The New York Herald Newspaper, June 13, 1871, Page 10

10, / THE PUBLIC ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NER GF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE s. WORK COMES! City of Ww Year t York for the 70-71. DrvanTMENT oF Ponto Wore, COMMISSIONER'S OF FLOR, 22) BUOADWAT,> NEw Yont, april li, 1871 Honorable A. OAKFY HALL, Mayor of the City of New York Srmm—A communication received from you on the 2b wittmo requests an annual report from this department as to Ms “works" during the year which bas this day transpired. Ip accordance with such request, and chapler 187, section Bi of the Laws of IN70, entitled “An act to reorganize the local government of the otty of New York,” Ihave tbe honor to submit the following‘ ‘The eighth article of the act above referred to, erenting the Bepartment of Public Works, merged the then Street Deyart- nd Croton Aqueduct Depa it cognizance and conirol The siractures and prope istribatton of ¢ OF the colige of the eroton water aliering, regulating, grading, , guttering anu lighting streets, ver— y connected with t up We revenues arising from the oton water. fiaevtng, rowds, places and avenues. Pom t/—-Of the repairing and constrnetion of public roads, Fi—OF the care of public bulidings, th—OF the piling up of rumicen lots #iohth—Ol eveet vans, Nir. —OF paving, repaving and repatring streets, ana keep- Sng the same clear, r—O1 digeing and constracting wells, and designated there snoald be eight bureaux $n the department, and ng their respe sphere of duty, au subject to the ai heal or Commissioner of Public Works. hief oficer I transm, rious bureaus in con portant stavements and atofthe workings and laber or te de und drainage, of the vas her Sm- erence to statement A’ it will be seen that the amount of balances placed to the credit oc this department by the jate Street Depariment wae G202.008 63; and uino by The Croton Aquean-t Department 1.781 ther, That by the appropriations of the Le of the Laws of 1870, dhe eum of 2,960,838 00 was set apart for the proper transnetion of the business of this departuent, making # grand total of 88,158 140 £0, By the same piatement it Will alao be observed that the ex- y tures of the uepartment on © appropriations were 733.939 74, ‘There was transferrel to General Pand inthe Finance Da. arimect tus sum 74,553 06, which wer atoning on the books of the old depart on'y so be transl viation® were nd the odjecis r wnade b tten the statement sum ©: 14) 45, expendiiures on ali trust and special accounts is 95,464,854 83, z Moneys urawn ‘trom e af collection, rein! nents upon the property be ust accounts” are, in the nenal tressury Eat ted, and fy opening, regtladag, rading, curbing, cuttering and Ua ging etreets, tie lasing down of the various classes 0! par Mens, de, besides which there are stock ac trom Woics money is drawn for specilic purpo the alterations of the Croton Aquecuct from Ninety-third to IL Siree!, the lowering of water mains, the extension of the wafer wores (high Fereic# at Carmabsville, the iaying of Xe. shee a (ull exhibit in'detatl ed to each particular objict ot mmounts charged the | # paid vy the Collector to the City Chamberlaia, an 8 vA by order of the Supreme Court or returned to ine Buresn of Arrears, ‘The reporis of the Various bureaux are quite full, and ex- hit a account of the public Lusiness done by them, respectively, together with auch foteresing remark® aad auzcestions as the condition of suggest The Barean of Street Improvements reporte fifty-#ix epecial affairs of the bureau might contracts for curb, gutter, fagelog aud crosswalks, amount. ing tthe aggregate to the sum of $21,480 1; Also a total PouG! Of Work done a8 per Surveyor e:eturne of FON,S48 9 Mount Of cerLificales thercto‘ore drawn. in part parme: #121.475 0, which defi the amount of work done curing the year gishurd 9, he vei € amount of labor which has fallen to tho charge of the Chiet Engineer of the Croton Agneduct js apparent upon references to his voluminous report, The sub Hobo, Hates; Wholesome wod ay absoidat supple of wa of the first imporiance, aud of more than ordinary Int er- It became essential during the p: rto purity the waier in many locuiliies where the fow errayted not allowing the Tuil circulation through sections where ies suddenly terminaved. « in con: » conuuned through reek excavat uence of not ing ns) and niso where the stop vaives in the malos were partially closed, preventing the tree deiivery or water at higu elevations. Ab incrcased supply and storage became necessary lest, on occasion of a Key, and cootinued drought, the city should become asufterer from famine, or in need from couBagra- os: in this connection the Chief Eneine-r remarke Withstending the Croton Luke, the new receiving Fr and the old receiving reservoir (both in che Central and the distributing reservoir at F combinediy a capacity of 1,870,000, 85,10, 00 gallons & day, yet on the Ld o araiiadle supply Was practically ext. A. In anticipation of the recurrence of any #ach drought, ts Chief Engineer was justracted, in the suinmer of last yes to make a generai survey of the valley of the Croton nd asceriain what neighboring ¢ water could found that, by reasonable eng might be rendered serviceabie in turning such mataral lakes, when neceesary, fate the Croton river, thereby Uolding a storage tbat should econd strect have | tment into one body, and | jetailed tabular exulbite, which will | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1871—QUADRUPLE SHEET, atatements ms¥ing extthtts of the amounts reoetved weekly | has been jndictourly ext for water rer.'s and pais over to the City Chaunberiain, from ¢ Lith of April, 1870, to the ith of Apri in the aggregate to the sum of Siang) 3 alas a sonedule of the Weekly receipts for penalties on water rents amount ing to $15,606 85, {24 hd received for taps in water pipes. be increase! amount of public impr past year for works of various descr! aes, and the openiny ‘the business tn tt sarlly aherewita transmitted shows that colle ‘assessment lists, Of this num: ber 4# lista were for opening, Widening and extend'ng strects and avenues, © for sewers, dra ns, Dastus tet; 100 for regulating, grading, setting curb aud guiter, 104 lor pay large put 89,527,058 76 was charged th Gu: ing the year the Colecto f tue Bure tions have been made on @ ‘Collector of Assess has patd the City Chai thr AL. vacated assessments by orver of the Buprene Court, those caccelod by orders ot the Comptroller and returned in arrears an uncollected, $5, 38,300 23. which leaves Lim this ‘ day ladebted to this department the sumof §3,759,403 58. | For detatis 1 respectiully refer to the report, Provision {8 ato wade in this department for a Bureau of Streets and Roads, and the report of the Superintendent of arge of the duties of which he has charge, which {s the supervision and control Strects giver # succinct account of the disc! over al! unpaved streets, avenues and places, nd ince sections of the upp Wwatchtulness is mec er portion of the teiand, asiry, expecisliy in repalri it pect of commen at by the Legisiavure } of the roads at th ble remark. The amount appropria total DOMMES Of APPN mounts trans! er ts: ions for 1870; amount of to Departuent of 4, 1871, amounting ‘nd Gnaily aschedule of the amount of Drementa daring the ptions done to the Of new parks hn neces: ¢. Burean of Collection of Atsesaments; the full and complete report of the transac: nid culverts con- of lists, Including interest, the sum of Be ene ain, ‘The varied labor of the Superintendent calla him to all ant to check tho ‘The condition ——— panded. not on'y on ating and ki ing in repair the roads furmeriy caaatoten ‘and needing a more substantial and firmer t fuaitbed, but in the construction of new and much required reet ways, There will be found Siinched for information a tabular account of all contadte (except mpecial, conafsting of small contracts authorized by the Uharcer, and which are detailed iu the Report of the Bureaus annexed) executed by this De- partment from April 14, 1870, to April 11, 1871. ‘This account ale of execution, the ritle of “che respecti contains ‘Fork, te moras of cuntract, and the uame of the cou: ACLOT. The total number of paving coutracts of all classes was soventy-three (73, at an aggregate com. of one milion ¢1-ht bundred and forty-six thousand three hundred and. seventy: aix dollars and ninety-five cents (1,840,576 95), The number ¥ sewer contracte soe tires fa), a total cK} of four wundred and ninety-seven thousand et yundred an } bigety-one brent aes —— isa 85). oe ‘wen'y-cleht contracts were en! into for regulati | and 'eracing, uta coat of 81208000 1 ei Seventeen comtrasis for curb, gutter and flagging, at an expense of $69,'% 88, making @ total of 174 contract, | amounting in the aggrezate to 33,625,088 78, ‘Also accompaning this report will be found a communtoa- tion from the Superintendent of Incumbrances as to the | business of that ofice for the year, and from which t will | appear that 2.2°3 cases were reported, of which 1,981 were | Tewoved iy parties on the premises and 843 by the city. | . The number of vault permits granted during the year waa | £1i,and from which was derived @ revenue of $04.81 41, | which hasbeen, In the due course of business, regularly de- kul transferred to the Department of Pubiwe Works on April 11, 1510; amonnte appropriated by the Legisiature for 1870, equisiions crawn by the Commissioner on the Comptroler for Uy inpance and balances availabie, together with statement of trust and Prited with tue City, Chamberlain to the eredit of city, In ‘ike manner $27,460 bave been deposited as receipts for 1,625 | permite granted for sewer connections during the sa: pee riod, Respectiuily submitted, WILLIAM M. TWE: Commissioner of Public Wor! ORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS—1870.71. Appendix A. Statement showip the balances of appropriations of the Street Department and Croton Agueduct Department on han™ e | ! Amount af or | Keattiitions | sm snees, | Appropii: Decewon By Wnt Tran Titles of Appropriations, pri? UW, | tio ier Tobit: for wel foreeetta Pte | But ences 1870, 1870, 1570; hance Dep'ite| Avaiiahles mente Fourth avenue ‘$71,097 63} 1,007 68) | t repairs and impro 160,000 00} — Teu{000 00) | Batery tmprovement 24 59 24 63 | Bridge over Bronawa 75 Go| H 758 0} | $e eet, bis 16 LO) 11,708 09) 11,758 00 ont notes, Depa i ny op , nu 9, 41 6), Credit amount refunued for advertising..