New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-23
SEEKS NEW WATER SUPPLY
Mayor Gaynor on Long Island
with City Officials.
ARTESIAN WELLS l.,AKESHlf !.
Pipeline Across Brooklyn Pro-
jected for Use Until Catskill
Water Reaches the City.

Mayor Gaynor decided that II vas neces-
sary Yesterday 10 make trip 10 ma ne"
source Of water supply for Manhattan anu
The Bronx He has already been 10 the
Catskill and the Croton watersheds. ana
Yesterday he went 70 Suffolk County with
Commissioner Thompson Of the Depart
ment Of Water Supply. Gas and ElectricitF'
J. Waldo Smith. chief engineer Of the
Board of Water Supply, and commissioner
Strauss of the Board of Water supply
The trip Yesterday was m investigate me
feasibility Of bringing water ~ Manhattan
from arteslan wells on Long Island IN
Manhattan such wells would have 10 pe
sunk 70 a depth Of fifteen hundred feet or
more, while on Long Island depth OF only
a few hundred feet IS needed As only 4
temporary supply is wanted, II IS believed
that II would he cheaper and quicker 10 20
10 Long Island and construct temporary
pipeline across Brooklyn Or Queens tndh
10 sink deep wells IN Manhattan
Before starting on the Ions Island trip
Yesterday Commissioner Thompson took
further precautions against the waste Of
the supply OF water the city has 10 count
on. He ordered printed az once 5000 copies
n
careful and ordered the distribution Of the
notices throughout the city As soon as
printed. They are 10 be circulated chiefly
in the lower East Side and in The Bronx
II is in the lower East Side that there IS
the chief fear Of 2 shortage
The CITY Club. which has been investi-
eating the water supply situation. Yesterday
sent the following letter 10 the Board Of
Aldermen.
We beg 10 call your attention 70 the pub
lie necessity Of passing general order ll5,
providing 10000 for immediate use 81 the
Department of Water supply IN checking
water waste This failed Of passage on
Nav l6 by eleven votes We feel sure that
those who failed 70 vote for ~ did not un-
derstand the urgency ~ the water supply
situation 60 far as Manhattan and The
Bronx are concerned.
The city had IN storage In the Croton
watershed on Nav 10. 1911. about nifty bill
ion gallons OF water while in MAY. 1910,
II had the limit OF its then capacity ~ over
sighty-eight billion gallons. The weather
reports for the wear 1911 so far indicate
that IL vii be IN unusually dry year. The
safety Of the city from IRE. as we'll as the
health of all us citizens. demands that
every effort be made 70 prevent waste and
reduce unnecessary consumption, IN order
that the supply IN storage shall hold ont
until the waterfall next autumn and win
ter relieves the situation
We urge n favorable vote on this matter
Al the meeting Of Nav q.
Frank Bowling, Tammany leader ~ the
board said Yesterday that the appropria-
ton Of 10000 70 prevent water waste
would he passed Al the meeting today.
Commissioner Chadwick ~ the Board ~
Water Supply favors the suffolk County
artesian well plan for temporary supply.
he said Yesterday:
think We are likely 20 have trouble With
the water supply We may be- put on short
rations. hut I think We shall have enough
w.ter for table purposes and sanitation.
In case are forced 10 adopt any tom
porary eNpedients ! think the best thing
would he = Pipe line across Long lel1nq
Brooklvn might be able 70 spare some
water and 4 permission could be- -ecur- q
wells could be sunk I'm Suffolk County and
the water piped here. Long Island Is much
better of in the matter Of water supply
than wa are
In two and q half or three years. how
ever, the Catsklll supply. augmentng that
Of the Croton watershed. viii be available
and New York will be assured OF plenty
~ water for nifty years 70 come AS that
is the case. 7 do not think We should he
put 70 any great expense 10 find tenn
porary supply or ior starting new projects
In fact. think that until the Catskill sup
ply ~ available We shah have 20 depend
on rain and economy