New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
WATER FAMINE DANGER
DRY SUMMER DREADED
Chief Engineer Smith GiOes Figures
ON Citg's Supply.

On the reouest of Mayor Mcclellan, and in
answer to criticisms of the plans of the Board OF
Water Supply Chief Engineer j. Waldo Snhth OF
the Board of Water Supply issued facts ana hgures
yesterday concerning the cltys water supply pres
ent and prospective. There seems TO be some
danger of a water famine if a dry summer chanced
this year or within the few years Mr.. smith
says that when the storage reservoirs are
completed. years from now. the limit OF the
daily draft from the Croton River in dry years
will be $50 ooOGo gallons CT water II this summer
should be dry therefore. there would be Seooco
gallons too little day for the proper supply Mr..
Smith has made up the following table:
ne calla oGs1pl.on T3 Of Croton water " s24 900 900
1T 49, [aas IN a{ ron ar i " " 1900 600
Hence the daily consumption will be in -o ooo ooo
In 1909 1909 500 81 coo coo COO
The eptiTs daily aos, sron that runs
tive years. averages only. --.;-.-..-... Ste"ooV"
Wien the present contemplate ,sdr. storage SenH
the limit Of the daily draft from the
odSnTred neT in the IN paTF sFT viii s $4,000 600
To utilize the average flow for period IKE
ee ee shf tb S Sgs tnrsre so 600
Seven years time, and cost approximately sIoHspo
can he drawn in the arf ycarg by only 5000
for forfy 1asfs averaged only 4o2
II the storage were increased 50 as to
forty years. The Evaporation would become
supfly as now planned could be increased ooo,o
% as would TsaqF additioasl @ storage 2 SEQ @ "SS S &c" eco
MoTgorer NV wod sis e f enfirei % in3racticabie
and would result in serious deterio5ati99 acos
srowths In reservoirs due 10 their re
naming below high water mark for many
In addition b t. ,h ,s ell 1 hs hsf .DG TeTsTyGf gS
the only practicable left Is the Quaker
Bridge site. about one mile below the
dam here would flood and render useless
the Ne" Croton dam which has cost ..oooo ooo
ply of 90 100000 gallons from the Cats
And for 100000 salons only ss2 900 600
able within ten years
% ia aa9 s69 ,s;s s sgn ;ns The z
and these years immediatelv followed
] TsEeTal ss Eesss Of exrsr4s,y & higa Tsn5a
And there wa. no appreciatle IN stor-
the avsiiarie snPpiy 1 q
An average of about four feet of rain falls over
the entire Croon watershed each year, but of this
only IS per cent. or less than two feet, into
the stream The rest evaporates or is absorbed by
or the nine largest cities in the United States
water the city Of New York, This seems Some
what remarkable. considering that New York peo
pie have the reputation Of being and probably are
the most eNtravagant people in the world but they
can hardly be expected TO become more economical
in this country some Of which At least are less
fa,oraoly situated as regards a water supply.
A comparison with cities of the Old World IS
Illogical Until the citizens of this country are
content TO live IN the same manner as the people
Of the great centres oH population in the Old World
they certainly cannot be expected 10 water
with the same economy. Americans have the
tat'on Of being an extravagant and wastefu peo-
pie. ard up to the present time they have been
able 10 obtain water supply in great abundance
at low cost II is doubtful if any curtailment in
consumption be made until the OF water
becomes great to be burden
F,ach tnhahtant Of greater New York pays only
4 fraction OF a cent day for water which in
cludes the large sums paid by manufacturers and
for ether purposes. This being the case. il is not
surprising that the people unanimously protest
against any attempt being made to curtail the
supply.