No. 86.

IN ASSEMBLY,

February 9, 1877.

MEMORIAL

OF THE MAYOR AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, FOR THE PASSAGE OF A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERPETUATION, ETC., OF THE SUPPLY OF PURE AND WHOLESOME WATER FOR THAT CITY.

To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York: The memorial of the undersigned respectfully shows: Upon the 29th day of July, 1875, the board of aldermen of the city of New York adopted a resolution which was subsequently approved by the mayor, of which the following is a copy:

"Resolved, That the commissioner of public works be and he is hereby authorized and directed to complete the storage reservoirs and their appurtenances, now under construction in Putnam county, and also to protect, maintain and perpetuate the right to draw water from the natural lakes in Putnam county, which have heretofore been used to assist in maintaining a never-failing supply of pure and wholesome water for the city of New York; and also to make such surveys and examinations as he may deem necessary to make intelligible reports to the mayor and common council of the city of New York, in reference to procuring a never-failing supply of pure and wholesome water for the city of New York."

Subsequently to the adoption of such resolution, the commissioner of public works proceeded to use all proper exertions under the provisions of the laws of 1871 (chapters 56 and 328), to accomplish the purposes specified in such resolution. With reference to the purpose of this resolution, namely, the securing and perpetuation of a sufficient water supply for this city, it seems well to state the necessities [Assembly, No. 86.]

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of the city of New York in this respect, and the possible resources from which that necessity may be met.

The water supply of the city of New York is drawn from the Croton river, from the storage reservoirs, and, in cases of extreme drought, from the natural lakes whose waters flow into the Croton river.

The natural flow of the Croton river was never sufficient to supply the city in the dry season without the aid of storage reservoirs. The artificial pond, commonly called Croton lake, from which the aqueduct receives its supply, was the original storage reservoir, and though for a long time this was sufficient, it is not so now, nor has it been for a number of years past.

The growth of the city would naturally render necessary additional means of supply, while the general introduction of waterclosets and other sanitary improvements has been attended by an increase in the use of water greater in proportion than the increase in population.

The adoption of steam engines for the extinguishment of fires has also resulted in a larger demand for water.

The act of 1871 was intended to meet these increased wants by providing for the acquisition of new water rights, and the methods it prescribed for acquiring the same were substantially those by which the original water rights were acquired under the act of 1834.

No water was drawn from the natural lakes whose outlets flow into the Croton river, until the fall of 1870, when a total of 1,668,000,000 gallons were drawn from Lakes Mahopac, Kirk, Gleneida, Gilead, Barrett and China.

During that year, for 100 days, the flow of the Croton river was not sufficient for the daily needs of the city.

During 1771 and 1872, the natural flow of the Croton river was sufficient to supply the needs of the city, the rains being frequent and well distributed.

In 1873, the storage reservoir at Boyd's Corners was completed and filled, and in the summer and fall of that year 2,374,000,000 gallons of water were drawn from it, and 350,000,000 gallons from Lakes Glenida, Gilead and Kirk.

In 1874, 1,924,000,000 gallons were drawn from the reservoir, and 44,000,000 from the lakes.

In 1875, there was drawn from the storage reservoir 543,700,000 gallons, and from Lake Gilead 37,000,000.

In each of the above cases, the water was drawn from the lakes during the latter part of the summer and fall, and the lakes filled again during the winter and spring.

During the year 1876, the drought was unprecedentedly long and severe, there being 175 days in, which no water passed over the dam of the Croton river. In consequence the stored water had to be drawn, with but short intervals of interruption, from June 27, 1866, until January 1, 1877, from the storage reservoir, and from all the lakes in Putnam and Westchester counties which were available, and where the right to draw water could be purchased or

obtained. The total quantity drawn was 6,173,000,000, gallons, of which the natural lakes furnished 2,998,000,000 gallons or nearly one-half.

The daily consumption of water in this city in 1870 was about 85,000,000 gallons, and has steadily increased until it is now about 105,000,000 gallons.

Exclusive reliance is placed in the Croton river basin for the water supply in this city. If the quantity of water flowing into Croton river were evenly distributed throughout the year, it would amount to about 250,000,000 gallons per day, but in seasons of drought the volume of the water falls below the daily needs of the city, sometimes below 30,000,000 per day, and then the deficiency must be made up by draughts on the storage reservoirs and the lakes. The new storage reservoir on the middle branch of the Croton river, of the capacity of 4,000,000,000 gallons, will, it is hoped, be completed by the end of the year 1877.

Although sufficient storage capacity to meet any emergency may and should be secured by the construction of artificial reservoirs, it is exceedingly important that the city should retain the right of drawing upon the natural lakes in case of emergency. This right was intended to be fully conferred by the act of 1871. In the experience of the commissioner of public works, that act has been found to be insufficient to promote the accomplishment of this purpose, without a sacrifice of the just interests, either of the property owners about the lakes, or of the city.

The act has not sufficiently provided for compensation to landowners affected by such taking of the waters, except in cases where the commissioner of public works should deem it necessary to acquire the absolute fee of the premises. This of course the commissioner has been unwilling to do in many instances, and, in consequence, the owners feeling themselves aggrieved have been compelled to resort to the courts.

It is very desirable that some fair and proper means should be provided for allowing the city to make use of the lakes without an absolute purchase of all surrounding property, and also for awarding to the property owners the exact and full amount of damages sustained by them, without resort to action, in each particular instance.

In the next place, much controversy has arisen as to the level at which the waters of the lakes should properly be maintained, even when the city undertakes to exercise its rights.

In view of all these facts, it is of public importance that an act of the description and of the purport of the one herewith transmitted, and which has been prepared upon consultation between the commissioner of public works and the counsel to the corporation, should be enacted.

The careful attention and favorable consideration of your honorable body in the premises is therefore respectfully requested. Attention is also called to the fact that the act does not contemplate or provide for the increase of the amount to be annually expended by

the department of public works, but merely provides that of the amount now authorized by law, the commissioner of public works may, in his discretion, apply part thereof in the accomplishment of the purposes of this act, which are substantially those of the act of

1871.

A tabulated statement is annexed, showing the character of the water supply during the eleven years last past.

NOTE.-Depth of water running over Croton dam, taken daily at six A. M., seventy-five feet back of the lip of dam; depth running in aqueduct taken daily at Sing Sing, eight miles from Croton dam.