§ | 5 fa} 95,000 00} 81,575 50 81,624 90 {ho Dereiencies, Croton Aqueduct.......,...c0se+f 294) 672 94) ere 94 Diamond reef, blasting and removing. | 4,488.0 4,498 00) 4,438 00 | Flagging sidewalks and jencing vacant lois. .! ‘isu 8s] 8,020 00] 8,590 83} Bad 93 | Ning ofees and chambers tor NM fod As siamt Aldermen .....sey a 35,000 00} 85,000 00) 85,000 00) Furnishing and fitting up offices, Department! OP BOBNG WOE Se cali sadn sstececsarel | 85,000 60) 85,000 09} 85,000 00) Furnishing nd aiterstion Ya Ninth” Diseriet| | Civit and Poltce Court 3 | 25,000 vol 25.000 en} 9,000 00) Freq toating ba 60,00 90) —| 0,000 QU] 48,970 47) =| 1,799 63 | Tron rai 427 So} — 437 30 a 437-80 ee | Lame =| 1,408,300 00} 1,108,800 09} 1,105,754 09| - 645 91 egal wi 20,000 00 90,000 00] 14,000 00} ~ 6,000 00 19,000 00) =} 1y000 00) - =} 104000 00 | 9,400 U0 = 4 | =| 800 00 @ at Kingrbitage.....--:- 83:50 00} 10,000 00] 901 00 =| 43,752 00 maps for Department of Public Bhi Receveriatitaieas 50,000 00] 50,000 09! 40,000 00 _ Printing for departinen: cates 99,00 09] 96,000 84] RKESO 0 =| ubile bufldings, construction and Tepairs... 125,009 0} HL G9} 125,050 63. = | Public drinking hydrants and urinals........ 'B,500 00) 8,500 00) —| -| | Removing obstructions ja streets aud harbor | 6,v00 00} Baa 87] 8,200 00) ri Repairing and keepiag in order wooden pave- MORRIE tosis ater cela haarssrasaias ssi cas | 60,000 00 299 90) - Rous and AVONUCH yc, sccgesee F 120,00 00 5 19] = oadgand vender, drinking... ’ 20 0 4030 00] 4 00) ed aries, Department of Pubile Worki....... - 562 GO} 208,859 bz =| ‘ers, repairing and cleanin, barge amount pald by Comptroller with: at 1equisition trom this depariment, - PRAT Ca ataster eerste —| 19,000 00) 120,000 09} 115,699.11 -| 300 89 ge system surveys. - each saenys 108 03) ~ 108 08) ~ 108 68 os | Stationery and blank books..-....0.0.++ Vt] 19,000 09] 10,001 12] 99,958 06 - 4507 } Sirent improwomenta.......0++ a 890 54) 15,000 00) 15,800 4] 14,606 83 - 784 2 | Sircets, repaving and repairs and relaying) Y crosstwalia area | 21:15] 959,000 06} 95,081 13] 980,020 06 - 109 Bupplies for and cleaning pubile offi eee —{ Bu,000 00) 100,000 00) a = 288 8 Tompkins sqtare paving — | Charge amount paid by certificate for bal-| ance on paving, 915,723 Ud.. } #10 29] 83,788 50) 84,598 79) Union and Madison square exterior walle Par ar} B4i 72) 2,041 Water pipes and laviuz........e 0. {youd 09] 180,000 60] 351.00) 00} Wells and pumps, repairing ‘and © 11 7} 00) BLL 75) Totals a (ener RR FFP IPT Ve Drvarturs® or Punt Worns) NEW YOUR, Aprii24, iil hee WintiaM M. Twerp, Couism r of Public orks Si--On assuming the dnties of my office on the Ist of May last J made an examination of the Croton Aqueduct Works ‘ame watistied that the aqueditet proper was in a sa! Peart cient quantity of water for an ad quate supply or ty during the ensuing year. T | founa that ip certain pale crtie elty the pipes Ww deliver water at low elevations. waa upon examina | covered that many of the stop valve ‘the reservoirs and in the { unfailing. | 8 at the reste Were partial di > ed, Waich had the effect of diminishing their capacity id ine have been 4 water panic fn the long dry 4ea468 of were ‘4 aud overfowlng, the consumers did not receive 6 possible distress was happily averte i auuberities slnee Wicked, the need Of a ful supply of water | fan scarcely occur again. . : | Plane Lave been adopted and arrangements have been | nade to plice an additional large Croton maim from Forty: sceond street to the lower on of the efty, in order to ov come the present friction and lack of force in the delivery of water now apparent in the great bueiness localities of our and, etropolis, It is highly important that a proper and con Blent supply should be giveu to the upper portion of the Duildings on the routh end of the island, waere #6 tnuch busi- Bese wealth is stored, and a sudicient head of water, that {f thelr need be, cguld be ysed tut Tne} Jent stages. > Reference to the report of the Chief Engineer will Talb account of the construction of the new storage reser Bt B yas Corners, the dificiities encountered, end the uc. cersitl prosecation and completion of (he work, whieh has pow suppued we citizens of Carwauavilie siucd Novemver extinguishment of fires a ine of the most dangerous and important underiakings in engineering became ayparont curing the last year inthe al- | terations of the gr Fifth avenue, necessitating the low: | ering or depresmug of the two toirty-aixinch maio water | pipes, four reet ia depth, through @ lengthened distance or solid’ rock cutting, and’ this ut'aseason when the utmost eapacity of the malus was required for the wavis of the city, This dificult work was, however, successfully executed with - ul acoldent or damag A work of no Ineo the masonry of the Croton Aqueduct from Ninety-se to 115th street, now rrogreasing, and the substitution euficient nuaber of four feet iron pipes to convey wa much water as the capacity of the Aqueduct will admit. This, with the attending necessary changes and the construction o Additional yate house, will occupy some time, but will uel cesired and benetictal cumng ‘The isiaucs in the East and Hariem rivers, heretofore «up plied with water through gutta percha tubes and leaden {pes underneath the rivers, sbould be furnished with water rough wrought iron piper? in fact, w three-inch iron pipe erable undertaking is the removal of pod an ry Was laid last year sneceestully under tbe bast river to Bla Weil's Inland, aud bas worked adioirabiy. ighty-five millions lions of water are now daily de- lnvered to the ciuz w York, teadent of Lamps a expended t es, WY KIBO to and maintenai fas ‘comp Ang the city with light Ie Works, Which exvects to ec fp furvisbing gas to © The city is not only subject to the will of the several gas companies, bus is liable to serious trouble and con!usion and to an unlimited amount of crime should serious acc eur to any one of these corporations, even for a brief period: their charvers are not only most liberal, but in their acts and barges to consumers they are unbridled ‘Over 5M) miles of yas maIDe &r6 LOW stretched through our streets and avenues. the report of the Water Porveyor, who has charge of the Jaying of water pipes aud their repair, tne setting and repair Of fire bydrants, the keeplag in order’ weila and pumps, the Paving of ails reets and avenues, aud layii nde stone aud walks, seis forth a full exhibit of the work of U cl. bas been unpreceder ted moe of the labor that bas f nto this Bureay the following may be stated relative to paying ae Amount ke pavement Iatt... cs... « Amount son (wood) pavement laid. Ame ur (wood) pavement laid of Statford (wood) pavewent laid w Foundation (wood) pay ‘Amount of Robbins (wood) pavement laid. Amount of Meonegal (wood) pavement laid... Amount of Seeley Concrete) pavement lald Tota) of ail Kinds seeversss tee sees 13,508 are feet laid of new bridge stone, 120,15 ge tone, 25,542. he’ Epgineer mm ch unioation i# expis instituted in the drainage as we Awount of » Livery enersy bas heen bent t ugh system whereby the malaria i imperiect drawing off of the refuee er wid factory and house Waste may he prevented, and that, ip addition to comfurt and convenience, the citi: zens may be benelied ina sanitary sense, Many of the old Aificulties an ractions have been remedied, and a more en tow and uniformity of sewage pipe connections have been made according to the necessities of the iocality and aistrict. ‘The original mode of sewage was disconnected and with ont general destgn, and great care was nece that the sewers uiready constructes should be made avaiiabie. that the greater should not discharge into the leee and that there shoud be an uninterrupted aod unobstructed derceut to the let ‘The diagrams necompanying the report of the enginesr ly explain the wabt of foresight aud judgment in truction of the old structures anu the me of ani correcting the difficulties alluded to 2 loads of soild matter have by were during the past year, The subject of received “much Consideration, ana the course adopted great advaniage has been gaived fp condnet where posible, the patural water wen into the = newly structed sewers. | This ter of constant care, and with the rojected will be signaily heneticta), It is fre, gar aid water vipes ebwil be constructed to the curbs Herre paving & street, in order to prevent damace to and cor siant loartog up of the pavement us well as to the sewors rs sue Superintendent of Repairs and Supplies reports th wl of expenditures tor which certitied vouchers b AWG oh wccount of repa Leraons, AC, OD abile butldings, mar hot pro: in (bie « ndition of the appro: whieh qed to the saperviaion and expen- Giture of the Suverinteudent under the direction of the Commissioner The Deputy Superintendent of Repairs and Suppites als submis his stavement and account ns to the necessary Kup: tes, stationery, printing, bank boone, fuel, &e., furnished ne Various municipal olives, including the vost of cleaning nv the necessary expene ¢ many alterations Si ibe vepartmente to Veit, There is oso eubmifed by the Water Regietrar tabular an | plated that bereafter ail house connections with sew- | Water at euch elevations wud quantiles 8 the Leight oF weaver {0 the revervolrs would wacrant, We immediately bi the valves fu, i opened and allow: fe untaterrupted Sow of water throttgh the niains aiid pi to'their fail capacity, which had. the aifect of materially tu Creasing the Lead oF beight at which water was delivered to the consumers, Ups an examination of the records of the quan water uelivel in the city in 1%9 it was evident that during The extreme sirought of thet year & large part of tueeity came very near pelng eit entirely witout water, From te ume gi fic earteat Exainionsion of the rotaa Tiger (or euplytog New York with water unt! the completing OF ihe aqueduct 4n 1549, the dow of the river during tue dry seasons Waé Te. peatecly éxamined ang gauged by many different and com. ‘and the result of their investigations vent engineer howed ai the dow of Water in extreme dry times was onlyiwenty- seven mflifou gallons call. ‘Tuo Croton reservoir or lake atthe head of the aqueduct overs wvout 400 acres atd bas a slorage capacity of about 66.000,000 gailous above a level that will allow the aqueduct to deliver 26,000,040 gallons per day. The new receivin reservoir in the Central Park asa capacly of abou 1,000,000,000 gallona; the old receiving reservoir in the Cen- trai Park about 180,000,000 gallons, and distributing Feservoir at Forty second street about 20,0W),00 gallons. On the 4 of October, 169, ail of thja available supply was practically ‘exnausted and the only remaining mires was the small amount which was running 1p Croton river, and, which provably did not exceed 27,00) gallons per day, The supply tothe elty for some time pre- Yious to October was very much restricted by tbe partial closing of the stop valves of the mains and pipes where they Jeave the reservoirs, aud alto throughout the cl oruer to, prevent the eutiae draining of the resercotra, and at the same Ume prevent tue higher parte of the eity from being left entirely without waicr. ‘Un the Ul ot Occover thera war a heavy rain which filled the ©) i lake and epatled the aqueduct after that time to carry any desired quantity that migat be needed. With @ knowledge of these facts, and that the season of 1870, up to the May, bad been drier than that of isda during the suine months, and alao that the Jepartment hat no age reservoir capacity under their control than y bad in 126%, it wae evident that imuediate attention | should be given to procuring an adequate supply of water (or the city during the dry season of 1570, The Croton river and tributaries bave their rise princl+ iy in Westcnester and Putnam counties, though sume of wail irjoutaries rise in Dutchess county, aad some io toe State of Connecticut. The whole areca of land wh Grains into the Crotou river above point at which | aqueduct is supplied is about three hundred and forty squat | mies. At or near the sources of many of the trioutarios there are natural Inkes varying in #ize from fifty to five L dred acres. There .axes ure geuerally of great depth, aud ] their waters are remarkably pure, clear and lunpid, and are | supplied either from springs in the lakes or from springs | near, walen ran but a short distance through rivulets before entering them, Aiter a thorvogh examination had been made of the source: of supply it was determined that the only means for obtein- | ing w fil and adequate xupply of water for the city woud | be by securing the right to draw dowo a number of these | lakes, end, in accordance with your Instruct io: veh rights were secured and the outlets were cut down, anda full aad apply of plue aud whvesuine WAC’ Waa furnished to the eity curing the entire season, notwiihstanding the fact that the drongus in 1870 was much more eevere than that of is6a, By a rain gauge which was kept by this department at Boyd's Corners, in Putnam county, the record shows that tweuty-tive per ceut more rain fell at that point vetween the of July and the lst day of December, 185% than fell ig the saine months tn 1870, In fact, we were even com: Tto obtain @ part of our supply of water from the lakes the month of January last. ceased using the Jakes we bave built dame their ontiets, and some of them have now risen to a higher utthan chey were when we commeueed drawing from them, One of thera is now fully up to bigh water mark and | a large stream flowing trom it, and there can be no voubt but that the thera wili fill to their normal high water mark before the ary season of 167] commences; and, notwih- standing the fact tuat the population of the elty 18 Constantly increasing and that (he quantity of water consumed is an- creasing Ib a greater ratio than the increase in population, tt is evident, from examinations and vestigations that we bave wade, that av adequate supply of pure and wholesome water can be obtained from the valley of the Croton for a city with twice the popalation of New York. ‘Ag it is now nearly Wirty years since the Croton aqueduct owpleied avd brought {nto use, and as ao few of the on are familiar with {te early bistory and tue that lei to ie construction, the iuilow pg ing :— apolying tue city of New York with water Meavs, & NOW project orof receat date, for, as ample 18 1/74, When the povulation of the city did not not ex- | 2.000 ianabitants, works were commenced on the then | nigh proud to the northwest of the Collect poud, then In ex. fepce, but ow filed up and converted {nto oniiding lows. | Chrisopner “Collis was’ tbe engineer to. those. works, | anv, vader the direction of a commiitee of the Common | Counc, be constructed @ Fpacious reservoir oo the east ine | of Broadway, betweeo what Is now known as Pearl aud Waite etree, and sink a well of large dimensions Inthe uy of the Collect. For the purpose of de(raying the ex- ‘of the work. the corporation Issued a paper muney, HW, under the denomination of wate: bonds were executed in favor of certain to the amount of £*,850 Revowution, however, which | mer consequent occupasion of this city | by ritiau tro: was the cause of (he abaudvoment of the work In its untnished state, “Ln 1708 Uh mon Council appointed a committer to in- vestigate the mubject of supplying the city with good water, who reported, as their opinion, that a supply might be ob: tained from the river Brout, and submitted a anemelr, drawa up oy Dr, Joseph Brown, recommending these waters. 1h 1:98 the Common Council employed Wil lam Weston, @ civil eugineer, to examine the river rons, yelauive to bring: ing its waters to the city, and to report bie opinion to the cote poration, with the requisile plane and estimutes, as soon as practicable, pela March, 1798, Mr. Weston made his report to hold the opinion that the Brony will give furnishes no gauge of the river further than to quantity contained in the Htye ponds, ste princ Hor dove he faruish any entimate of the expense. “We nd noting on the minutes of the Common Counct, on the subject unlit 1882, owing probably to the incorporat tion of the Manhattan Company, by wet ot the Legislature, pansed the 2d of April, 1798. “The avowed object of this company was to supply the city with pure sod wholesome water; but instead of lookin, toa forgien nourey for buyply, we their charter indicated, | indie | me He seems supply, but ulate th pal source; sitions = Draven ” | Tota’s for 1870, | by Commisstones| Bence: Availe nm Comptrolie steed | for the Year. ‘Adjtional alterations of Aquednet—Ninety-bird to Lsth 6! ‘ 2,000,000 0} Croton Water Pipe fund dhe susie sth aoe a ¥ 264698 3] ‘oton Water Works extension vigh service, Carmanaviiie 10,803 3.) von Water Works extension bigu sery leo, Carmansviile sured 04 Croton Water Works exte Siete ¥ 129 Extra cleaning of strees | 4.338 34) a Street Improvement fur sivarnlereemasir. 122,910 39 a Stroet iusprovement fund, N ding, paving sirceta, &e.| 4.309941 05 = they have contented themselves with erecting their present work on Chatnbers and Reade streets; andJastead of a sup- py of good and olesome wat they have distributed, and continue to distribute, an article which, according to an analysis made in I83L by Georgs Chilton, Eqq, tains 125 graina of foreign matter in every gallon. “in 182. the mubject was again brought to the consideration of the Common Couacil by the Mayor, and a committee was appointed to which it was reverred. In themonth of March year thla committee reporied that they had made a examination of the Bronx river and of the lakes orm its principal source, and recommend the 1 ent of welvil engineer to make surveys and furnies es, maps aud estimates of the cost, ‘ae bagineer employed was Canvas White, Keq., who did report to the Corporation until 1824. In this report Mr, White proposes taking the water of the Bronx trom th Piptchectsr n Factory pond. He thinks that the nat fal flow of dic river, ce the dryest season, wilt furnish 3,000,009 gations per da, and by raising a dam of nix fect to the noper Rye pond and lowering the outlet two feet 8,600,000 BY more par day may he whtainadsand t dally cup. Y of 6.6,009 gallons can be brought to the city every four hours. The cost of oringlug the water to a reser voir near the Park Is estimate at 140,542, “Here the subject reated again unt Jnture incorporated a company by the Water Works Company, with, ailt with pare wi Cantas White , when the Lesta- amie of the New York ily to anpply the city rv} Ff pppointed engineer to this Company, and in bis report to the a -SctOre | he ‘recommends taking the waters of te Bronx, al Under- bill's brid) T may be serene’ fn whole expense will nol exceed he charter of thls company proved a9 defective in prac- tice that they were unable to proceed under tt, and they ac- cordingly applied to the Legislature in 1826 for an amend- ment, authorizing the company to take suck of the waters, land and materials, by appralsement of indifferent persons, ‘as might be required for the work. Iw this application, how- ever, they were deveated by the opposition of the Suaron Canal Company, incorporated in 1823, who eiaimed unter their charter ali tue water on the route of their canal. ‘The Water Works Company was accordingly dissolved In 1°27. “In I-81 & committer of the Board of Aldermen reported in favor of applying to the Legislature for un act granting ower to the Common Council to raise money by loan for The purpose ot Introduelng a supply of pure water to the city. Zig Ae was tranemitted to the Lexialature, but did not pass into a law, ‘In 1883 De Witt Clinton, Esq., civit engineer, was em- ployed by the Common Councii to examine tue route to Cro- ton river and euch other sources in that vicinity, from which an tnexhaustible supply of pure water may be obtained; to report the best plaa uf Crumsing the Harlem iver, contacting the water to the eiiy, and the expense of the