New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
FAULTY WATER SYSTEM
City Urged to Buy Mains Of Pri-
vate Concerns in Queens.
FIRE RISKS IN BOROUGH
Deputy Commissioner Walsh
Tells About Plans for
Procuring Relief.

Procuring Relief.
] Commissioner Thompson OF the Depart
mcnt Of Water Supply has again communi
Gated with the Board OF Estimate on the
! subject Of the purchase Of the private water
companies within the limits Of the city,
recommending that they be taken over By
| the city.
There are three Of these companies In
Queens Borough. three in Brooklyn and sew
eral in Richmond supplying private con-
sumers.
! Speaking OF the situation in Queens, NJ.
r. Walsh, Deputy Commissioner Of the
| Water Department for that borough, said
yesterday:
The growth OF the Borough Of Queens Is
so rapid that delay In the purchase OK the
! private water companies now operating In
| three Of the five wards OF the borough is
certain to cause serious embarrassment. II
not actual danger TO life and property.
/ That this statement Is not made without
cue regard TO the most serious construction
! that can be placed upon it. it is only neces-
/ sary to recall the condition that existed In
/ the RiGgewood Heights section Of the Dor
ouen in the heated term last summer.
The development OF this section in the
| last few years has been so rapid that 1t
! has outgrown the distribution system Of the
water company supplying It. The result
was that many families above the ground
! floors were without water for days at a
time
Fires could not be kept in kitchen ranges
! for fear Of bursting boilers. toilets could
not be flushed and the entire community
was in fear Of serious consequences.
| "Pressures taken at street hydrants BY
an inspector Ct this department showed that
many hvd-ants were useless in the event
OF a fire.
/ This condition has been partly relieved
| by the company laying a larger feed main
! 10 supply this district
/ This Improvement was not made until
| tho danger was 50 great as 20 menace the
! interests " the company itself
In this case the fan measure Of relief
/ has not been granted and will not he until
| larger feed mains have been laid in this
| cougcsted district.
ITO obtain further relief it will he neces-
! sary ror tho city 20 grant additional by
! drant rentals ~ the company to COM
rorratc u for the expense OF the improve
, mont
"I'n6,- no direction Ct COMMISSIONS
! THOMPSON this work was taken up b. the
| cneiree~s Of the department. and plans FOR
/ improving the system were submitted 70
/ the company.
What las happened IN Ridsewood will
happen in other parts OF the borough in the
! territory ., private water companies be-
! cause they DO not extend their systems
/ with the view 81 meeting the future &c
| r,ands Of the territory. but with the idea
! of getting the greatest revenue at the least
/ cost 20 themselves
"Tn one Of the most rapidly growing
territories the water company requires the
consumers 20 advance the entire cost 81
laving the mains, the money TO no REFUNDED
as {, Is collected for water consumed.
This policy IS followed regardless OF
v.h.tI,r tho returns for water consumed
VIII nav an interest on tho money m
vested IN new mains.
/ ,'rho roerut - that the consumers lay
1 one or TWO inch private service lines ana
get absolutely no fire protection. In the
winter these lines freeze and put an eddi-
tloual burden and expense on the con-
sumner.
"7ta tayrave-s 81 the borough in us
~. cont stage Of development are subjected
20 heavy assessments FOR sewers and other
improvements and Il Il not Just tHat those
o,,..i1a the rltv's system should 1e COM
nsIlnd 10 advarce money 20 obtain an ade-
ruata SUNNY q water and fire protection
when tavuavors in all the rest Of the city
ar, free from this EXPENSE. Neither - II
inst that they should be required 20 main
tain the extra burden Of the higher cost OF
vatar charged by private companies
"Tre cost OF hydraut rentals paid 10 pri-
ya,c water companies IL constantly grow
Ing.
For 1871 this item amounted 70 N'lN
II l. estimated that for 1872. as result OF
the natural growth OF the borough. 80 sd-
ditional hydrants will be set by private
water companies. At an average rehie ol
ga a wear. this will cost the city So"7
owing IN the need of increa sod fire pro
lection In the Rockaway section
PLANNED to set 42S more hydran.s, provided
the water company makes certain improve
r,erts =. $50 a hydraut this Will amount
to s. SO
.J-nder a similar arrangement in the
pidgewood and Glendale sections. II Is
MANNED 10 set l95 additional hydrants. at
$40 wear. making $500 This will make
a total of $3.50 annually for hydrant rent
ais which. with the growth Of the Dor
cueh will increase about 10 per ccnt
year.
I'm addition to hydrant rentals, the CITY
r,s b.en having for water purchased Tor
.,,y Island city about 10000 a year
Tho ADVANTAGE to the city in supplying
water to all of its territory upon the 'oH'-
rletion Of the Board OF Water supply sys-
ten, makes It most desirable that the Guy
be- I'm possession Of the systems OF me pr
rFc0rLYN ADVERTISEMENTS.