New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-22
WHY LA FARCE IS OUT LILIES TYPFY GOWANUS
Those StreWn Fail to Overcome
Its Famed and Lingering 0dOrS.
STILL, REAL WATER FLOWS
Mayor Pulls Lever-It Had Been
Pulled Before-Speaks; Then
Lovely Visions Float By.

They scattered white lilies on the sur
face Of .Gowanus Canal Yesterday ar an
emblem Of the purity thar Is to be. Dan
iel u whitney. uinety-three years old and
once MAYOR Of Brooklyn. was there. lie
could recall the DAYS when Gowanus was
only 2 "crick" and the boys used 10 swim
in fl. until it got so famous for its many
and mingled odors Of great strength that
no self-respectinz rat would dip his toes
I'm a. But this is all 10 ne different now,
for not only has II been converted 10 the
WAYS Of greater commerce. hut also 70 he
WAYS OF sanitation and liy-like purity
These wonders are N be brought about
hy a pumping and flushing plant when
goes about IT'S work Of delivering 70 Co
vanus odorless torrents Of real liquid 70
take the place of the semi-liquid Of its less
lovely DAYS. The machiner, goes with a
great underground rumbling. IS though
the father Of waters himself vas there
grooming over his mighty task. Accord
ing 10 plan Mayor Gayuor was 20 be there
ro start the machinery. but after long
wait FOR him the committee grew inpa-
tient 10 see the wonder Of cleanliness
brought about. and the honor Of starting
7 The punns was voted 20 Lewis II. Pounds,
/ Commissioner OF Public Works OF the Bor-
. ough Of Brooklyn Just as they got 70
: grunting Well the Mayor himself arrived.
the pumps were stopped. and then his Owl
hand pulled the lever that gave theU their
oficai start
Then there was a parade through the
canal Of yachts and barges filed with
members Of the South BROOKLYN celebra-
tion committee and their guests. A.
/ though the Mayor was guest. ne declined
10 take the voyage Tndampened by this,
| the parade went on, scattered its lilies on
-he clearing waters and footed and cheered
\ .ts way from end 20 end Of the canal Al
/ though some Of the old odors fingered, the
engineers who built the system said that
/ in time tie waters OF the canal from end
/ 70 end would be Il; 90 be bottled and sold
as the emblem of purity undefled.
After the aquatic feature was completed
the official party journeyed 70 luncheon in
one Of tie model factory buildings Of the
/ Bush Terminal COMPANY. Many speeches
were planned FOR the luncheon. and al
| though al were prepared and willing time
was found 10 be pressing, and Mayor Gay
nor was the only one allowed 10 nave his
/ say.
He was full OF praise for the progress
and commercial advantages Of South
Brooklyn. speaking particularly Of the
docking facilities there for big ships like
the Olympic He said there were TWO city
owned piers and seven privately owned
big enough 20 receive the great ship, ale
though stories had been widely dissent
mated that New York was without docking
facilities FOR the size Of ships now being
built
II the olympic had locked here" he
said. "she would have landed her passen-
gers as near the centre Of the city as IN
| any European port OF any size We must
get over the notion that We must land pas
sengers within walking distance Of hotels
theatres-and other demoralizing inhu-
euces.
lie also announced 20 the guests the
unanimous adoption OF the subway report
as the best possible scheme that could be
arrived N amid SO many conflicting opip-
ions and interests and added that al
though II did not give a fve-cent fare Co
all parts Of the greater city the time
would come when even that would be
: achieved
After the luncheon the celebration was
taken MP bv all OF South BROOKLYN in the
form Of q magnificent parade. VIII man
/ floats The floats consisted or deliver
wagons adorned with flags and fair South
| BROOKLYN maidens sitting beside the drtF-
ers But there was no lack or quantity
30 many were there that the theory was
| advanced hv some that the wagons were
| going around the block and repeating
a careful check. however, revealed NJ
ringers.