New-York tribune., 1907-06-19
FILTRATION In DOUBT
BrOnritfs Rare While Nets DELAYS
Jerome Park Reservoir.

Controller Metz has not yet decided TO consent
to the filtration plan for the Croton water supply
He is still on the fence as it We're although the
pressure brought TO hear on him to force a de-
cisIon is very great When seen yesterday he
said that he declined to be hurried and that he
was stiH far from being convinced that filtra-
ton was the real remedy. He has been boUl-
barded with letters from various organizations
interested in tho purity of the citys water. and
also from those who are Interested IN a real
estate way in The Bronx He received this let
ter recently from the Civic League OF The
Bronx:
The residents Of Bedford Park in the Borough
of The Bronx have suffered grievously in mind
body and estate by reason OF the failure of the city
TO complete the eastern half of the Jerome Park
Reservoir. The failure to complete this reservoir
has been most grievous imposition upon tho un-
fortunate residents of the locality 1t has brought
very undesirable class OF people into the vicinity.
presents most unsghtiy and depressing appear
ance and has increased the sick list and depre-
Ciated the value OF property.
when the western half was finished we had
hopes that the balance would be completed with
out delay but these hopes were disappointed when.
after attempting to action by the city authori
ties. learned that they attempting TO in
stall a filter bed and that this would involve sew
eraI years more delay Unless YOU lived IN the
vicinity YOU could not appreciate what bitter
disappointment this was to the residents; they
cannot the necessity for spending a large sum
Of money In filter beds. in view of the good quail
ty of the Croton water and of the freedom OF the
q useless
ana unnecessary expense, which is a srievous mat
ter 10 the taxpayer. and makes added reason
for finishing the reservoir on the original plans.
We understand that the question of the installa-
ton OF filter system has been referred by the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment to a
nittee of which you are chairman The civic
League urges that you decide against the filter bed
proposition and In favor of completing the reser-
voir according to the original plans and at once:
or, II you are convinced that the installation OF
the hitter Is necessary that you should az any rate
pass on the question without delay so that the
Board of Estimate provide for the completion
OF the reservoir at early date.
This affair is so urgent and the citizens feel so
strongly about IL that should be glad To have
a committee wait on you and present the question,
IL you care to have such committee call on YOU
II you can arrange for hearing, please make a
date about a week of. that the league may have
time 20 send out notices 20 its members and others
Interested.
This letter was signed by W. W. Niles. the
president of the league. II did not hurry Mr.
Metz, He is still holding off. This east section
of the Jerome Park reservoir is TO be the site
of the great filter plant, II the Controller ap-
proves.
There is little red devil a pedestal in Mr.
Metz's office. 1t has been observed that il has
been mutilated from time TO time. After the fill
tration proposition was put up To Mr. Metz the
devil suffered When he received the foreso-
ing letter from The Bronx II was observed the
next morning that the devil had been consider
ably bruised. In the last two weeks the devil
has lost his left arm This has been tucked
away back OF the pedestal. 1t was said that
this mutilation followed the interview with
Coler
AS II Is now. unless this filtration scheme Is
settled one way or the other the devil Is more
than likely TO lose his right arm. Mr. Metz does
not actually dsbeleve In filtration, but he wants
to be dead sure that there Is no better means
OF purifying New York City's water before he
approves the plans of the engineers who arc at
present working for filtration The Controller
said yesterday that he would be ready with his
opinion IN few days.