The Quarrel Between The Water Commissioners and the Common Council

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THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE WATER COMMISSIONERS AND THE COMMON COUNCIL.

Our yesterday's remarks went to show that the Brooklyn Water Works, as carried out by the Commissioners, have become a successful and accomplished fact—and that a supply more than sufficient, of the sweetest and most wholesome water in the world, is secured to us, we may almost say, time without end.

As to the aggregate cost, we believe it is generally conceded that there has never been in this quarter of the world any important public work, achieved at so reasonable an outlay—none where there is so definitely something to be shown for every dollar expended. We believe the citizens of Brooklyn who have investigated the matter in an impartial spirit, are quite unanimous that the city has made a first rate bargain on its part.

As to the minor changes made in the Works, by the Commissioners, the gist of the whole matter is contained in the following paragraph of their late statement:

"Deeming the power to make certain alterations perfectly clear, we have proceeded to make them in this manner: In looking over the work, where we have seen a change we deemed essential to its greater strength or utility, which would involve an increase of cost, we have cast about to see if some other change could not be made, involving an equivalent reduction of cost without material prejudice to the work, and so making one change balance the other. A construction amount has been kept, on one side of which has been put the increase of such alterations, and on the other side diminutions of cost. This has been carefully watched, so that, in the end, the "aggregate" charges might balance each other, and the usefulness of the works be increased, without an increase of the price stipulated in the contract."

Furthermore, the clearly-written and carefully-prepared statement of the Chief Engineer, Mr. Kirkwood,¹ enters seriatim into all these changes and transpositions; so that those who are interested enough to pursue the subject into particulars, will be able to compare the Aldermanic Report with the reasons of Mr. K.

Is there not too much personality in this quarrel? We dont​ see why there should be any jealousy or bickering between the Common Council and Commissioners, about these Works. The C. C. must bear in mind that the Commissioners in their sphere, are as supreme as the C. C. itself in its sphere. Nor is it, we are clear to say, at all becoming in the latter to grub out little petty faults, and by exaggeration and undue prominence offer discredit on by far the greatest, cheapest, most scientific, least delayed, and most successful public work every yet put through in Brooklyn. We therefore hope the C. C. will take wit in their anger, and not proceed any further in such a direction as intimated by the three Aldermen's Report.

Surely, too, these seven Commissioners deserve, at our hands, a few words of grateful appreciation. In the midst of days and scenes where political selfishness and peculation in public affairs seem to carry the majority, from the Presidency downwards, it is worth while to note the conscienciousness, judgment, and industry, with which the Brooklyn Water Commissioners have performed their unremunerated duties from the beginning.

We had intended to say something also on the subject of the change, recommended by the Commissioners, of the canal between Hempstead and Jamaica into a brick conduit. We will only briefly remark that our emphatic opinion expressed last summer is more than confirmed by all our examinations since. The open earthen canal must be decided to give place to a permanent conduit—it is astonishing to us how there can be a moment's hesitation about it.

Of the hue and cry raised for election purposes about "taking control out of the hands of the people," "putting the city of Brooklyn in commission," &c. &c. Which of the two kinds of men would the citizens of Brooklyn really prefer to have future charge of the Water Works? Such as those who compose the present Board of Commissioners—or such as raise these "meetings of citizens," and make speeches at the same? Does any one seriously suppose indeed that the power in question would be better exercised by the Common Council, than as exercised at present? The C. C. have quite enough to attend to as it is.

A great deal of this nonsense is uttered by the certain kind of politicians, by the N. Y. Herald, and by the opponents of the theory of the Water and Sewerage Bills now pending at Albany, about "taking power away from the people." The Bills in question may need some minor amendments, but we believe the sentiment of the citizens of Brooklyn, (outside of clamorous partizanship) is favorable to their passage—and moveover that the rights and interests of the people would be far better subserved by them, than by turning over the control of the Water Works and the future Sewerage to the members of the Common Council, to be thrown into the vortex of selfish politics, little narrow election interests, ward contracts, and all the low and mean turmoil of back room caucuses and struggling for the fat, regardless of the people or of the Works. Underneath the surface, indeed, all this patriotic cry we have alluded to, means simply, the ravenous greediness of some of our politicians for the aforesaid fat.

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