New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-14
PAYING FOR WATERSHED LANDS

We have now and then had occasion to COM
mend the methods pursued by the Board of
Water Supply In various departments Of the
great work of securing water for the city from
the Catsxills but never more heartily than at
the present time in respect to its plan for ao-
quiring and paying for the lands which are
needed for reservoir, dam and aqueduct pur-
poses. The plan is excellent in itself, and il
seems the more welcome in contrast with the
wretched delay, oppression and extravaganza
which for many years marked the operations of
the Aaueduct Commission in the Crot0n region.
In the latter case the principle seemed TO be TO
annoy and Cypress the rural landowners. TO pro-
long the proceedings, and TO swell expenses for
the city all much possible. We do not
say that really was the intention Of those In
authority but certainly If It had been their in
tention they could not more effectively have
fulfilled it than by the course they pursued
People were turned out Of house and home, not
only without being paid for their property, but
without knowing, until years afterward. how
much they were 10 get for It. Costs Of APP
praisal and condemnation proceedings were run
up TO an enormous total. And the city was COM
PEELED, by delay which seemed wanton, TO pay
per cent interest for many years, where by
prompt payment it might have got off with 4
per cent
In the CatskilI region on the contrary, every
effort is being made for expedition and economy
and incidentally for just treatment and good
feeling all around The Board OF Water Sup
ply is soliciting from the landowners agreements
for sale and purchase through friendly negotla
ton without costly resort 10 the courts. 1t sees
no reason-and there is no good reason-why
the city should not buy the lands it needs Just
as a private individual would or why the peo
pie up there should not sell to the city just as
they would TO a private purchaser. Certainly
that should be practicable II the city is willing
as are sure it is-tO pay fair price for the
land. and if the present owners are willing-as
we assume they are-to sell 1t for a fair price
such as they would accept from a private ind-
vidual. We know Of reason why the city
should expect TO get land for less than it is
worth or of any why people should get extra
prices for property just because the city is the
purchaser. In case agreements are thus eff
fected both parties will save heavy legal costs.
The city will pay cash for the land, and thus
the sellers will have the satisfaction of getting
their money at once, and on the money Dor
rowed, on bonds, for making these cash pay
ments the city Will have TO pay only per cent
interest instead of the per cent which 1t
would have to pay TO the property owners If 1t
postponed payment as it did in Westchester
and Putnam counties.
II is thus greatly to the interest Of both the
city and the landowners that this overture OF
the Board of Water Supply, which is authorized
by law, shall be favOrably met by the residents
OF the Catskill watershed. It is to be regretted
that some Of the latter have already, with more
haste than discretion, placed their prospective
claims against the city in the hands Of specula-
tive concerns. BY so doing they have simply lost
whatever commission the spectators charge
them, for the spectators will not be able to get
a cent more from the city than the owners them
selves could have got. The Board of Water
Supply has taken care to ascertain the assessed
value and, so far as possible, the latest sale
value Of each piece OF property, so that 1t will
have an assured basis which to conduct its
negotiations. and of course it in all cases re-
serves the right 10 abandon private bargaining
and carry the matter into court. Moreover, all
its bargains with landowners must be approved
by the Board OF Estimate before they are con-
summated. Thus the city is entirely secure
against extOrtiOn or loss in this method Of pro-
cedure, while the landowners have before them
a chance to get for their property a more salts
factory remuneration than they are likely TO
get through any other means 1t is to be hoped
the offer OF the board will be widely accepted,
and that thus we shall be spared in the Cats
kills the i'll feeling and the great wastefulness
which discredited operations in the Croton re-
giOn.