New-York tribune., 1910-01-08
HIT W ATER PROJECT
DELAY IN PROSPECT.
CatskiH Board Likely To BE
Investigated.

Simultaneous attacks were made yester-
day in the Supreme Court at White Plains
before Justice Mills and in the City Hall
before Mayor Gaynor on the Catskill aque-
duct project In the Board of Estimate
Controller Prendergast obtained unanimous
consent for a resolution asking the State
Water Board which is TO meet here on
Wednesday, TO defer affirmative action on
the plans of the Board OF Water Supply
for a deep pressure tunnel for the aque-
duct under Manhattan Island and connect
ing with Brooklyn and Richmond.
In White Plains Assistant Corporation
Counsel Henry c. Dykman moved to set
aside the report of the commissioners in
condemnation proceedings brought by the
city in connection with the Hillview reser-
voir. Mr.. Dykman asked that the report
be set aside, first, on the ground that the
commissioners made awards which would
shock the conscience of the court; second,
on the ground that one of the commits
sioners. Joseph E. Merriam, of Mount
Kisco, in these same proceedings had re-
ceived about $4,000 for his services, and
that the Corporation Counsel had knowI-
edge that Mr.. Merriam had received $500
or 500 as counsel fees for representing
property owners in similar proceedings
brought by the city. Mr.. Dykman said that
Mr.. Merriam had resigned his commission
ership. There will be another hearing at
Mount Vernon on January p.
While the action taken by the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment yesterday
was said by Mayor Gaynor to be only
necessary and proper in order that the
city officials might know just what was
under way. there were many rumors afoat
last night about further and drastic ac-
ton by the Gaynor administration looking
to a thorough investigation of the business
methods of not only the condemnation
commissions, but of the Board Of Water
Supply.
President Bensel of the Board OF Water
Supply saw Mayor Gaynor this week and
explained to him the plan for the pressure
tunnel under Manhattan. He probably
smoothed the way for early action on
this particular piece of engineering, but it
is probable that the Mayor will insist at
an early day on a rigid reform in the
methods now governing the appraisal Of
lands to be acquired by the city for water
supply purposes.
During the campaign, in a lecture at
New Rochelle and at the dinner given in
his honor by the bar, Judge Gaynor spoke
strongly against the methods now used to
acquire land for the new aqueduct.
Rumor went so far yesterday as to say
that the Mayor would prefer charges
against the Board of Water Supply. hold
Ing that the members are morally respon-
sible for the great cost of the aqueduct
1t was said that figures were available
showing that it had cost the city A,OO0000
TO acquire title to 100000 worth Of land,
and that equally preposterouS figures would
be forthcoming when land for other sec
tions Of the aqueduct was paid for.
The commissioners say that they are
ready for any kind of a grilling. They are
prepared to show that they asked Corpora
ton Counsel Delany for authority to con-
duct their own purchase of lands. and
that their application was denied. Later
they asked Corporation Counsel Ellison for
this authority and he sanctioned it. but in
the mean time syndicates working on a
percentage basis had been all over the
watershed getting options On tracts needed
by the city.