whole preject. “In December, Iss2, Mr. Clinton reported in favor of taking te waters of tie Croton at Punele bridge, which he Staten to be 183 feet abore the level of the Hudson to pone duct the water {n an open aqueduct foliowing the line of the Croton and Hndeon rivers, and cross Harlem river on an arch of 135 feet high and 1,000 feet ia iength. The whole cost he estimates at $2,500,009, ‘It does not Appear, however, that any levels were ran or survey made by Mr. Clinton of the route be recommen but that he denended on the faformation of others, tog: toce:her with his personal observation, for the subject matter of hia report. “In 1423 the Common Connetl petitfoned for the act inder w of thia State on the 26th of Febraary, 1833, ing 18 but w brief outliae of the various at- tempts which have been made to consummate this interesting Object, and the reason for introineing them In thia report is mainly to show that from a very remote period to the present time the project las been considered indispensable to the welfare of the inhabiauts of this city, and that, asthe fin- proverments are extended and the porulation tnereased, in the same ratio will the necessity and importance of the mea- ure increase in magnitude.” [Ube foregoing extracts wore taken frgg the Water Commis. sioners’ report of On the 98th of February, 1s, ras pasted creating x commusato an act of the Legisiature » examine the au! supplying the city of New York with pure and wi water. Cnder this act Mr, stephen Alien, Saul Ali liam W. Fox, Benjamin M. Brown and Charles D were appointel commissioners. The Commission: ployed Mr. David B, Doagings and Mr. Cwavas White eniieers, to make separate and distinct examinations of the Croton, Sawmill and Bronx rivers, in the counties of W: ches.erand Putnam, together with their maps and prot of the country, and thelr opinion of the quality of water, suppiy that might be depended upon in all aeasons, and the practicability of conveying it to the city atan elevation of guficient hetght that would precinde the use of machinery and answer all the purposes contemplate Mr, White was, by unforeseen events, prevented from making the exam/!nat/ons; but Mr. Dousiass made a survey. the and 4n elaborate report on this subject, which he presente: to the Commivsioners on the first of May, 1833. This survey and report ratiafied the Commissioners that the Croton river Wad the neareat polnt from which an adequate supply of pure and wholesome water for the city conid he obta ned, and they 60 reported to the Common Council on the 1th of Novernber, 183 On the Bd of May, 184," an act of the Levisiature was passed to provide for supplying the city of New York with pure and wholesome water. This act directed the Governor, by the consent of the Senate, to appoint five persons to be known ax the Water Commissioners of the clty of New York and made it the duty of the Commissioners {o examine an consider ail matters relative to supplying the city with a saf- ficlent quantity of water for the use of its inhabitants, and to adopt such plans as in their opinion wonld be most ad- vantageous for procuring such supply of water, and to ascertain ag neariy as possible what amount of money woilld pe necessary to carry the same into eflect, and to report tho resulta of their investigations to the Com: mon Counelt berore the Ist of January, 1838. And, in case the plan adopted by the Commissioners was approted of I the Common Counell, that at the next charter election a bal- lot box should be provided to receive the votes of the electors for or against the construction of the water works op tl pian, proposed. by the Comminsioners.. Under this act tephen Alle William W. Fox, Benjamin M. Brown and erry were appointed Commis: sioners, and thi tely entered npon their dutien, ‘They employed David B. Douglass and John Martinean, civil t @ Keparate and distinct surveys and devise Plane for bringing water into the city of New Yori early In 185 both Mr. Douglass and Mr. Martinean m: their reports to the Water Commissioners—Mr. Douglass r commending an equeduct of masonry very similar to the one that was constructed, and following very nearly the same line. and of suMoient’ capacity to deliver 2,000,010 gallons per day; Mr. Martineau recommending a round conduit of masonry of sufficient capacity to deliver 40,000,000 galions per day, and to take the water from the Croton river by Haeaua of a dam 100 feet high, ue Commissioners adopted # plan which was very almilar to the one recommended by Mr. Dougiass, and in April, 18) the question of authorizing the construction of the agueduc was voted on with th following result:—Seventesn thousand three br for, an4 five thousand nine hun sred and wiaty-three againa it, and on the 7th of May of that yeur the Common Cowuell instracted the Commissioners to proceed with tie work. Tue Commissioners immediately commenced preparing for fe construction. David B. Douglass, wan employ chief engineer, and jocated that part of the live of the Aqueduct in Weatebester county nearly where it was constructed, In Octover, 1886, be wis succeeded by John B. Jervi who was continued as chief engineer under the variou commissions until the Aqueduct was finally completes iu 1849. Mr. Jervis designed and personally superintended the construction of the gutire Croton Ague!iie! pod al) the struc yority of which this report is made, and which beeume | tures connected with it Brown resigned from the ‘Woodruf’ was appointed in bis place, and under the admin- istration of these Commissioners the’ Aqueduct was locat and tis forms and dimensions decided upon, as well as Mructures connected with it, and contracts were entered into by them with parties for the construction of the entire work, ‘The consiruction of the work was commenced ealy in, the year 1837, and was s0 for completed that the wat”? hs ad- initted Into the city on ¢ of July, 1843, fn fact the whole aqueduct was finished at that tims, wff the exception ofthe High Bridge, which was Lot Completed until the fall of PS a description of the Groton Aqueduct, and the country throngh which ft parses, I quote the following from the pen of John B, Jervis! we tien in 1842, and which description D ver appearet in any of the reporia of the Water Commi sloners or of the Croton Aqueduct Bi ‘ “N 1K, Tuly 27, 1542, {The Croton Aqueduct was desigued to supply the elty of New York with an abundance of pire and whovesome water, Tt commences about sx miles above the mouth of (:¢ Croton river, where a dato has been couatructed to elevate the water of the river forty tert, to the level of the head of the aque duct, or avont 185 feet above mean tile, The course of the aqueduct passes along the valley of the Croton to near its mouth, aud thence, passes into the valley of the Hudson, At eight miles from the Croion dam it reacies the village of Sibg Sing and continues south thronsh the villages of Larry town, Dobb's Ferry, Hastings and Youke ra. “At the lutier plage it leaves the bank of the Hudson, crosses the valiey of Sawmill river and Tibbits’ bro thence along the side of the ridge that hounds the southerly side of Tivblte’ brook valley, to within three and a haif miles of the Harlem river, waere ihe kigh grounds of the Hwison fall away so much as to require the aqueduct to v tha suman of the countty lying be:weon the Hudson and East vers. “Tis formation of conntry continues to and is terminated by the Harlem river at a point where the aqueduct Intersects Jt, waich is one wile northwestery (ron Macom)'s dam ‘The leng:h of tite aqueduct, from the Croton dam to Har- Jem river 1s $2.83 myles, for which distance {tf an wninter- Tupted conduit of hydraulte stone and brick mnsoury. The | hich ground that bounds the northerly alve of the Hariem river valley is ory near the level of the aqueduct at that piace, and the width of the valley at the aqueduct level in nhout 1,450 feet. or n little over one quarter of a mile, over | which a bridge is designed (o be constructed (and is now In Progress) at an elevation of 114 tect above tie level of high Lide iu the Harlem river, on which iron pipes are to be inal io convey the water acrosa the valley. “The shore on the southerly side of the river is a bold, ‘In March, 1897, Mr. Benjamin M* Commission, and Mr, Thomas T, = i recipitons rock, rising alan angle of about 20 Jexve height of 320 fet or about KA ‘eet above the level dotiom of the aqueduct, “After crossing this Valley, the aqueduct of masonry fs rt sumed and continued 20.19 ilies, to the termination 01 high ground on the noril) aide of Manhattan vai ey. “hia valley is 702 mile wile a( tho level of (he | below which tt descends 102 feet. ‘The conduit of here gives place to tron pipes, which de: f the valley and rise again to the propes level on the oppo- side, from which polut the masonry conduit fe azain | | resumed, and crossing the asylum ridge and Clendinning vale | Jey is continued 2.1/3 unites, to the recetving reservoir at | York bil. this reservotr ta bounded by Righty sixth street on the north, Seventy-niuth street on the south, Seventa avenue on the west and Sixth aveoue on the east, ‘{t is 1,836 leet long ‘and 836 feet wide on the outside anzie of the embankment, containing an area of thirty-live acres, divided into two « visions, aad is alittle over) five miles from tho City Hall. From, ‘the receiving reservoir a double. line of tron pipes three feet in diameter are laid dowa in Kightieth street and Fitth avenue to convey water 2.176 miles to the distributing voir at Murray Hill. Vue location of this reservoir {8 on the Fifth avenue, be- tween Fortleth and Forty-second streets, and {s three iniles from the City Hall; {¢ ts 420 feet aquare on the cornice of the exterior wall and contains an area of 4.05 acres, divided iato two equal divisions, and has an average elevation of 44.6 fet | aboue thoievel of the atreets nround it. ‘he length of aqueduct, from the Croton dam to the dis tributing reservoir, is 4.552 miles, to wit } Alasonry cons(u.t ih Westchester county: | Masonry conduit on New York island: Total length, p Receiving reservoir, from’ end of aqueduct to south eastern ettiuent gate house. Distributing reservoir....e.ve.