New-York tribune., 1916-07-10
Half of 1t Saved by New
Nitrogen Lamps-More
Streets Lighted.
WILLIAMS WON FIGHT
ON MOHANSIC SEWAGE
Commissioner Reports to Mayor
He Kept Possible Typhoid
Bacteria Out of Reservoir.

Commissioner William Williams OF
the Department Of Water Suppy, Gas
and Electricity announced yesterday In
presenting his annual report to Mayor
Mitchell that economies aggregating
81 .O29 .O34 had been effected in his de-
partment in 1915.
The report, which embodied an ac-
count of the Commissioner fight TO
prevent contamination of the waters OF
Lake Monhansic-a part of the Crotoh
water supply-includes an outline OF
how the new Catskill water supply VIII
be used and description Of the meth
DDS Of its improved pressure. The reg
ulation Of rates charged by private wa
ter companies, the collection of Sl2,-
635. 900 in water revenues, the revolu-
tionizing Of city street lighting and its
attending economies were also reviewed
by Commissioner Williams.
Regarding the departments efforts
to prevent pollution Of the water sup
ply of Mohansic Lake, Mr.. Williams
said: 1.-THE most important single incl
dent of this work for 1915 was the de-
partment's effort to prevent the efiu-
ent from proposed sewage disposal
plants for two large state institutions
at Lake Mohansic from being dis-
charged into Mohansic Lake, the latter
being a part of the Croton watershed
and the overflow therefrom forming a
part of the present New York City
water supply.
Plans DisapprOved.
"Upon learning that the State De-
partment of Health had approved plans
permitting such discharge, this depart
ment, under date of August 10, 1910,
gave notice in writing that the action
in question was most unsatisfactory
and demanded that it be rescinded. AT
the same time it brought the facts to
the attention of the Mayor. the Corpo-
ration Counsel, the Health Commls-
sioner Of the City OF New York, the
Merchants Association and the New
York Academy Of Medicine.
"Thereafter no stone was lett un-
turned TO defeat this plan. which might
result in the introducing OF typholu
germs into New York's water supply
/ and in any event would result IN IN
/ habitants Of this city drinking sewage
/ eifluent in diluted form.
upon further consideration the con-
clusion was reached that these institu-
tions should not be located anywhere
/ on the Croton watershed, even II the
efauent from their sewage disposal
nlants were to be carried to the Hud-
son." -.
In the matter of lighting the city
streets and parks in the two years OF
his administration the Commissioner
said:
Economies in Lighting.
at can fairly be said that the light
ing of the streets in the city has been
revolutonized during the nrst TWO
wears Of this administration. portion
Of the work is indicated by the state
ment that during the fourteen months
I foIlowing November |, 1914, 5O,OOO
nitrogen lamps were installed for the
drst time. partly in substitution for
other and less efficient lamps and part
| lv for new lighting. Every change
made resulted in better street light
ing and in most instances also IN ma
terial economies.
~ call attention to the fact that
whereas the cost of lighting the streets
during 1914 the first year OF this ad-
ministration) was s3,445, ,3S7.4l, it will
in 1916. on the basis of contracts nego-
tiated during 1915, be s442,s43 less IN
snite Of IN. fact that 1l9 more miles Of
/ streets are being lighted"