New-York tribune., 1911-01-14
ASH0KAN DAM DELAYS
Failure to Remove Ulster and
Delaware Tracks One Reason.
MAIN WORK READY IN 1914
But Contractors Meanwhile Nav
Sue City for Damages, Owing
to Inability to Finish Tasks.

BY reason Of delays in removing the
tracks OF the Ulster G. Delaware Railroad
from the basin of the Catskill reservoir
and In beginning work on the construction
OF the deep pressure tunnel under Man
haitian, the date Of bringing the water into
the city has been put off from 1914 10 1915
Furthermore, the contractors on dam
work are threatening to bring suit against
the city for damages due TO the delays
caused by the failure to have the tracks
removed. These suits, II brought, may
cost the city thousands OF dollars
The Board OF Estimate has received com
munications from Macarthur Brothers ana
from Winston & Co. contractors for the
construction OF the main dam and d!heS
Of tho Ashokan reservoir, saying that
owing to the failure of the city TO acquire
the land occupied by the railroad and re-
moval OF the tracks, as contemplated ana
agreed, they have sustained great damage
and will In the future sustain great damage
and additional cost and expense. for which
they will be obliged 10 hold the city re-
sponslbe
As long ago as April. 1903 the question
of removing the tracks Of the Ulster IL
reservoir was referred TO special COM
mittee consisting OF the Mayor. the Con-
trolIer and the President OF the Board OF
Water Supply. They were authorized to
engage II. g. Parsons as consulting en-
gtneer. He has presented O bill for his
seryices. but the committee has made no
report.
Ever since Mayor Gaynor has been IN
office the Board of Water Supply has tried
10 get him 10 go over the work, In order
that the Ulster & Delaware Railroad DIS
pute might be settled. Five or six appoint
mcnts for such n trip were made, only 70
be called off for one reason or another and
the matter Is now no nearer settlement
than Il was year ago.
The BOARD Of Water Supply wanted TO
begin the deep pressure tunnel, through
which the water IS 70 be distributed to the
various boroughs OF the city, six months
ago but there was q delay because IN"
State Water Board had TO pass on II MI.
Bensol. former president Of the BOARD
MANNED 10 let the contracts for IN" "ork
before the first of the year. but the Mayor
held them up and probably the Work VIII
he held up for some time 70 come.
7, had been hoped that some water could
be ,mpounded and sent down To the Ken
sico reservoir Of the Croton system before
tho dams had reached their maximum
h.,gb, hut tho fact that tho railroad
tracks cut through tho dams and dikes IN
three separate places means that the dams
cannot bc used AT all until the tracks are
removed II will take two years 10 re-
move the tracks
II is estimated that the rest OF the WORK
mill no done hv 1914 but the system cannot
~. onerated and the city will be unable 10
get any water because OF delays over "NI'h
tho board has had no control
Charles a Shaw, who resigned from l"e
hoard Of Water Supply on Thursday, called
attention 10 tho fact that by 1914 SV"'W'''"
would have hoen spent, though the CITY
would not even then have its water. II
yyu have an amount Of money tied UP
thu, ~ invested would yield interest Oh
nearly $4,000 day.
Charles 4 Shaw SAID yesterday that
,,cr known Democratic politician ried
- ,,,,e apo 10 get control Of the patron
occ ~ the Board OF Water supply anu
,suod An onnissary Of the politician 'h''eu
mon a member 81 the board who Is no"
dI,d and told him that too little was being
dorc for tho organization. naming ms prih-
cipal ..,..,,, -, demanded
the commissioner. ,.-,.
Yes" returned tho emissarN .,,5
Go back" said the commissioner ana
Mr shaw refused to give the name ,.o'I ot
the politician He added ti4I 4II,t,as tnr' "a
going 10 be trouble over the water board
sIrrfly.