+-+ Tron pipes on bridge over Harlem val Iron pipes across Manhattan vailey. Iron pipes between reservoir Total..ccecscereees vee “11 in proper to nad to the above the leu reservoir, which has been formed by the ¢ neduct, DAsOnry cend into the bottom gti of rection of the Cy ton dam and other work necessary to obtain the water, at a suitable level on the Croton river, as withont this dam and Teservolr the aqueduot would have required an_ extension, of which 1s tive mien to reach the proper level, on the river, now attained by means of the dam. The entire len: | fore, from the point on the Croton which bas the requisite elevation to the digributing reservotr ts 43.082 miles; te Jarge mains running from the destributing reservoir throuzh the centrai part of the city would add about four mics, | making the total lengih of the main conduit neariy ify miies. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH WHICH THE AQUEDUCT 18 LOOATED. * “The sofl, earth and rock of the country, from the banks of the Croton to the city of New York, {8 of one general ebaracier, The line cats a small section of marble, of in- ferior quality, about two miles below the Croton dam. In running through the State farm at Sing Sing it passes a few hundred feet (inostly by @ tunnel) in a marble of pretty fair quality for building, and again at Dobbs’ Ferry end ‘at Hastings It Mgbtly cuts a siaiflar rock; atthe latter” place murblo has been got. ont to some extent for market. No more marble was d by constructing the aqueduct until it reache where, in excavating two of the colfer-dams to ob:ain foun- da'ion for the piers, marble rock was found in the bed of the | river. This is supposed to be a coutinuation of the stratum | that appears in Variem valley, ut the Kingsbridge road, | near the Hudson river, With these Hmited exceptions t prevailing rock of this district Is gneiss, of groat variety tn Quality, “in many places it affords excelient building stone for ordinary purposes, and to some extent good biocks of hewn stone have obtained. A very large proportion, however, of this rock 1s totally unfit for building purposes. ‘ace soil te generally asandy loam. containin, very email proportion of argiliteeous earth. Below the Tace ‘soll gravely sand, boulders, or detached rock, bat most cases becn found, and also bard-pan to a conside: extent. ‘A urge proportion of the open cutting, and nearly the whole tunnel cutting, has been through rock. More than 401),000 cubic yards of rock have been excavated. “The general forination of the country 18 extremely irregn- lar, and unfavorable for the economical construction of fuch & work. ‘ommaencing at the Croton dam, on a level of forty fect above the river, Which descends from this point to tlewater at the average rate of twenty-five Leet to the mile, the gra’ of the aqueduct Was compelled to encounter great irregu ia! ties of snriace, Very little regular tableiand could be found for its location. While the main ridge of high land that lay ou the left of the iine in Westchester” count controle! the general location, numerous spurs o! ridges, ot various forms and’ extent, bountea by deep ravines) rendered it fmpossibie ‘to avold dees chitting and frequent tauucling through ridges and beary Buling in the valleys, leaving « very iimited provor:tou of the pins Sa corvrats Canine. Ce ee me er cee eae the exception of about oue mile frou the Hariem river, there Was no leading ridge to control or gulde the location, which Teadered it more diflicuit to decide on the condicung claims Of different routes. “There are on the line sixteen tunnels, varying in Jencth from 160 (0 1,253 feet, making an aggregate lenzth of 6,84 feet, The helpht of the pidges above the erade level at the tunnels ranges irom iweaty-uve io S°°euty-Bye fet, “There are in Westchester county twenty-five streams crossing the line of the aqueduct that are from twelve to reveniy feat below the grade line, aud from twenty-five 12 elgty three feet below the top covering of the aqueduct. ‘The most prominent of the valleys are Lounsderry's, Indian brook, Sing Sing kill, Mii! river, Jewell’ brook and Sawmill river, the foundations ot whlch are in no case less than forty’ feet below the grade line, or filty-three feet below the top covering of the acqueduct. Ki those above men- tioned theré are numerous brooks and valleys of less depth requiring culverts and artite'al foun lations togspport the juct, The level of mean tide at Harlem river is 120.60 ow the grade ilne of the aqueduct, of which a more particular description will be given hereafter. Sew York island there are several deep and abrupt jong the precipitous rocky bili that bounds the soutieriy abore of Harlem river. But the most important valleys on the island are Manhatian valiey, Clendinning vale ¥ and Bownoe's valiey. A more particniar notice of Mat hattan and Clendinning valicys will be given when describ. ing the plan of wor, tae mauner of construction for the others being similar td that for the valleys in Westchester county. Fie ae OF ae ek Oa ne DESCRIPTION OF THK BLAN OF WoRK OF THE aQu DUCT AND U8 APPCRTRNANCES, AQUEDUCT, The form and dimensions of the interior of ¢! are as (ollows:—The bottom isan Inverted azel or span line if nine feet and six inches, and the Aqueduct the cord, nine inches. ‘The masonry of the side walls rises four above the spring line of the e inverted arch, with @ to a toot rise, or four on each side, which brings the width at the the side walls seven feet and five inches, torming the abutments of the roo!ing arch, which 1s a sem! ciree, baving a radius of three feet cight inches and a half, or a cord line of seven feet five inches. Tt will, theretore, be | perocived the greatest interior width is seven feet ive mcues and greatest height eight fect five inches and a lalt, The area of the interior 8 53.04 aquare feet. Tn rock tnunels the rooting arch is generally dispensed with, but the bottom and Sues are formed with masonry sitailsr to that above de acribed. “There is an exception to this form in the firet 4.249 miles of the upper end he aqnednet, where the side walis have An extra height, on account of the bottom being depressed, to draw the water at a lower level from the Crovon Reser The pian, dimensions and character of masvory are as fol- & bed of concrete masonry Is Jal] down It is laid level across the bottom, three thick at the centre of the inverted arch, and devel inches top of of 6 meh curved on {ts upper surface to form a bed for ie arch, which brings {i twelve Inches thick at the spring line, and ia carried three inches thick under the sidewails or abut- ments. The abutments are two leet eight inches thick at the spring line of the inverted arch, and two feet wt the top or spring line of the rooting areb, "Pe inverted arch ia of brick, four Inches thick, The roniing arch is aiso of brick, eight fuchea thick. The abutments, or side walls, are of rubbleatone, ‘with a brick facing four inches thick. Spanareis of stone are carried up solid from the exterior angle of side wall on a line that is tangent to the arch, When the bed of concrete is formed for the Inverted arch, a heavy course oi plastering is Inid over it, on which the areit{s laid. When the stone work of the sido walls was tip, the face that received the brick lining bad ns frreguiaritien tHied wiih successive courses of plastering, and finally a unitorm couree of one-tonrth of an ineh in thichvess the whole, in front of which the brick facing was lala up. A course of plastering was wigy put over the roofing arch, The concrete masonry was formed by mixing oue Part of hydraulic cement, three parte of clean sand and ree parts of (ne broken svone; nart si’bstivuted fo was all laid up in hydr: the hydrauite lime ot U in some cases fine pebbles broken stone. The masonry ic cement, obtained mostly from ister connty. The mortar for the stone work was composed of one measure of cement to thr n sharp sand, and for the brick masonry ‘and plastering one ofcement to twouf sand. It may be 5 aed to remark that every cargo of cement was tested by actual experiment after tt was brought ou the [agi before any was allowed to be used. Thia precaution has had a very swutary elect on the character of the work. The cement, {n all cates where It is exposet to view, in ita extcrior, or broken up for examination or otherwise, has appeared highly satisfactory. Ip the commencement of the Work there was much disienlty, tn getting the workmen to wy vheir stone and brick in a thorough, full bed of mortar, Which i obviously very Important in’ hydraulic masonry, But. rigid system of inapection, requiring ali Imperfect work to be taken down and re: ful in obtain Ing work of great compactness anid oiidty, ‘fite aren of crove section of masonry in the Aqueduct ia res stone and sri ar it ateam foundation was made by, sinkio al spaces between them with concrete masonry, Conerete masonry. Stone tn «idewall Stone in spaudrelt TOtal.ssee5 Brick 1n a en wud side fas Total square feet cose sis curyans (tees “A limited depariure from ‘the above area faa beep made where pecuilar cireumstances seemed to ustfy oF require it; the most important in extent is where the aqueduct passes over low grounds of valleys, and a dry wall of stone is raised to the proper level to kupport the conduit masonry ; and gene: rally for the depressed bottom of the 4.949 miles at the upper of the aqueduct, and in afew other cases in the first where the bottom arch and brick facing is eight , und three feet extra width ; walls is alo Increased, and the proportion of cement to rand 1m concrete and mortar for stone work In one to two anda balf, In oiner respects the masonry in condult 18 similar on foundation wail to that in excavation, “The proportion of line of aquepuet masonry on founda tion walls over valleys, to that ib excavation, in about toelght, The masonry of the Aqueduct Is covered with earth to A suilicieut depth to protect it from frost. OULV ENTS. “To pase the atrenme that jotersect the Hine, and the land floods, there has been constructed under the aqueduct 14 culverts, whose aggregate length in 74060 feet. The span varies from one and a half feet to twenty-five feet. “Those of ‘ong aud & bell foot ryan are of w square Form, and are com srncea which @ course of inches thick, 18 laid, dressed stone Ia taid, nts OF side Walls fagsio’ aol i for laid in by Grail mortar, foot Spay, et, Puree ot Tet ounCatfon of concrete: rm wn, Are Conatrucied as follows: — “A foundation of concrete masonry is formed, and ina few instances some thaver and plank are used this ap inverted arch of courses, to form walls oF gbatioent quired, the face by the SAY ng lar courses, ferghe fortis, as circa The chpracter vi in is similar verted arch, “There are five roa feet span, well dr a Sud backed ‘with rough dresned. work? turned trom the abutments, with well dresse. Wing wa) bottom ebanne! thence Fats: ie Pe dresned work.’ An A st stances required, masonry, 2°ated stone, not less than Dine ag @ atone piaiform on which well ‘v0e or two courses high, for the abut- ud finished by a second course of well- ene thay nine inches thi he work 1° culverts over one apd & with the exception of thice of twenty-five feet weil dressed atone je laid in reg ealverty tich height as 1 aid ap {0 ‘At the ends are constructed in 08 i the work with 408, ch Is then one tn regu iif prapter oi in vsopry in the twents-fv» foot culverts ‘o thatabove desciibed, except they have uo in- 1enlverts of trom fourteen to twenty constructed of masonry of the saine character. All the culveris are of stone laid in hydraulic cement, VENIILA LORS, “There are thirty-three ventilators constructed to give free chetiation of atr through the aqueduct. fieven of them are coustracted with doors that admit an eaay entrance tuto t Thev rise fourteen feet above the suriace of ti foo over the a@jueduct, and are ressed atone, clreular in ¢ ering towards the tops aynedaet, ameter. ‘they ai mule, except where w. this heir orm, slizntiy ning ia titted ey are rendere ung’ WASTR Wrins, “There aqueduct, 80 arvan; irises t0 the. pr from the aqaeduct whe with wel-dressed ston iron, fitted to sione jambs and tate): with brasa for (he gates operated with a wron, outaide channel. nance, “The southern shore of the Croton the dam 's located, 4 @ gneiss rock, the biil trom the water's edge, butt ‘Yne dam far inio the river. en necessary. | e; the gutea ‘at to work ‘the water trom the w. onorox HAM. ver at the moderately ‘appear’ ‘equired to be raise foria distance of of essary eu A stone building, with m brick areht facrrcted #0 as to encioss the Waste welr wall 1 constructed with well Develling or tar en inches in by a weir, Which serves all the purposcg of a venth ator. At istance apart they are found to aiford a free and sudie cient ventilation. six waste welra constiucted on the line of the ge! as to allow the water to pass od when per helght, with gutes to draw the water matracted are of cast the frames are faced pant the gates are t iron serew-rod and rasa nut, Work- ing :n « cast tron socket. and is then carried off through gates rt to th ‘sor 3 appurte: poant where sloping up 19 extend od forty feet above low wacer in the river; aud it was an important objecb to arronge the plan go as to obtain a rock foundation for the uy. Yo et the wiver to build up makiny “Ta pr more rapidly into the duced the moving of ct this the northern abutment was located k Was suypoRed to extend, and from this damm to the level where the top line intersected the nataral siops of the hilly and the ri he abutment furiber farin j eut the bili away, openiny sudicient for the waste weir of the Jam, ecuting the Work it was found the descended vhan was supposed, which Ins toward the hil than st first located, and dnatiy an avtiiclal foundation had to be made for a smali portion of it. “Te was jatended to make the waste of tho dam 109 fest, with abutments of eig't fect height; bn! in consequence of the disappointinent in regard to the extent of the rock in tha river it was found. dtl water wey, and it w to twelve foet at the upyer end, aud allow length of ninety feet fo1 the southern on this ide, the ALeWAY at hn iprough the rock; Jovated on solid rock, 1 of the iver. way through the second vided wit’ double sot cast iron, sec in cast iron frame’ gates, made of gun we! Tial, “the gates axe ail are nine g abutment, ‘The water lic to obtain the deatr onchided to raise thé pwer end and titteen ihe water way to remain F tits height, und water was ead byw this “allowed na sith nters he ( bulkhead. OF gates; one set vas tunnel cat the gate: gute chamber and one s¢ tal, set in frames « eighteen by forty ine the ate of wrought fron screw-rods. dressed masonry, Jald up in hydraulic cement, Th the north’ abutment a waste culvert has been con- structed, with suitable gates of cast iron, to draw uch times as it may be nece! down In the reservoir al ye natural roe aqueduct conducted ed Jength of @ abutinont feet ai the an averaye formed being to the 130 feet way to jon not exposed co the floods by an arch ‘Tho gate chamber ia pro- fF guard gates, of f regulating ame mate- and there ineach set. They are all operated by means ‘he gate chamber and bulkheads are constructed of well- rY. to facilitate the making of any repairs that may be required, and to dieeharge the river at straction of the work. of the river was fi protection wail, on Tuised filteen feet dam, and designed top, but was not com cedenied flood of January, 1841, carried ft away. From this abutment the ordinary times during the con: old channel by an embankment, with a heavy the jower side, which was above the waste’ weir of the to be fifty feet wide on the ed the fu.l width, when the unpre- @ cine bankment stood well, and gave no tudications of taflure until the water rose to near (he surface and masse | through be- tween the frozen and nn'rozen earth about tweity inches below the to After the breach was made jn the embanx- ment large inasses of heary ice came down from the reser- Voir, Watch soon broke down the unfinished protection wail and carried off nearly the whole embankment, The masonry o/ the dam and abutinebt sustained but live injury. Such & flood bad not been anticipated, and the water way proved insutlicient to pass it off. Had the embankment’ beea coinpleted the full width and the protection wall carried up to the full height it was intended to carry thei, the work might have proved adequate to the emergency. It was determined to fli the gap made by this breach (xbout 200 feet long acdapting 180 fe as wai the work partlaily into ariificla! foundation anc larry up in the channel of the river, which feet In depth below it by a structure of hydraulic stone masonr: ‘Thin work preseuted all Us dificulties it was originally intended to avoid, by carryi ate weir’ the hill. a heavy body te ordinary level, sub, ect It was necessary to form an of masonry in some parts bad fitteen nordinary seasons to frequent and sudden floois, and avording no means to form another channel for it to pass wnlil the work could be accomplished, “Had it been admis the didicuities would have been far leas, of the object it was designed to # ible to construct the dain are and it with timber But tue importance great heigut demanded the most permanent and durable structure that could be mace, seThe greatos above tl the riv river ixty-one feet, “Tne form on the lower face commences o1 hefght of the we'r of the dam js fort (¢ low water level and fifty-five (eet alove the bed of ‘Vhe width of the masonry at low water line of a curve, feet de- seribed by a radius of 55 feet, and continues to within about 10 feet of the top, when & reversed curve, ona radius of 10 arries the fa fe wall. over nd meets the ack line of the The back line is carried up verticaliy, with occasional offsets, ‘The main body of the work 18 laid up of rough stone; fhe curved face of lakge and closely cut stone, with four cut (0 the line of radius of curve. “Above the masonry an embankment of earth ts filed in, and extends to 275 feet in width on the Do'tom, with a slope of one to hve on the up-stream face. erminated by an abutment that rises fect above it, From the toe of the mason tended thirty-five feet, composed of hewn t{mber secured by tog, bolts nud treenalls, Jn a very substantial manner, and filled for siatewn ree from the stone work with concrete new wefr an 'y courses at the bottom dovetailed togetuer, the joints The north end ot the twelve apron ts ex. sonry and the remainder with loose stone, and covered with acourse of sixinch white elm party made which !s to extend th paank. A second irty feet further. pron is “At300 feet below the main dam a second dam Is in prol ro which fs to be nine feet bil, constructed of timbe wel, which will set the water back over 1 " Sf the Lies dam, and form a poo! to check the water alls on it. ~ . “A coffer dain was constructed in the river to inclose about enyine, and Ne distances running A conere! f, arallel with 120 feet of the work, from which the wyter was pumped by a fgundation down on « very firin, hard pan, The rema‘nder of timber piers ¢ dam, and filling the Tn preparin, laid dit e specitications for this work, the method and order ol Prosecating it was particularly material aegerets hae ® now nearly complete: The contractors and Hepburn, and abliity ave evinced in'ita proseention. been found necessary sre. McCullough, Black, cesigne?, aud from which no the structure , MeManns highly commendable energy “This dam sete the water of the river back five miles and forms a reservoi necessary to construct substitute for those cov which is the Somerstown tirnpike, flowed on the margin hi and ahalf feet for th of about 400 eres, nnd hat ered by the flow, Th ted no as th of water. ave been excat teast weral new roads and bridges the principal of e grounds rendered {ft 4 ightly to give four From this reservolr the water flows into the bulkhead at the uper cad of the (unnel, from a level averaging ten fect below tbe #ur- face, AQUEDUOT BRIDGE AT SING BING, ‘The Bing Sing kill, where 1 crosses (ne line of aquedict, rons in a deep and narrow gull, the bottom of which is sixty-three this gulf an aqued north end of the valley culvert or arched under the conduit, the large