New-York tribune., 1907-06-22
ALDERMEN TO BLAME.
CROMWELL GIVES FACTS.
Report on Efforts to Get Staten
Island Water Supply Company.

Borough President Cromwell of Richmond gave
out last night a communication and also re-
port of arbtrators approving of the issue of cor
porate stock to the amount of 81. 100000 to pro-
vide means for the purchase Of the property Of
the Staten Island Water Supply Company. He
believes that the water supply Of the borough
should be thoroughly city property as obtains
in other boroughs. Negotiations for the pur-
chase OF the property Of the company have been
pending for years with no doubt the part of
city officials that the company could be brought
to accept a price, for refusal TO sell out could
be met by the building of parallel lines by the
city.
The Borough President Controller Metz and
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment are
in concurrence on 81 100000 the price at
which to purchase, but the purchase has been
held up by diatory tactics in the Board OF
Aldermen.
Three times the Board Of Estimate has passed
the resolution approving Of the issue but the
only action Of consequence taken by the Board
OF Aldermen has been TO refer back the matter
Six weeks are allowed the Board of Aldermen for
action such matter.
On Monday there will be q public hearing on
the matter before the Finance Committee OF the
Board of Aldermen. In a letter 10 Alderman
Davies, OF the Finance Committee, Mr.. Cromwell
says in part:
The negotiations by the city for the purchase of
the property of the Staten Island Water Supply
Company have been pending for several years.
Under date Of February 16 1906 report was made
by eminent engineers representing the city. After
the making Of this report numerous conferences
were held between the representatives of the city
and the representatives Of the water company,
which finally resulted in the suggestion being made
by the city September 20 1896 that the city and
the company each designate engineer 10 repre-
sent 1t. and that those two engineers select, by
mutual agreement, third engineer this commits
sion OF three TO review the reports and arguments
which have been presented TO the city agree upon
q fair value OF the property OF the company, and
report its findings 10 the committee of the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment appointed TO con-
slider the matter At a meeting OF the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment held on October L.
1906 this plan formally accepted by the city.
Allen Hazen, who signed the report OF Feb
ruary Is, 1906 accepted the appointment TO rep
resent the city. c. c. Vermuele appointed
to represent the Staten Island Water Supply
Company. These two selected Morris r. Sher-
rer, chief engineer Of the Water Department of
the city OF Newark as the third arbitrator Mr..
Cromwell says these two engineers met on nu-
merous occasions, made careful inspection of
the property Of the water company, and then
made unanimous report, placing value upon
a portion OF the property, and stating that they
unable to agree upon the value Of the
naming portion Of the property. They could not
agree the total value. but varied only slight
ly in their estimates. The report adds:
The solution OF the water problem IS, and has
been for number of years, matter OF prime
Importance TO all the people living upon Staten
Island. No effort has been spared by indi-
vidually a committee. or by the authorities
Immediately responsible for the administration Of
affairs in the Borough of Richmond. TO investigate
thoroughly the water question and the value OF
the property under consideration. The investiga-
tons. conferences and negotiations. which were
closed last March, extended over long period
Not only have the authorities in the Borough OF
Richmond realized the Importance and necessity OF
municipal management OF the waterworks in the
Borough OF Richmond, but the inhabitants have
been ClamOrous for such muniCDal ownership
These engineers report that they consider
S907 900 legitimate price for the plant and
property OF the water company. but give
figures for the sources Of supply.