THE NEW CHARTER AND THE WATER SUPPLY.

THE NEW CHARTER AND THE WATER SUPPLY.

AS the new charter of the Greater New York contains much that is interesting to water works officials and cities contemplating consolidation on the subject of water supply, an abstract of the provisions relating to that subject will be given in these columns. As has been already stated, Greater New York is to have one head of the water department, to be called the commissioner of water supply, to be appointed by the mayor (subject to removal at the end of the first six months of appointment)—his salary to be $7,500 a year. He will have cognizance and control of (1) all structures and property connected with the supply and distribution of water for public use, except where owned by private corporations, includingall fire and drinking hydrants and all water meters; (2) of maintaining the quality of the water supply, and of the investigation for, and the construction of all work necessary to deliver the proper and required quantity of water with ample reserve for contingencies and future demands; (3) of all revenues accruing from the sale or use of the public water supply; (4) of enforcing all regulations concerning the use of water and lecommending any future ordinances in that line. He is to direct any work on the public works outside the limits of the city to be done by any of his force of any borough as may seem to him most advantageous.

他可能不进入任何合同ny person or corporation engaged in the business of supplying or selling water for public or private use and consumption, unless preliminary to the execution of the contract the assent of the board of public improvements (under which the water department of the future comes), after submission to it of the proposed contract in all its details, shall permit; nor shall it be lawful for the city of New York to make any contract as to the water supply—“and especially the increase thereof”—with any person or corporation whatever, save in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the charter. The municipal assembly controls all such matters, subject to the board of estimate and apportionment The commissioner of water supply, however, may select and determine anywhere in the State all sources of water supply that may be needed for the supply of the city’s public water works and its distribution. These, with the approval of the board of public improvements and that of the board of estimate and apportionment, and the authority of the municipal assembly, may be acquired by condemnation, which shall likewise wholly extinguish the water rights of any other person or corporation therein to maintain conduits, lay or relay pipes, intercept or direct the llow of waters from the lands of riparian owners or those owning or interested in any water. He shall also have the right to take all necessary steps for keeping the sources of supply pure; but not to acquire or extinguish