The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-06-08
THE WATER WORKS.

The weather during great portion of the
last and present months, has been favorable
for the successful prosecution of the masonry
and other branches of the work, on the line
Of the aqueduct Nearly mile and half
Of the brick conduit has been laid, since
the re-commencement of the work the pres
ent season. This branch Of the work has adj
vanced so successfully as to leave no doubt of
its completion by the end Of summer.
The Newton Tunnel, 24lO feet in length,
is entirely perforated, and of the Brookline
Tunnel, of nearly half the length, space of
not more than Is feet remains to be cxcava-
ted. Both these tunnels are excavated
through lodges of rock, mostly of a very
hard description, and the work has been much
impeded by large quantities of water. The
quantity Of water pumped from the Newton
Tunnel during part of the time while the
work was in progress, was computed to be
equal to 100000 gallons per day For the
more expeditions prosecution of the tunnel
ling, the Newton Tunnel was divided into
eight sections, by means of seven shafts, the
greatest depth of the shafts being so feet !;
and the Brookline Tunnel into four sections,
by three shafts the greatest depth Of which
was 60 feet The work was prosecuted by
night and day, three sets of men, each work
ing eight hours per day, being employed at
both ends of the tunnel, and on each side of
the several shafts For the successful pro-
gress of the work, much is due to the energy
and Judgment and the unremitting attention
of the contractors, MesSrs Edward Learned
and Sons, by whom the whole tunnelling has
been accomplished By the terms of their
contract they were entitled to the lst of Au-
gust for the completion of the work.
The laying of the distribution pipes in the
city, and also of the sc and so inch mains,
which are to conduct the water from the
Brookline reservoir to the city, has been ac-
lively prosecuted since the beginning of the
last month, and during that period an extent
of seven or eight miles of pipe, much of it of
large dimensions, has been laid, making in
all nearly 40 miles now laid. The whole of
the pipe is by contract to be delivered by the
month Of August next, and the last of it bids
fair to be laid soon after its delivery.
The work of the Beacon Hill and Brook
line reservoirs is going forward with a good
degree Of activity. The progress on the for
mer is necessarily restricted by the want of
space for the advantageous employment of a
great number of workmen, and for the con.
venient handling of the necessary amount of
materials. Should it be found impractcable
to complete this reservoir, and even the
Brookline reservoir, by the period of the
completion of the other branches of the work,
this delay need not prevent the introduction
of the water into every part Of the city, as
soon as the laying of the aqueduct and of the
pipes is completed, although it would prevent
the distribution of it under so great head as
is ultimately intended.
The various works of masonry on the line
of the aqueduct are advancing satisfactorily
Two of the three arches, each of 80 feet span,
in the bridge over Charles river, are turned
and the bridge will be in Il short time so far
complete as to admit of the laying of the pipes
over it for the conveyance of the water across
the valley, at Newton Lower Falls. The
dam at the outlet Of Lake Cochituate is com
pleted, as are the greater part of the culverts
Boston 1dvcrtiser.