Pursuant to this law surveys, plans and estimates were made for a gravity supply from a source opposite the city in Rensselaer county. The people by vote as directed by this law approved this proposition by a large majority, when to further complicate matters the village of Lansingburg claimed and actually bought part of the watershed intended to be acquired, and as further effort in this direction appeared to involve tedious and costly litigation, it was abandoned and nothing further has been done except to attempt to conclude terms with the present company for the purchase of its plant or a new contract. This disclosed that no one had the requisite authority to sell and give proper title. The $250,000 is still available. The question of a contract. was then considered, but as the water commissioners in this connection practically insist (1) on better pumping facilities so as to obviate the necessity of using the old reservoir; (2) on considerable extensions to the mains, and (3) on higher pressure, nothing has been accomplished because the company feels it is not justified in putting a large additional sum into its plant for one year's contract, after or during which time the commissioners, by exercising their powers, as they have tried to do, may render the present plant almost valueless. Moreover, the company feels that the prevailing prejudice against it is being used to belittle the value of its plant with a view to its future purchase or condemnation at low figures.

CONCLUSIONS

Whatever the present difficulties may be so far as the company's affairs are concerned, one fact stands out boldly, viz.: That the people have for many years paid the company in rentals a good return on the cost of the plant if it had been properly capitalized. They could not be expected to do more than this. Meantime the city has grown and its needs of more water have multiplied. Instead of increasing the capacity of the plant to keep pace with the city's growth, the income of the plant appears to have been applied more particularly for the benefit of the bondholders.

The present source and method of supply are probably the most economical available for the city; hence whether the plant. continues to be operated by the company or whether it shall be hereafter acquired by the city, an improvement in the acknowledged inadequacy of the pumping plant would seem to be not only desirable and necessary, but also promising of proper financial remuneration directly or indirectly.

This offers the quickest solution of the main difficulties, hence I recommend that if possible the company be prevailed upon to install new and larger turbine wheels and improve the tail-race therefrom. The present pumps are old and somewhat worn. They may also soon be found to be inadequate, but such a contingency can be met as it arises.

A sufficient increase in power at the pumping stations in water wheels or pumps, or both, will permit the maintenance of a full supply at all times in the new reservoir.

Hence there will be no need to use the water of the old reservoir, and that complaint will have been met.

With such a full reservoir the pressure can be maintained in the distributing mains to a reasonable amount and the complaint of too low pressure will have been met.

The one unsolved question remains, is the water of the Mohawk river at the point of intake fit for a domestic supply without purification?

It is polluted by the raw, unpurified sewage from every city and village in the Mohawk valley. Even though this amount of pollution be diluted to such an extent as to render the water not positively dangerous for potable purposes, it is not as good water as the city of Watervliet can and should obtain.

Moreover, aside from the question of pollution by sewage, the water is so turbid in times of freshet as to be unfit for use, and the size of the new reservoir is entirely inadequate for a storage supply during such periods. It is also reasonable to suppose that both of these conditions will grow worse instead of better with the lapse of time.

The analyses of the three samples of water hereinbefore mentioned are now available from Professor Tucker and are as

Remarks (1) Unsatisfactory and unfit for domestic use in this condition.

Remarks (2) Color, appearance and odor unsatisfactory and albuminoid ammonia high, but in other respects much better than No. 542, and not very different, though somewhat inferior, to No. 544.

Remarks (3) Color and appearance unsatisfactory, but in other respects much better than No. 542 and not very different, though in most respects much superior to No. 543.

Results are in parts of 100,000.

It is interesting to note that the best analysis is from water drawn from a faucet at a time when the new reservoir had for some time been shut off and the total supply was being taken from the old reservor. In this connection it is but proper to say that the old reservoir water was decidedly clearer than the new when the samples were taken. Being covered with ice and left for a long time free from disturbing sources, its waters had an excellent chance to clarify by precipitation.

However, all the analyses show that none of the water is of the best and I am therefore constrained to add a further sug

gestion. A study of the topography within eight or 10 miles of Watervliet will show that the present source of supply is probably the one that must be permanently utilized. This supply will never be good till it has been artificially purified.

An opportunity for the installation of a suitable filtering plant is easily available between the new or upper reservoir and the summit of the hill over which the water passes on its way thither from the pumps, the difference in elevation between this summit and the new reservoir being about 100 feet.

I believe such a scheme must be adopted before Watervliet obtains a proper water supply.

Respectfully

C. W. ADAMS

Consulting engineer

ALBANY, May 7, 1900

Hon. M. J. DAY, President Board of Health, Watervliet, N. Y.:

Dear Sir-In compliance with instructions given at a meeting of this Board held April 27, 1900, I enclose herewith copy of a report made by C. W. Adams upon his investigation of complaints made by residents of Watervliet concerning the quality of water being supplied to that city.

Very respectfully

BAXTER T. SMELZER

Secretary

ALBANY, May 7, 1900

West Troy Water-Works Co., Watervliet, N. Y.:

Gentlemen-In compliance with instructions given at a meeting of this Board held April 27, 1900, I enclose here with copy of report made by C. W. Adams upon his investigation of complaints made by residents of Watervliet concerning the quality of water being supplied to that city.

Very respectfully

BAXTER T. SMELZER

Secretary

TOWN OF DANUBE

Indian Castle station

To the State Board of Health of the State of New York:

The undersigned residents and inhabitants of the town of Danube, county of Herkimer, N. Y., resiring in the vicinity of the nuisance hereinafter mentioned and described, do hereby make complaint to your honorable body pursuant to section 7 of the Public health law, as follows:

There is now and for several years last past have been pools of stagnant water lying along the Erie canal and on the southerly side thereof in the town of Danube aforesaid, which water reaches said pools from percolations or discharges from the Erie canal and through its banks, and also gathers in said pools by reason of the stoppage of culverts which formerly existed under the canal at a point near the largest pool of stagnant water which exists at the points mentioned. The stagnant pools herein complained of are situated on lands adjoining state lands on farms of Charles Doxstater, Marvin A. Jones, Fred. Waltemath, Rufus Smith and others, located about one mile east of Indian Castle station on the West Shore railroad.

These complainants allege upon information and belief that the said stagnant pools are injurious to the public health, and that they have caused and are now causing disease and sickness to the inhabitants of the vicinity where said stagnant pools are located. These complainants make the following specifications:

Mrs. Maria Jones is a great sufferer from malaria caused, as these complainants allege, by said stagnant pools. Has suffered from same for several years. Charles Doxstater also suffers from same desease from same cause.

Douglas Hillegas has suffered for years from malaria and now suffers therefrom. All have been advised by their physicians that same is caused by the stagnant pools aforesaid.