Albany. Feb. S-The second annual report Of the
State Water Supply Commission was made pubic
tonight. 1t follows. in part
The city of New York has entered upon it's work
OF constructing the greatest of municipal waier
9 .sIS uot Fricton Tit6 the people OF Ulster
Connty. but with their apparent sympathy and
help a great contrast to the feeling existing N
2saon a6T a 10 the oy of New York
This legislation Interfering as It does q with SINE me
ply, should be repealed and without doubt CoI n
be II provisions similar to those con oS
to take the waters of the Catskili region were
MADE to protect those communities and properties.
Attention should here be called to the fact thet
with the approval of the plans Of any company 1r
commission ceases Under the present law it has no
authority for future supervision and the water COM
pany or municipality may or may not protect anu
Of he nartes controIip the water supply OF cities
and viIaees in this state make regular tests to de-
teCt possible contamination Of the water on me
companies and Of municipalities to delay, action
until diseases referrible 10 the water supply nae
an inspection of its watershed making such nee
essary will determine the purity and safety
such facts cannot be overlooked IN connecti9,99
agsiS ES IG"p N ESaII, seams clear that his
the conditions of the water plants. whether PUBIC
or private should be adopted. ,--. .,,,. ...,,-
Prior TO the passage Of the act creating tnls col
mission, there vas no way provided to oGns@et t s
water COMPANIES supplying ater to az 5
the commission is directed to report the PIeS 5e
disposition OF sewage of each municipal corporation
So Urgent is the need for prompt and drastic
ton in this matter that committee or PUBIC
ton an appeal that in It's purpose has the Hearty
with the recommendation submitted IN the first
@ The present dsposaI Of sewage Is calculated
more than any other single factor to poiiute fne
mately be. the sources Of water supply for com
We recognize the fact that It may be impracu-
cable wholly to prevent the pollution Of our water
Of citss ana villages along their banks. but the
state can at least take more effective measures to
ultimately at lis practical elimination.
During the year 1905 several petitions were made
to tho River Improvement Commission. the powers
and duties Of which were transferred TO the Water
Supply Commission. Included in the petitions
those relating to Canaseraga Creek Raquette
River and Hudson River
Tho report continues
with the growing interest IN tho storage Of
water the question OF cams becomes MAJ mater OF
construction this state is without restraint,
The growth of Communities is sometimes 50 rapid
that Their future wants eann9t re49liy %, ne Tore,
poveT nrposes If this diversion viii inperll m
the future tie supply Of water for domestic pur-
poses In growing communities. State supervision
seem to be the logical result Of the supervision
the state exercises over the water supplies
OF municipalities and other civil divisions. for
while the State Water Supply Commission might
refuse grant application FOR the construction
Of A water plant stream, II would not have
authority 10 prevent any water power company
with the necessary riparian rights from proceed
ing with the construction both OF reservoirs and
dams Under the amended statutes of last winter
the State Water Supply Commissions supervision
was extended over all private water companies IA
Authority TO supervise the construction OF new
dams and 70 require che rel air OF old ones which
may have become unsafe and unFanitary should bs
lodged IN some public body, and 1t should DO
charged with the duty Of making an ANNUAL IN
spectlon OF all dams, the failure Of which would
endanEer persons and property.
The storage CI flood waters can only be accom-
pshed by building storage dams at favorable
reservoir sites and at a large outlay OF money.
The reservoirs built however II properly To-
Gated might control the flood waters Of the
RI this state not only to minimize the
danger 10 public health and safety, but TO mako
them a constant source OF advantage 10 riparian
owners and 70 the state
The study made by this commission OF the water
storage question since assuming the powers and
led Il put high estimate on tho commercial
value the rivers and streams OF this state. Tho
commission IS convinced that II IS practicable 10
build storage reservoirs already indicated. on
the provisions Of the constitution for the protection
of the state forest preserves, which Will regulate
the flow such streams and thus carry out tho
law for protecting the public health and safety.
stored to persons desiring their and make them
perrnaaent and most important source Of add
tiCnal revenue. II seems 20 the commission that
II the law were amended that the state could
control the flow OF rivers and streams requiring
such control, and could regulate the price which
such waters could be sold for power purposes, a
valuable and permanent source Of income would
be secured.