Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22
WATER AND AQUEDUCTs.
FOR THE NATIONAL 1srEIL1cEScER


Not many days since very interesting letter from an
occasional New York correspondent appeared under the
letter X in the National Tnteligencer touching the all
important subject of supplying some of large cities
with an adequate supply of wholesome water for all do
nestle purposes About the same date the New York
Journal of Commerce contained the report of distn-
puished engineer who had been employed to make
vey and estimate of the cost of supplying the cities Of
Brooklyn and Williamsburg, Long Island, with an album
dant supply Of pure water and last though not least
the Baltimore Sun of the ls and I'd instant contains
elaborate report of commission appointed to examine
several propositions for supplying Baltimore album
dainty with good and wholesome water AL this
that the city authorities well as the
General Government Of the Union are awakened to u
subject Of vital interest to all classes in crowded Cities
but particularly to the middle and aboring classes
who neither fee from the pestilential air they
compelled to breathe purify their persons by the in
diligence of bathing week, where there is
parsmonious limit to the consumption of for
indispensable household purposes The New York letter
above alluded to gives interesting facts connected
with the great Croton waterworks, which he says cost
600 to obtain scany supply of only Al 600 900
of gallons per day. which has already proved insufficient
during day for the demand X. thinks that if
iron mains pipes had been used, instead Of
aqueduct, much money would have been saved and q
larger supply obtained. These alleged facts to be
N.
consideration Of the officers charged under act Of
the last Congress- with supplying the cities Of Washing
and Georgetown with unfailng and plentiful sup
ply of water.
K objects to the stone aqueduct because too expen-
sye less secure liable wear and If accidentally
choked would certainly burst As to the first objection,
that hardly be sustained seeing that by Captain
Megss report and estimate the entire cost Of stone or
rather brick tunnel Of nine diameter capable Of de-
verng in the reservoirs Georgetown heights 142 feet
above tde-waer, 10000 gallons per diem is
less than 50 600 000 while than double that sum is
required to introduce in Baltimore Brooklyn and
Williamsburg, where the supply Of the three cities col
ectively will scarcely reach the quantity Capt Meig.
proposes introduce from the Potomac river above the
Great Falls into the metropolis Of this great Republics
and yet X is apprehensve that the cost less than two
millions Of dollars may endanger further appropriations
by Congress- and thus let the great national work fall
through. think there is no danger Of that since the
President has wisely determined draw the supply Of
water from the Great Falls Of the Potomac where the
supply is not only incxhaustibe for all time to come,
but where from its great elevation above the city,
machinery will be necessary any where the line to be
kept in repair renewed; that when the work is
completed which may be in three years liberal appro
prations made in time, there will be more calls
on Congress, as a small waterrent would moro than
meet all current expenses.
As to the wear of stone aqueduct, | only say
that have seen and drank water running at rapid
through portions of the celebrated brick aqqeduct Of
cicnt Carthage where it had been constantly running
about two thousand years If the danger of choking
and bursting stone aqueduct be imminent prudent
foresight might be well exercised laying iron mains Of
medium diameter in the ditch with the stone aque-
duct and this would not greatly increase the expense
such pipes are not more costly than X. supposes