Polynesian., 1850-06-08
TIL E POL YIN ESIA n.
HONOLULU, SATURDAY, JUNE 8.

CocHITUATE WATER WoRKs-These
water works were undertaken at a still
later period. At the date of its settlement.
and in the early period of its history, Boston
was distinguished by the abundance of its
springs of excellent water. For long Pc
riod after it had become the metropolis of
New England and sustained large popula-
ton, an abundant supply of water for domes-
tic purposes was obtained from wells sunk in
almost every part Of the city. According to
an enumeration of the wells which was made
in 1884, there were in the city 3, 767 in all; !;
of which 2,OS5 afforded drinkable waterS in
6S2 the water was bad, and 427 occasionally
failed. OF the above number, 33 were arte-
sian, and lS were dug for the supply of dis
tiIleries. Many of them supplied great guam
titles of water.
As in New York, the expedIency of intro
ducing an amply supply Of water at the pub
lie expense had been the subject Of occasion
al discussion for many years. In .1S25,
Daniel Treadwell, Esq, on the recommends
tion of Hon Josiah Quincy, the first mayor
was appointed by the city government to make
survey, and report plan and estimates. In
1894, Hon. Loammi Baldwin, at the instance
of Hon Theodore Lyman, then mayor, and
in 1886, R. H. Eddy, Esq, received like
appointment. All these gentlemen made Ella
borate reports, and recommended various
sources of supply, which we have not here
space to detail.
No effective measures for the introduction
of water were adopted in pursuance Of any of
these recommendations. An attempt was
made in the winter of 1888, to obtain an act
of the Legislature to accomplish the measure
at the public expense;' but the proposition
meeting with determined resistance, no bill
was reported. The same commissioners at
the close of the year, reported to the city
council some further estimates and measure
ments of the supply of water afforded by
Long and Spot Ponds, founded on observa-
tions and measurements made during the
year.
From this period the project slumbered,
until in August, 1914, under the mayoralty
of Martin Brimmer, Esq, Patrick T. Jack
son. Nathan Hale and James F. Baldwin,
were appointed commissioners "to report
the best mode, and the expense, to bring the
water of Long Pond into the city"
A majority of the city council being in fa-
vor of the further prosecution of the object,
it was resolved to refer the selection of the
preferable source of supply to the decision of
eminent engineers from abroad; and Messrs
John B. Jervis Of New York, and Walter K.
johnson of Philadelphia, were, shortly after
the rejection of the act, appointed commits
sioners to examine, during the summer of
lc45, the various sources which had been
indicated, and to report their opinion of that
which they should think entitled to prefer
ence They made the necessary investiga-
tions and surveys, and in the month of No.
vember following, they presented an elabo-
rate report, in which, after reviewing the va
rious modes of supply which had been under
consideration, they strongly recommended
Long Pond as the source best adapted to af-
ford an adequate supply for the existing and
the prospective wants of the city. They also
recommended plan Of works, similar in
structure and materials to that recommended
bv the commissioners of 1914. This report
was printed, and distributed among the
| citizens.
The plan of works agreed on by the COM
missioners, corresponded very nearly with
that recommended by the commissioners of
1874, but on somewhat enlarged scale. 1t
consists-lst. Of an aqueduct of brick ma
sonry, laid in hydraulic cement. covered with
earth four feet or. more in depth, mostly be-
meath the natural surface of the gruonG, lead
ing from Long Pond, by slight declivity, to
the point nearest the city at which reser-
] voir could be provided of sufficient dimen-