Polynesian., 1850-06-08

an elevation corresponding nearly with tha
4 of the source. The aqueduct is fourteen an,
a half miles in length, and the site Of the re
servoir is in Brookline ID, OF two lines O
iron pipes, five miles in length, for convey
ing the water to the city, one Of thirty-si,
and the other of thirty inches in diameter
I'd, Of two reservoirs in the city, correspond
/ ing nearly in elevation with that in Brook
line; one situated on Beacon Hill, near the
State House, and the other in South Boston
at the point known as Dorchester Heights
4th, of distribution pipes, varying from -four
to twenty-four inches in diameter, for con-
veying the water through all the streets in
the city including South Boston. And, 5th,
of service pipes, which are laid at the pub
lie expense. for the purpose of conveying the
water from the distribution pipes to the inte-
rlor OF every comicil in the city; each SER
vice pipe being guarded by a stop cock, near
the distribution pipe, which is opened or shut
only by the agents of the city In connec-
tion with the system of distribution, fire hy-
drants are also provided in all parts of the
city for extinguishing fires, and-fountains for
embelishing the public squares.
The precise form and dimensions of the
proposed conduit of masonry recommended
by the commission of 1914, were retained
as possessing. the requisites of strength, suf,
ficient capacity. and convenient height for
admitting its being entered for examination
and repair. The transverse section of it is
of an egg shape-the lower portion being
semIcircular, and the upper oval--the great
est interior width five feet, the height six feet
| four inches, and the area of the section twen-
ty-four and half square feet. The walls
are eight inches in thickness, consisting of
two courses of thoroughly burnt bricks, laid
in hydraulic cement. and covered on the ex-
terror with plastering of the same material.
The source Of supply, hitherto known by
| the name of Long Pond, Is now usually de-
nominated Cochtuate Lake, by recurrence
to the name by which it was designated by
the aboriginal inhabitants-this name being
preserved in the early descriptions Of the
country, and in the old title deeds, still ex-
tant, Of lands adjoining it. The term Lake
has been substituted for Pond, as the more
appropriate English term for designating this
and the other large collections of fresh wa
ter which are found in various parts Of Mas
sachusetts, resembling in character and sur
passing in dimensions, the celebrated lakes
in the northern counties of England. This
lake is situated in the towns of Natick, Fra
mingham and Wayland, about twenty miles
west of Boston, adjoining the Boston and
Worcester railroad. 1t is chiefly surround
ed by steep banks, covered in great part
with wood, and terminating at their base in
a gravel beach. 1t is of an irregular form,
nearly four miles i'm length, and embraces an
area of more than six hundred acres. The
water is of great depth, in many parts fifty
feet, and in some exceeding sixty feet.
The surface of the lake, when filled, is
one hundred and thirty-one and half feet
above the level of high tide The bottom of
the aqueduct is three feet and ten inches be-
low the minimum level of the lake, so that in
any state Of the lake, it may fill to that depth.
With this depth of water in the conduit, in
which there is a declivity of three and one
sixth inches per mile, 10000, 900 gallons per
day may be discharged into the Brookine
reservoir, and much larger quantity by
filling it to greater depth. Less than half
the above quantity was required for the sup
ply of the city during the last season, and
the quantity drawn from the lake exhausted
less than quarter part of the accumulated
supply.
The line of the aqueduct, throughout near
earth, and at several points the necessary
excavations were of depth of more than
forty feet II became necessary in many
places, to remove the quick-sand and water
the sides of the cut being protected in the
meantime, with sheet piing-and to lay a
foundation of gravel. This operation was
dlatory and expensive, and the obstacle was
overcome only by great energy and skill on
the part of the contractors There were two
tunnel excavations-on in Newton, 2,4I0 ,
feet i'm length, and the other in Brookline of
l l23 l-2 feet-both entirely throug h ledges
of rock The tunnel excavations were ac-
compished in eighteen months, the work be-
inc continued night and day. Large guam
titles Of water were encountered In most OF
the shafts, for the removal OF which eight
steam engines were employed.
The reservoir in Brooklne, with its sur
rounding enclosures, occupies an area OF
thirty acres. The water surface of the
reservoir has an extent of nearly twenty three
acres, and its depth varies from ten to twenty
feet, the part which required artificial exca-
vation being of the less depth. 1t is formed
chiefly of a natural basin, closed at its east
ern extremity, and on a part of its sides, by
an artificial embankment Of puddled earth.
The embankment is supported on the outside
by handsome wall Of irregular masonry, sur
mounted by sodded glacis. The interior
slope of the basin is protected by lining of
stone The proposed maximum level of the
reservoir is one hundred and twenty-five
and a half feet above the marsh level, and
the top of the embankment is four feet higher.
Two mains connect the Brookline reservoir
with the city; one of thirty-six and the other
of thirty inches in diameter.
The reservoir in the city, and the one at
South Boston, are yet unfinished They will
be nearly of the same elevation as the reser-
voir in Brookline. That on Beacon Hill is
costly pile of masonry. 1t is nearly two
hundred feet square, and sixty feet in height.
The greater part of this elevation consists OF
the arched masonry which serves for the
foundation Of the basin in which the water
will be contained. The floor of the basin will
L L. occ he