New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-07
Mayor Intimates That Esti-
mate Board Will Re-
ject Contract.
WILLIAMS SEES BIG
CITY LOSS IN DEAL
Buy Power, He Says, and Shun
Aqueduct Bargain with
Edison Interests.

MAYOR Mitchell and other members OF
the Board of Estimate will make a
thorough investigation OF the proposed
contract under which the city would
give valuable rights along the line Of
the CatskiIl Aqueduct in Westches."r
County to the New York Edison and
allied companies in return for electric
power and light for the aqueduct. to
which attention was called in The
( Tribune yesterday.
Indeed, the Mayor expressed the
opinion that the contract as drawn
would not be approved by the Board 81
Estimate. He has received letter
from Commissioner Williams Of the
Department Of Water Supply suggest
Ing that IL would be better to charge
the companies full value for the fran
chise and in return pay them for what
current might be needed by the CITY.
/ The bargain as suggested, he SAID,
might prove dear for the city in The
end.
The Mayor will confer with Commits
sioner Williams and officials OF the
Board of Water Supply tomorrow. 30
far the proposed contract has oeen IN
the hands Of Harry Z. Nichols. iran
chise engineer of the Board Of Esti-
mate and the Board of Water Supply.
Contract Not Likely.
From the letter Of Commissioner
Williams it appears that Mr.. Nichois
had referred the application of the
Edison company to Henry s. ThOmp-
son. then Commissioner of the Depart
ment of Water Supply, last July. Mr.
Thompson returned it with no other
comment than that the lands in ques-
tiOn we're under control Of the Board
of Water Supply.
II is probable that when the fran
chise committee reports 10 the Boaru
of Estimate at the public hearing on
Julv . il will recommend that the r.
ciprocal contract be abandoned and the
proposition of Commissioner Williams
substituted.
Il knew very little about this propo-
sition before my attention was called
to it," said the Mayor, "as the fran
chise committee had not taken 1t up
for detailed consideration.
commissioner Williams raises IN
objection to the granting of any fran
chise on the terms proposed He calls
attention to the fact that in place II
exchanging a franchise for contract
for power electric service it would he
better to appraise the franchise at us
actual money value, and charge the
company accordingly. and to pay the
company the actual money value OF me
service rendered.
This seems TO me reasonable, ana l
have indicated To the representative ul
the company that it is unlikely th't
the franchise will be granted on l1e
terms as they now stand.
.Au this is subject to investigation,
however. ! purpose TO take the mater
up with the greatest care before IL
comes up for final determination
Williams Opposes Plan.
in his letter to the Mayor Commls-
sioner Williams wrote:
Apparently il is proposed to grant
these companies Il franchise To trans
init electricity over this conduit line
for commercial purposes in the coun-
ties of WeStchester and Putnam, free
; OF charge. in return for their furnish
! ing the City Of New York with the
necessary amount Of electricity for
operating certain aqueduct gates,
siphon pumps, etc. The proposed
franchise is for period of twenty
fivc years, with the right of renewal
for the same period upon revaluatlon.
II seems 10 me this subject is
very large one, in that the FRANCHISE,
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