Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-08-01


will be reud with interest," as from the graphic pen
ofthe editor Mrs. Child:
CROTON WATER WORKS.
went, the other day. 10 look al this mnghihcent
enterprise; and no longer wonder that the est
mated cost WINS twelve millions Of dollars II
might well be deemed the labor Of 'Tiians, detor-
mined Ia triumph over The gods The receiving
reservoir at Yorkvic, il divided into two parts,
both covering space of Thirty five ncres 1t can
hold one hundred mud sixty millions of gallons
il is nclosedh Ivy thick granite walls ut masonry, so
solid that it seems ns il hc world might lean
against il without making my impression. The
nalura soil forms the bottom OF this huge basin
The distributing reservoir in forty -second street
covers nbout five arres and is computed To hold
about twenty two millions OF gallons. IL Is divided
in the centre by grauile wall, nineteen feet thick
at the bottom aud four at the top and the whole
is surrounded by wall Of tremendous strength,
consisting Of three distinct columns oil masonry,
high rs II three story house. The summit Of the
walls all around the area have been Tagged, AMI
ARE 10 he guarded by stout iron railing: they viii
then furnish beautiful promenade twenty feet
wide. Thick cross walls, with solid arches ten
feet apart. bind the Whole together The arch
lecture Is Egyptian; no other would have suited
a structure of such massive strength aud vast pro-
portions.
The main water channel Of the ncqueduct con-
ssts of" an immense mass Of masonry, six feet and
n half wide, nine itet hilh aud forty miles long,
solid rock.
The dam across the Groom, which retains the
water in Il grand reservoir, is a mound OF earth and
masonry, forty feet high, aud seventy feet wide
at the bottom, and has connected with it many
compiled but perfect contrlvnuceS, 10 enable the
engineer 10 have complete control over The mighty
mass Of water. The river thus thrown hack to-
wards its source, will form lake OF five hundred
acres, whic h will retain n supply for emergencies
of some thousand millions OF gallons and offer
us collateral advantage, many picturesque sites
for country seats, upon The woody points which
will jut out into this smooth basin A tunnel
leads the water from this rescrvnir into the nc
queduct and eleven more OF these su5terraneous
passages occur before reaching Harlem river, hav-
ing an aggregate length of seven eighihs of mile,
and many Of them being cut through the solid
rock. AT intervals Of mile venllllulors are con.
structed in the form OF towers Of white marble,
which give 10 the wnier that exposure to The at
masphere without which il becomes vnpid and
inspd; and these dazzling turre's mark out Tie
line of the acqueduct to the passengers upon the
Hudson
1t is about four years since this gigantic pro-
jet was undertaken; aud during that time four
hundred men have been constantly employed on
II, when lle season permitted. lie undertaking
is now completed, with the exception Of the
bridge across Harlem river. II is supposed this
will cost three quarters Of million OF money
and Two Years Of labor Ii is 10 be one hundred
and sixty eet above high waei. Across II will
lie laid large iron pipes, 10 convey lie water pro-
tected rom the frost 10y four feet of earth. Tenn
porury pipes have been laid over the Golfer DAMS
which will supply The city with water until the
bridge Is completed.
OF the great stone culverts TO convey intersect-
ing streams under the structure, and of the i'm
mense iron pipes, big us hogsheads, which trav-
erse miles and miles, and bring the water TO our
very doors, no adequate conception can be folm-
| ed, except 10y those who have planned aud exc
cutcd this almost snperhunan structure. The
commissioners OF ihe water works have lately
turned from II minute subterrancan examination
and their report is highly satisfactory, with regard
to the tlghness aud good condition of the works.
| They entered the acqueduct at its mouth, NJ The
| Croon river and pursued the examination down
| TO Sing Sing, continuing their examination un-
! der ground to Harlem river-d distance of thirty
! three miies-whch underground examination
! employ led them three days. In he lowest cut
! which is above Sing Sing, they were seventy feet
below the surface OF the earth; and at the Mill
! River enihankment, they were eighiy-hve feet
above the surnceot the .ar h below.
The average flow OF the water is found to be
| Forgive mlnuies mile. II is supposed that
/ acres OF ice Obtained from the reservoirs will he
n source Of considerable revenue to the city. On
| tho fourth OF July, The long expected and much
! needed water Is 10 he brought INFO our streets
and il is proposed TO welcome its arrival with
bells and artillery.
Let the Seven Wonders oil The ancient world
! hide their diminish cd shadows. What are lIe
pyramids Of Egypt or the hnnging gardens Of
! Babylon, compared with what American citi-
| Gems eau do
| Talk Of Romnn acqneducs, fosooIh They
! thought they did great things, when they brought
water to the q Ieen of the World, from distance
of sixty miles, through rocks and mountains, and
over valleys, in canals resting on graceful mr.
ca;les but reckon those old giants would feel
rather small if they should come and look at our
| CrotOn Water Works.
Eddys,one Light House is miracle Of human
skill. Twice conquered 10y the raging ocean, the
present immense mass OF iron aud cemenled
stone has kept up Il fierce hulle, for more than
eighty years, with the giant waves that overlap
its highest point; and yet stands firm. New
York can show something bigger than that.
The Welsh Bridge Ut Menai, with its 2, 200
tons OF iron, lis masonry OF polished marble, its
roadway one hundred feet above high tide, and
It's suspension chains, carried half mile across
| the rapid strait, cost only Gl20 600.
! The Thames Tunnel rearing its gigantic arch
es under the bed of the river, for the distance of
| 1900 feet, AT the expense Of E40O0OO is per-
| haps The only wonder OF The world worthy 10 be
compared with Crolon Water Works. What u
people are we Saw the world ever HE like of
us? guess not. L. NJ. G.
tNew-York Tribune.