arch di eughty-eight feet span and thirty an ova drawn from hve cent menced on the solid rock, near Tort below tix feet below the top covering of the masonry, t bridge has been conatrucied. oub from this gi the’ grade line, that aprea! viaduet The rectly has been over the ree fect rire; principal work bere or seventy- Over constructed A Ie the form ts the abutments are com- ¢ bottom of the aif, The work is constructed of wil dressed stone masonry, lald in hyeranite cement. Open hance walis are carrie | up over the interior and above thosoild spandrels, and united at the top by brick arches. ‘The spaces between the hanes walls are carried entirely across the crown of the arch to alford as much facility as possibie for any water that might leak from the coadait to pass olf. The depth of arch stone atthe spring ling is four feet and at the crown three feet, the conduit are carried 4p with an opening of agalu ‘The parapets and wali of x inches be- tween (hem, more eifectinlly to guar: ni the etfects of the frost anil to carry off any water that ight leak from the conduit and prevent its being absorbed by the outer or para- pet wall. conduit over thik” bridge is con- structed of stone and brick masonry, fo arranged to receive a lining of cast fron, the fron being set back 80 to receive ing of brick over the bottom and sid of hydraulle cement pi whien is farth astering. Ii te not probat cured by three courses ble that nny considerable quantity of water would have escaped if thera had been no. other security than the stone wad brick mae sonry, but it 1s hardly possibie to take masonry so perfectly Impervious that it will not show wet, or a aursintlng ap) int ance on the exterior wi all, and the act on of fro peare at in this eli- mate will produce in such cases a deterioration that may be slow, but will eventnaily destroy the work, lence the impor- tance of 1 eat leal ing every y precattion to guard again at the amall- “fridge was erected under the contract of Young & Scott, of Philadelphia, and the work conducted by Andrew You of the firm, who was the firat contractor to com- mence work on the aqueduct. It is due to Mr. Young to say this work was thor when on striking the HAT “The wiath of the ri ity degrees 4p of table land forms the from the river 4) feet to th which rises at an angle of about twenty degrees to = ew reet_ above the level of the aqueduct. ly executed; the arc EM RIVER WRIDGQ: iver at th uithern wide i proved thts, nires, it did not settle over three quarters of an inch, and has not changed sing sider a very small setliement for so Lar ‘This I con- place where the aqueduct line crosten it ts 620 fect at ordinary high water mark. bas been before stated, the shore on the bold rock rising from the water's edye at ny As ‘angi@ of abo ‘a height of 220 feet, on the northern side a hore, and extends vack foot of a rocky hill 1° table land is elevated about thirty fect above the river; the channe! of the river to which the water 18 reduced mt ve Jow ebb (len 188) feet wide, and the greatest depth sixteen feet; each side of the channe. the bed ix a deep mud, covered from three to four fe ther stratum of sand and | stratum of in the coffer-dams for marble rock, and in the coffers for Nos. of for ders, or detached roe) jarge boulders intermixed there has Now, 8 and two piers, Hinge at ordinary flood de; next below the mud sa thin stratum of sand, and this is followed by @ ; below the heen round a compact 0 asiratum lay nod sand that Is quive {mpervious to water, and af- & good medium for ‘The general plan of the bridge now in progress of conatric- tion in'ne tvllows:~ Across the fear cach of eighty extremity an in the cei pring each of hfty feet span, spring line and two ab) each wide. “The whole length of the brid; the river piers above bi viver there @ Teet apan, resting on piers that are nire twenty feet wide With intermediate plera that are fourte ‘On the Routh of this ra large arches there is one arch, and on the north Fix a on piers seven feet wide at the reatin, ight archen, each the spring eh iments that terminate. the archwork of the bridge. From the abutments a continuons foundation wall of dry stone work is extended to the gate chambers on kb water line in 1,450 feet; the height of nixty feot to the woriny line of the arches, and ninety-five feet above the lowe! foundation that las errenda: crown menced, twenty-one pels has level Of one In forty-eight, and bave openings in it; the «: interior waiin, and protect fi diameter, which are to, the aqueduet chambers at the ends nd the height 100 feet to the roffit, {be top of the parapets, 114 fect al er line of the 4 joundation of the piers that ‘The width aere ‘The apace between the pari rom frost (wo chat iron to which the: n put down; the er, and 14 have on the top xterior of plera, tn ran each ite twelve feet of the bridge, The obj rehes are = been com: f the parapets, Ie ndrels and pare id to receive four feat i is ho ow the grade line o| will descend from the 10 ject in umn Apes in this case in more effectually to secure the condul trom | brtdge: and’ im of lens height. “To make the cay t might eventual) cloentally allows injure the ity of the pipes for cor ry of the ago’ ¢ bridge to be eousteucled ving the ime fy of the aqueduct an extra fall of two feeb! the brigge, and the aqneduet on th gouther side of the river ts constructed two feet lower thant the regulargrade to accommudate thia arrangement. It ia, intended in the first place to put dowa pipes three feet in di- ameter, aud 10 inerease the size as tae wants of te city nay require, ‘= ‘hthe foundations of all the land piers but two have been put down, with bearing plies to support thea; they are below high water line,and five to six of the base of courses. masonry have beea laid on each; the remaining Jand piel and noth abutments will have a rock foundation. There are seven piers in the river, the foundations of four of which have been laid; for two'of them solid rock has been obs tatued at a Jopth baiow hich water line of veventecn feet for the northern shore has water equal to that has been given i thirty-Ave feet for the other. The pi ne and thirty. piled Foundation ; to prepare henge cavotionef sixteen (eet was made, passing throug! strata of mud, font and detached rock, whence ti could be properly driven. 2 “the ples were of oak, from sixteen to ihiriy-Ave 1 long, and driven twoand @ half feet apart from centre contre, The other pier (called No, 10 in the general seriea) for which a plied foun tation has been prepared, fa near the, centre of the river channel. The stratum of boulders lies much lower at this place, and required an excavation to carded "thirty feet below common” high. water lin before a eultable stratum for driving piles cour be reached, When the excavation was led to thi depth, boring was made to ascertain ff rock could ietfotind for the foungaion; Wut afier, going, dowa ea success tow depth of seventy tect below high water, t elfort was abandoned and the driving of piles commence: aq the only means of securing the foundation. The piles were dviven at three feet apart from centre to centre, to the depth of thirty to thirty-tive feet. ‘ It may be remarkec that the piifng for the bridge has ‘come home! with great regularity and firmaess, and gives. grat confidence that it wilt a(ford an unyielding support to the structure. “The foundations for the other wator plers are yet to be put! down; two of them will probably require bearlug-piles to su, portthem, and rock Is expeeted to ve found cor the other. covertams are ail put down ant embanked, and the woi of emptying them 18 s00n to commence. A vemporary pipe» thre fect in diameter, te latd dow (parily on the embankment of the cotfer-dams), which no: conve ra the Water across this Valley. ate chambers are arranged werch end of the bridge, with cates to regiate the water, ami tne one on the nort end has a waste weir to discharje the surplus water that at any time the pipes might not be able to carry, “rhe bridue 1s to be constructed of well-dressed granite, “itmay very properly be inquired, if the water can be care ried temporarily across this valicy by tron plpea, why con« struct this expensive Urndge ? “The reply is that a plan was prepared and the work put wader coniract to construct a low bridge with one arch for Water-way; bat a supposed value witch was attached to the future navigation o; the river was 6 pressed upon the Legiss lature wa to induce tiem (9 pass a aw requiring that the Maer aide of the arches should be iw feet above ordinary Wdgh tle in the ri MANHATTAN VALLIY. “The waver is conveyed acrons this valley by menns of tron. pipes. A gate chamber 14 placed at eaca side, by which » tie irou pipes; aud gates prepared for rogutating the dow Water In the same manner a4 ue ore described for Harlem: river. Tae width of the valley i 0.79.7 mules from gate chamber to gate chainber, and the dept at which the pipes are lald in the centre fs 10? feet, Two cast-froa pipes, each’ three feet in (dowa, and provision made for two more to be laid they sHall be required for the wants of the city, In order to jive the pipes ewticlent pacity to disvhaiye the quantity of water required an extra ad uf thiee feet is g ib crossing tie Valley. OLENDINGtsd Wbase “This bridge fs conatructed over a valley of the same, name, thit ts altuate! noon! ewaly « {stant between Mane laattan vali Jon ithe receiving reservoir, Tue greateat dos press y foot betow top vi aqueduct, and tue Valley La! feet ncroaa. “fae line of aqueduct runs 100 feet westerly of, and parale le! to, the Ninth aveaus, “Ii the plan of the city. strests are laid out, but not yet opened, that cross the aytieduc: atyiga) angles.’ For tires of the s#ireis archways ure coustraded uader the aqueduod for their accommodation wheu they may be opened for use, ‘Tie archways for each @ ret are-—Une tor carriage way of thirty fect span, and an arch un each sie of the sidewalke ten anda hail fee! span, The» yle of mysonry Is sfiniiar to that before described for the Sing Sing Uridge, aud the same od of op aud custiron huing 1s also adopted, That part of the bridg 20 provision for atreet arcues 1s composed of % coat mous wail of masonry, curried upon a level of one-(wellth its rise to the grade line of itis thirty feet wides the outside or 1 for one Cootin breadth letd ia ayeraulic mortar and the rematader ta latd a The 1 isylng up this dry masonry waa to lav a ci of eld auch @ Wanner as to give them the greatest solidity aud within a few ineles of ho otver; after t ourse was lula over the work, the interstices wera thoroughly fied with = smal broken sione, well pouuded {ty and levelled up lo reccwe the succeoding cour (the sawe plan’ was adopted in ail. the dry foundations which were iaid up to sapport te oouduit over low grounds.) After the founcation was carried up to the proper height for the conduit masonry parapets of hydraulc masonry were carried upto the level of the roolingarca of the cooduu, between which the cun~ ditt masonry of the usual furnr excepting the side walidy which were twelve fn stra Uhickaess, has been structed end covered with earta to protect the top and ah from frost, the earth covering being secured by toring ried over from parapet to ue work presets a very subsiavual and ti a APL SERVOTR. &i6 feet wile, and, ine at the (op-water lige, tuirty-ot visions: the northern div.4ion 18 «esigoed to contain twenty feet depth of water and tie southera tairty feet in depta. But they are not (ully excavated in xome parts, where roog, occurs, it not being deemet sitiielently important to incur the expense of excavation in rock for the fncreamet capacity that would be obtained. ‘The reservoir, haa a capacity tor 160,00u,00) imperial gallons, as it row stands, Tue Teservolr 1s foraed witt earth banks, the ing ter or having regwar paddled walls to reader them impervt- ous to wate 5 the outside protected by a stone wail, iad np. a #lope of one Lorizontal to three verceal, the face land fi ment iortur and the inside dry; the inside is protecte: a dry siope wall, laid on the face of the slopes one and a half horizontal to one vertical. embankments are raised four feet avove the top of water line, und are eighteen feet wide on the top, exceptin; the high’ banks on the southern division’ and Western bank of the northern division, which are 31 feot wide, ‘ihe greater part uf the embankments for the north-: era division ure of moderate heigut; but a portion of the eastern apd weatern banks of the southern division are 88 fet high abovo {ts base. Vaults, or brick archways are cone structed, in which fron pipes are laid, a0 arranged that tha pipes trom the northern divirion connect with those from tha fulithera division aa thence pase od to the distriouimg re tervoir and to supply the adjacent districts, “The maiti vault ig on ae easiesa Ride; It 19 640 foot to and in sixteen feet span; that on (he western side ts 400 fe tn length and eight ivet ‘span; dosixned for suppiving at = Lucire vay the districts oa the North river stde above Fortys second street. The pipes are all provided with stop-cockss © aud 80 arranged that they can receive the waier from either division, except pipe from each dive sion that Jeady to the distributing reservoir, — J@ Is jitended to carry three ines of pipes, enct three fect diameter, to the distributing reservoir (at preven oaly two tines are put down), aid the arrangemeut wiki allo two pipes to be drawa from’ cither division, #9 that In th event of eanptylng one of the divisions ‘or Fepaira tue othe would supp y wo pipes for the distributiog reservotr, and al other pipes having a convection with each division would. b in full supply, notwithstand: he suspension of one divi+ A pipe ts pat trough jon bank, with a stove K, to allow the waler or not, as may be desired, to pase, from one division to the other. ; ag'The aqueduct intersects the reservoir ac right angles wit GG westerly line and 268 feet south of the northwester cornet, . WAU this point a gate chamber {a constructed, with one web of gates to pass the water inio the northern division und ans other set to pass ft into a continued conduit of masonry cor siructed wituin the embankinent of the rescrvvir tot angie of the southara division, where ft entera by a brie dulce Into this division, “This arrangement gives the powsr of directing the water taro either division, or both, at tue same time, ae may be reales siin tho division bank n waste weir wi constructed to. currg of the surplus water from either division when it rise: the proper beight. ‘ “Lhis reservoir occupies the highoat ground in the vicinity, and higherthan any partol the elty south of ft; the site generally known as Murray iti!. “In order to maintain the elevation of water it was neces nary to ratae the walis of the reservoir to an average height of forty-five and # hail (eet above the grade of the street that, Douaded it on three wides; the greatest height being forty-ning feet and the least thirty-nine feet. The toundations were eauk five feet below the grade of the streets, The wails a of hydraulic stone masorry, constructed with openings, t reduce the quantity Of masvury aud give amore eularged base. ive openings are made by an exterior and interior wall connectell at every ten feet by cross walls, which are carried, up to within seventeen feet of the top, aad there connected by a brick arch thrown from ove to the other, aud the » drels Letween them Jevelied up soid, anda course of cond rete put over the whole mix inchs thick, which reaches # evel ten feet below the top, wheace the exterior wail ig carrie! ap single to the top. t “The exterior wall has a level ot one to six, and ts unte formly four feet thick trom the boltom to the top of the cone hectiag archos; the mnuer Wail [9 carried up plamb, with off fe.8, the lower Section #ix feet (hick, the middle section tive feot, and the upper sectiin iour (vet tuck, The space he: tween the exterior wails, at forty-one feet belo op, 44 fourteen ‘Cur feet Trou the outside nd the snc between them at the spring of cou fa connaquence of of the exterior wa need to nine feet ning from outside of exiertor to inside of interior wal d seventy-five huudsedtins feet. Hs are tour {cot thick at the bottom, a1 Irie, at elyht feet beio the spring line of connecting arches; they have an openin. fix feet bigh and one anda halt feet wide, at a suitadi level near the bottom, to allow a drain to be formes, to cole, ect any Water that may leak through the work and carry {t of in sewers provided fur thnk purpoge, and also to allovh persons to go in and examine the wor! s “some modifications ju the cross-walis are made to acconr modate Ure gate chambers and connect the corners of th work. On each corner of the reservoir plasters forty feet ti width are raised, projecting four feet from the main wal and on the centre, on the atreets and Fifth avenue, there at pilasters «ixty feet wide and projecting alx feet from tl wail. ‘The plaster in the centre on Fifth avenue rises feet above the main wall, aod ail Lhe others four fee: abov Doors are placed in the central plasters on Fortleth an 1 streets, which rive Access to $he pine chats rom whiel terior to inwide of The cron have on ent und ciliuent stop-cocks, chan.bers an entrance is made to the opeaings fn the walls. “in the central pilaster on the Fifth avenue an entrance 7 made by a door tom stairway that leads up to the top of th ‘Oo the outside walls an Exypttan cornice te laid the general style of the wor pilasters aro lala i courses, and well dr intar face, and the ruin wall with coursed Tubb Work, rough hammerdressed. Inside of the. walle o Masoury A thorough paddled embankment ot auitabl earth In formed fity-elght and one-third. feet wide nt the Nu of reservoir bottom, nnd sloyiag on Aue juside face one ad, half to owe for twenty-four {eet high, aud one to one tar th remaiving sixteen feet high, andmakiug with the walla top a width of seventeen feck; the faceaof the banks Hined with a course of rnbblo hydrauic masonry, bttee inches tuiek, and coped Wits dressed signe. ‘The bottom fe very impervious bard pan, on which two feot of puddle earh is laid, and this covered with (welve aches of byuvauil concvete. “The resorvotr Is divided into two divistona by w® wall oft luydraulic masonry, at the toc of which w sloping oak of puddie earth in ralsed eighteen lect high, and covered Wit, rubbie inasonry ; this wail teen feet thick at the bot tom, six and two-thirds feet thick at top water line, and fo feet at to In this Wall a waste weir is placed, with a wel Of two (ails, togethor fifty-two feet, from which the was water enters a sewer n Forty-second atrecty and. paasea of ut one mile to the Hudson river, In exch division th waste cock to draw the water from the bottom. ‘Thia reservoir Is deaigned for thirty-six feet of water, aq when full will stand 15 feet above mean tide, The walla ri four feet above the water ling, An iron ‘railing is io be Diaced around the walla. on top of the cornice, ‘The capaci OF this reservoir 1s 20,0000) imperial gallona. GRADE LINE OF AQUEDUCT. , ‘The general decitvity of the aqueduct In Westchester county, {a 0.021 foot per nundred, or a fraciion over thirteen and one quarter inches per m ) “the top of. the conduit pursuing this with the top of the dam on the Croton, butt in order to ada, the aqueduct to draw at a lower level from the Crot tha bottom grade was depressed at the head 4.93 {1 and'a dociivity of "0.0118 foot per 100 tect, or 0.664 foot mile for 4.949 milen,fwhere it intorsects the reaular grade. top of the aqueduct was depressed only 0649 foot nnd wilovel 2279 feet where it intersected the regulae eof the top, Thi an extra belght of aide walls, en: ing the eapacity of the aqueduct more than equivalent wutnution of declivity, and provides for drawing Ir the heservoir to a depth o:' aix fect, and still leave the etiy of the conduit 8,000,000 of imperial galione. “Phe grade of the aqueduct from Harlem river to Maphi {an valley is tho samo ae the general decitvity fn Westeh county; but that trom Manhattan valley to the recel Tegerolr, 9.1737 miles, te nin. tnchew ver mite 4 een ed the ex ra fa {larlem river ta two Feet and at i hafta ealey tree took between the reservoirs (here tw full of four feck. whe aaa