The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-28
The Grand Water Celebration In BOSTON,
The HistOry OF the Works, &c.
Hmm tha EveniuO TRANSCRIPT Oct, 20


lake covers an Of $50 and drains surface
ofl14oo In some places Is 70 to SO feet in
depth: From analysis Of its water by Prof Sill.
man IL is found to be remarkably pure possessing
advantage in this respect, both the Croton and
Schuylk water OF the waters Of six different sources
examined and suaylzed by him. he remarks. " thats
this Long Pond water) stands by itself In containing
less solid matter to the gallon than any other and in
the feebeness Of its reactions with nearly all the che
micsl tests" He further states that the Lake Cochi
tuste waters entirely inodorous perfectly soft and
pleasant to the and when tested by soap, 1t is
hardly rendered in any degree turbid; not more so
than 10 usual with the purest rain water"
The project supplying Boston with pure water has
been repeatedly sgstsd ana 70 no one s,tSsn can
portance be exclusively assigned 80 obviously did 1t
commend itself to all The great work was finally
by the action Of the citizens In forming
themselves into" Water Unions" in the various wards
ofth city.
Pond, distance of four miles to the south westward,
by the Boston Aqueduct Company, as early as 1895.
But the maximum rate of supply from this source was
only so 600 gallons day, and the greatest height to
which 1t could be raised in the city above tide water
40 feet that but small proportion of the in
habitants could be supplied from this source.
Between 1916 and 1922 plan was entertained to
introduce water from Spot Pond But it resulted in
In 1925, the city government passed order the
subject OF supplying the city with water. report
was made setting forth the necessity existing for
water, but no mode was agreed upon to furnish
suHp Is,s and 1890 N. .t.nto, ., N. ,v ,ov.rn
called to the subject and in the last named
year, q committee reported in favor Of obtaining
supply Of water to meet the wants Of the
In 1888, the mayor directed to apply to the LIE.
the same year the inhabitants petitoned the city
government, setting forth the insufacency and i'm
In the year 1884 the city authorized survey under
Loamm Baldwin, ESQ., who reported in favor of bring
ing in supply of water from Farm and Sha KUN Ponds
in Framin CHAM, together with incidental depen-
dent on them, and from Long Pond in Natick. He
to bring tine water in close stone
the cost calculated at and the daily quantity
to be delivered by the aqueduct estimated at FIVE mil
lions Of gallons This plan, while it struck many
citizens feasible, failed to command the necessary
degree Of support 1t set aside, and the subject
not actively agitated for some years
At length the wants Of the citizens became urgent,
and II was determined to introduce water from
quarter There was dispute as to whence it should
be brought. Some eaid from Spot Fond in Stoneham,
Charles River and others from Long Pond and after
various incl atoms both ways public opinion settled
down. in 1845 in favor of the latter The purity of the
water and the great reliability its sufHciency to
meet the growing wants Of the inhabitants ire
sistible arguments An act empowering the city. to
procure water from this source passed by the Le-
gsature Of Massachusetts, during the session of 1876
46. Under the provisions of the aot energetic
ganization was Immediately made by the city govern
ment. Nathan Hale, James F. Baldwin, and Thomas
B. Curtis were appointed commissioners; John B.
Jervis, of New York. Consulting Engineer E. s. Ches-
broush, Chief Engineer of the Western Division and
William S. Whitwell, Chief Engineer of the Eastern
On the Goth August, 1896 the ceremony of breaking
ground was performed near the pord In Wayland,
with appropriate ceremonies and in the presence of
", t.,
Aldermen and Common Council, with large number
of invited guests and citizens of adjoining towns
present Mr. Parker in behalf of the water committee
presented spade, which beautifully polished and
contained, engraved on silver plate, the following in
With this spade the first earth was removed in constructing the
Long POEd sy Hon Josiah Quincy III Mayor BOs
other invited Presented memorial Of the BY
On another plate was engraved the city seal with
the names of the Water Commissioners and Water
Committee Of the city government:
Waier Committee Josiah Quincy Jr, WIN. Parker
James Haywood Henry W. DusOn and Samuel W. Hail. Of the
This spade borne the occasion by Master
VIM. Henry Dutton.
Mr. QUINCY remarked that the long desired and long
to be RENE bered time had arrived for commence
ing the great fork of furnishing the city of Boston
set secitude to ell classes of her citizens The object
would be accomplished he believed, within the time
and within the estimates; and Shawmut, the Indian
for sweet springs not much longer to suffer
for what originally gave her the name. Hundreds Of
poor women were not much longer to wait with sleep
cy then throwing off his coat put the spade into the
ground with right good will He called upon the
Esble Adams to raise the next pile Of dirt
toned one to him. Other distinguished citizens also
piled the spade to good purpose.
The work being fairly started, 1t was prosecuted
with unexampled energy to speedy concusion $500
aborers, bricklayers stone masons. carpenters,
blackfmths. Transfers, engineers, and fremen, and
OF the objects most worthy Of note the line of the
works may mention the gate. house, the border
Of the Lake. durable granite structure about so feet
owing to the oozng of the water through the granite
substratum, rendering it almost impossible to get
foundation. Ten millions gallons, in four hours, were
pumped out by three engines before chance occurred
to lay It.
into small stone chamber in the gate house, and be-
fore entering the culvert, large excludes oil
aSP Sat- into the
feet four inches in diameter and the section from the
Lake Brooklne being ready to admit the water from
the Lake Mr.. Sckles and two other gentlemen of the
engineer corps procured a small skf and, with two
lanthorns proceeded down the current of their
hole or aperture through which they crawed up into
the world again.
In about two years and two months from the period
Of its common cent, the great work Of bringing the
water from Lake Cochituate to this city has been
pletsd. The expense was originally calculated at
81 600 OOO Drafts the work have thus far exceed
ed three millions of dollars, and further expense will
doubtless be incurred Besides the aqueduct ITSELF and
gate house st. the Lake hs Of this
the Reservoir Dorchester Heights, South Boston;
great Reservoir and Gate House In the valley in
the mains and reservoir in Boston In two iron
pipes thirty four inches in diameter and extending
nearly four miles ana wnaGn are capable OF ceysns
River Bridge at Newton Lower Falls which Is built on
three arches the Pipe Chamber in the vicinity and
the Road Bridge, which Is built single arch, and
said by all to be most splendid piece Of masonry the
the Waste wisr, four miles beyond the Lower Falls
where the acqueduct passes considerable stream
The Celebration. &c.
From the Daily Evening Traveller, Oct 20
At an early hour the and the principal streets
we're thronged with masses Of people. They came in
from every quarter; and they came, too, with clean
faces, pleasant countenances, and apparently light
hearts. The marshalling Of the military and engine
companies the enlve ming airs from the various bands
of music, and the life animation which pervaded
every part the altogether presented
10 vie ID
In this short life Of ours.
On fremont street, the point where the process
sion started, magnificent archway erected, ex-
ending from the Museum across che street. decked
with evergreens, and surmounted with pyramid Of
evergreens md flowers and inscribed with the follow
ing notices -
our best water brought conduits tber.Shokspcore
"Heres water, look you" How will rain the water
'T1erc will be world Of water Shea" Shakespeare.
tod