New-York tribune., 1908-01-22
YOU CAN'T BEAT TITUS.
NOW IN SUBWAY. ROUTE.
Jameco Pumper Nay Be Able to
Make More Ont of City.

C.o,sidarabIe trouble is assured and a sub
s+antiaI bill fer damages against the city may
follow because Silas w. Titus, the Janeco
hummer who has a, contract to furnish water
70 the citv from driven wells and the authority
70 drive these wells within a large territory, mas
already completed three and plans to put IN ten
nv +,,aIva more in Fourth avenue. Brooklyn
alono the route of the subway, bids for which
are about to be advertised
The Public Service Commission. being In
formed of what Mr. Titus had done and in
tended 10 do. and realizing that such wells
would he a serious obstruction to the subway
and a possible source of damages against the
CITY. instructed the secretary yesterday to write
to the Department of Water Supply and TO Bor-
ough President Coer asking them to revoke
the permission granted to Mr. Titus for driving
wells in Fourth avenue There is some ques-
tion however as to whether the right to es
tablish wells in Fourth avenue can be denied
under his contract one paragraph of which
reads:
such wells and connections as he may desire in
the public streets or highways, and the Depart
ment of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity
shall (upon application being made by the con-
tractor to said department for the necessary
permits for the purpose) apply to the proper
authorities for the issuance of the same.
Under the contract Mr.. Titus, paying for the
construction of the plant himself. must produce
not less than 100000 gallons of water day
within 800 calendar days after the contract
goes into effect. He Is to operate the plant
for five wears after which it is to be turned
to the city. In that time it is estimated that
Mr. Titus will make net profit Of some
100000. He has decided that of all the terri
tory in which he has the right to work Fourth
avenue is the best He has already built
pumping station private property at Fourth
avenue and 9th street and sunk three wells in
the street. Two are in the block between 9th
and 18th streets and one between 9Th and 9th
streets In the stretch between 2d and 9th
streets he has planned to sink some ten or
twelve more wells.
Each well is about two hundred and fifty feet
deem and the water flows into a reservoir at
the top of each. but under the surface of the
street These reservoirs are + feet in diameter
and some 6 feet deep. The wells about
1s inches from the curb line. Mr.. Titus
NAV he able to show that the sites he has
selected are the most advanta geous and if he
should be stopped from building them he might
claim a breach of contract and heavy damages.
John W. Mackay, chief engineer of the Brook
Ivn office of the Water Department, said yes
terdav they had never received formal notice
that a subway to be built in Fourth ave
nue and that no oDStruCuOnS SnOulO De Gre
ated The contract had been entered into regu-
Iarlv and he did not know what Mr.. Titus would
be willing to do in the way of changing his
plans.
"Of course. the wells that have been built
will be an obstruction to the subway" said Mr..
Mckay land the reservoirs would have TO be
removed 1t would seem to me that the other
wells planned could be placed far on
tho eide of the street as not to interfere with
the tracks. They might perhaps be provided
for in the plans for the pipe gallery"
we do not want any distractions in Fourth
avenue at ALL" said Commissioner Bassett Of
the Public Service Commission. We want the
entire street OF course, we do not actually
obtain control Of the street until such time a.
contract has been let. responsible
for any distractions that may be placed in the
street before actual building operations begin
nor for any accruing damages. At the same
time we feel il duty to the city to forestall
anv possible cause for damages. If it be
done"