New-York tribune., 1909-01-05

OF AnI
Department OF water supply.
Gas an6 bsctEieify as Esdyb is75 4s4 SoS4
pePartrent Of l Parks s. i8is7Si 2elo
The Department of Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
trcity has practically reghted the city in the last
five years has greatly extended the water supply,
and the revenue of the department was 100000
more last year than in 1903 much greater increase
OF revenue than the increase in the expenditure
We have now completely installed. thoroughly
tried and tested, both during construction and
after completion. and in actual and most success
full operation since July high pressure fire sys-
tenn provided with all the safeguards that modern
engineering science devise and the skill OF
mechanics carry out, to secure regular and con-
ttnuous operation and all emergencies. 1t is
capable of pumping at the rate of 100000 gallons
of water twenty-four hours. against pressure
Of $50 pounds q square inch. and this enormous
force against which imaginable oonfagraton
could stand, can concentrated any point with
in the high pressure fire district. and made avail
able within two minutes after the alarm of fire Is
given. No other city in the world possesses sys-
tenn of fire protection equalling ours in magnitude
and efficiency
The system in Coney Island protects Of
about 146 acres and has $500 feet of mains. The
cost of installation 100000. Salt fresh water
may be used
high office building district. covering area Of
about fourteen hundred acres AT the main station
either fresh salt water be used. The cost
of the system was 81. 10000 and it is
plete The pumps electrically driven. The Man
haitian system comprises of about 1.456
acres extending from Chambers street TO 2d street
and from the North River to Broadway, Fourth
avenue and the Bowery.
Plans have been prepared and the requisite ap
preparations obtained for extending the high press
ure fire service in Coney Island and also in the
Borough of Manhattan. in the congested district
from Houston to Chambers street and from the
Bowery and Park Row the East River, and the
work will be actively prosecuted.
The almost immediate effect On insurance rates
Of the most gratifying results Of the install
Iation of the high pressure service. On December
last the New York Fire Insurance Exchange or
dered g general reduction of rates in the Man
haitian high pressure This reduction. l am
reliably informed, will mean immediate saving
in premiums of s5000oo a year. and Is TO be fol-
lowed shortly by another reduction.
OF the great reduction in Brooklyn, due to i'm
proved water supply about S2500OO is directly due
10 the installation Of the high pressure system.
In nv last annual message I called the attention
Of your honorable board to the advisability of
abolishing the Aoueduct Commission. At that time
the expense of the maintenance of this commits
sion was vastly out Of proportion to the work that
II had on hand. 1 have no reason to change my
recommendation of last year that this commission
be abolished What little work there remains TO
be done can be done effectively by either the
Department of Water Supply. Gas and Electricity
or the board OF water supply.
Under the amended law which permits the
mission 10 exist until its work is completed ii is
anparent that the members contemplate perpetual
life Although the Croton Dam completed
in 1905 and the Cross River Dam was finished a
year ago. neither has yet been turned over to the
control of the local Water Department which is
the proper superintendent of maintenance
Plans for a new storage reservoir in the north
east corner of the Croton watershed at cost or
S35O0Op0 have been prepared by the commission
uithout so much as consulting the Department Of
Water Supply
The contract for the main or Ashokan Dam
awarded on August g. 1907. and up TO date con-
tracts for the building of twentysx miles of aque
duct have been let involving expenditure when
cornpleted OF s26 100000 and varying in time from
.orr wears 70 seven years. Since it's organization
the board has expended or contracted TO eXpend
for property acquired, contracts for structural
work and for the force employed about So. 100000
FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.
In the Department of Charities, the Department
Of Health and Bellevue and Allie Hospitals con-
Giant war has been waged against tuberculosis.
0r Robert Koch. who in 1882 definitely placed
tuberculosis in the gronp of infectious. communlca-
tle and nreventable diseases has recently pald our
citv one Of the greatest compliments it has ever
received He stated that conditions in the cam
,aign against tuberculosis in New York City are
almost ideal
Through its different departments the city is max
inc every possible 10 provide adequate facll-
ties for The care of tuberculosis patients, and there
- atresdv nearly thirty-ive hundred beds avail
able supported wholly largely by the city
call the attention Of your honorable boaro 10 the
g.. .ba+ this IS q per cent Of the hospital accom-
,oda+ion for cases Of tuberculosis in the entire
United States.
MUNICIPAL OFFICE BUILDING.
regard the erection of the new n1unlclpal once
b,,ud,ng which is part Of the general scheme OF
extension Of the Manhattan terminal OF the BrooK-
,,,n Faridee as one of the most important projects
.h c,tx has ever undertaken. This building Is 70
os, snr,rcxtmately S. 600 000 and when competed
nil house almost sll the city departments me
various departments which II has peen DECIDED 10
Mace I'm this building to-day paying S4o"'oso -
annual rental Not only will this rental oe saved
aaob wear but fl calculated that ample accofho
dations will be in the building tor many Oh
the principal courts
,rha f,eershoro Bridge Will certainly be opened
r,,, tfis year The contract for the superstruct-
80 mas lei in November 1903 II called for a
can,tlever bridge with roadway ana lour uoIey
an - tl,e lower deck snd two elevated tracks
- .,,o footIaIks on the upper deck IN Decefi-
~ ,aas the contract was changed to provide FOR
go ,racks on the upper deck.
&c. the collapse Of the Quebec prldse' also
antlsver bridge questions were fais7u IA 'he
io~,,g nrofession as TO whether cah'leVer
- u,ere being built with a proper mar sh OF
E. -rba subject freely discasssd III tie
49, irte and the Bridge Commissioner WIN
ps p-o,.al retained William H. Burr ana boiier
S 5.e "a make reports on all features pertain
q H. oieensboro Bridge. The reports nave
- made public and as res"h - 'i = -
eeen axnaaienf 20 use two of the tracks on