New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-01
RAIN SK|PS WATERSHED
Showers Passing Over City Have
Little Effect at CTot0n.
SEES HOPE IN THE SOUTH
Forecaster Scarf Thinks Florida
Storm May Help Water
Supply Here.

From his window on the twenty -nintn
floor of the new Whitehall Building. Fore
caster Scarr looked down through INC
misty murk that almost obscur@d the har-
Dor yesterday and wondered in a vague
sort Of way whether the barometer that
was said 10 be sinking" of the southern
end Of Florida would send any rainfall IN
New York and points north. There is a
IA int promise that il will.
storm centre that moved over Lake
Superior Yesterday was the means OF New
Yorks getting several showers. when.
comparatively speaking, were the heaviest
since April 10 and On. They contributed
only half an inch Of water and were strictly
local for Commissioner Thompson OF the
Water. Gas and Electric Supply received
word from his engineer that III" showers
had had practically no effect on the supply
In the Croton watershed
II tho Florida disturbance doesn't pro-
vide general rainfall I'm the next twenty
four hours the Lake Superior storm may
come to the rescue but Forecaster Scarr
was skepticsl on account of the undue
northeasterly course that il has been
making. However. conditions point TO a
modest distribution OF more local showers
hereabouts to-day.
Commissioner Thompson returned Nester-
day from visit to the Croton watershed.
He wasn't alarmed about tho lack Of
pressure at the Coney Island fire. His
charts showed that the pumps were work.
ing all right, he said. and If certain prop
erty owners tapped the high pressure ser
Nit to their
building. that was responsible for the low
pressure at the fire. but his department
couldn't ferret these men out. That would
he for tho police. he said. and he under
stood that the police were busy during tho
fire. as well as his high pressure service
men. He would get reports on the matter.
but that would be as far as his investga-
ton would go
The Committee on General Water Supply
has sent up hue and cry over the dis
missal of Edward Bemis from the Mayors
bureau for the detection OF water waste.
The present prospect Of scarcity OF water.
they say, is due to waste. rather than TO
IAN act Of God or TO drouth."
The New York Water DEPARTMENT" the
committee says. lis at present incompe-
tent 10 carry on Professor Bemis's work.
which for every dollar that II cost brought
q dollar back TO the TAXPAYER"
or Commissioner Thompson the commit
tee SAYS:
ANY ono knows that the Croton water
supply is eccentric Sometimes n flows in
great volumes and again 1t amounts 70 but
little. competent head would base his
calculations on this fact. The fact is how
ever, the head of the worlds largest and
nothing about water when appointed. but.
of course. he must follow advice Of his
chief engineers and subordnstes who re
port to him. That he does not fully com
prehend is not because he has not brains.
but because he has not a full knowledge of
the subject. His engineer m'sed him. At
the head OF the New Yorf Water Depart
ment IN view Of the rnomentous problems
that will face II IN the next i've wears.
should be the best informed expert IN the
world
The committee complains Of 2 % per
cent waste that New York suffers" and
extols the merits Of Professor Bemis. The
attention Of Commissioner Thompson va,
called TO this Yesterday. He smiled littls
YEARLY and declared that he was tired OF
making replies TO so many outside criti-
cisms
we sre doing our best 10 stop waste
II is easy enough 70 bring such charges
against us might say to the Water
Board: Why don't YOU finish your tunnel?
You've been four years a. it. and it's time
it was done
1T makes me think OF the order 10 court
martial the old British admiral in charge
Of the New York fleet because he didn't
send his ships up through the Bronx River
to succor the British al ths battle Of White
Plains. That's all I can say"
And tho Commissioner smiled again
little YEARLY.