Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-05-07
NUMBER Is.

lies, was the reply of a member Sam. Stevens)
to whom in different official capacity, was re-
served the duty, thirteen years afterwards TO Ell
this very tank, and the same pipes, not by the
empty ing of quart bot:les but by opening tie
gates of resistess torrent. En- the mean time,
too, it was not necessary TO redeem the pledge by
the provision of the latter clause, and the
tul accomplishment of the plan served as On in
centive to one of the nob!est undertakings OF mod
ern times. The old Reservoir was large citcu-
lar building, situated in thirteenth street near the
Bowery Just above the Reservoir stood the
Washington institute, a substantial three story
building. 1t was then considered quite out of
town. Now both the Reservoir and the Institute
have disappeared, the ground cut doan, and is
now occupied by the building of the New York
Medical College.
After the lapse of fourteen years, in which
many schemes for the general wants of the city
had been devised, but none executed, new source
Of supply in 1889 presented its claims to the Com
mon Council. The introduction of the Croton
river had in former years been inc dentay sue-
gested, bat the memorial of Francis B. Phelps
Esq, the 17th Of May of that year, was the
first definite proposal for the undertaking. Moth
ing however, was accomplished until after the ez-
animation by Col. Dewitt Clinton in 1882 made
at the request of the Common Council who, in
opposition to the opinion of all the engineers and
committees that had investigated the subject, re-
ported in favor Of the Croton river as the only
source on which the city should rely, when Major
Douglass, a skilful engineer. was appointed to sur
vey among other routes the line from the Croton
to New York This survey in 1888, made under
Commissioners appointed by the State, and the
subsequent report forever swept away all traces
of other projects.
It only remained to be seen whether those who
were to supply the means, would carry out or re-
ect the enterprise. In April 1885, majority of
II, $50 to s. 1858 votes decided that the Croton
should flow through the streets. On the 4th Of
July, 1842. the President of the board of Com
missioners opened the gates of new reservoir,
and the river that was diverted more than forty
miles from its course, rushed into pipes that thir
teen years before had been constructed amid the
rdcule Of opponents.
The Croton Aqueduct is a conduit of the most
solid masonry. Commencing about six miles above
the mouth of the Croton river, stream of the
greatest purify, where the water is raised 40 feet
above the level Of the river, and 166 feet aboFe
mean tide, by means Of dam, it follows the course
of the Croton nearly to its mouth; and then passes
along the banks of the Hudson, with a general
decvity of about 1344 inches per mile. 1t crosses
the Harlem river magnificent and lofty bridge
of stone, better known as the "Iigh BRIDGE
This magnificent structure is at 1884 street. II
miles from the City Hail. The bridge is 1850
feet long, and IL feet above the level of high
water. 1t rests upon arches supported by fourteen
piers of heavy masonry; eight of them 80 feet
span, and six of 50 feet The total cost of the
bridge was $500, 900. The romantic scenery in
the vicinity. in addition to the beauty and mag
nitcence of the structure, makes the High bridge
most attractive place of summer resort. Tie
water after passing over the High bridge, pro-
ceeds through the Manhattan and Clendening val
legs and the intervening high grounds, to the re-
ceiving Reservoir, which is bounded by seventy
ninth and c5htysxth streets, and the sixth and
seventh avenues. It is oblong in form being 1925
feet in length and $50 in width. The water in
this Reservoir covers an area of thirtyfve acres.
It is separated into tive divisions by strong par
tition of masonry and is so constructed that one
portion may be full for the supply of the city.
while the other may be drained for the purpose of
cleansing The Reservoir is capable of holding
one hundred and fifty millions of gallons.
After leaving the receiving Reservoir. the ma
sonry then gives place to iron pipes, through which
the water IS conveyed aboatt#S-Enites further. 70
the distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill, in 9:sr
street. This Reservoir has An area of four acres.
1t has average elevation of forty -four feet above
the surrounding streets, and may contain twenty
three million gallons of water. Upon the top of
he wall is very fine promenade, made secure on
the outside by strong battlement of granite, and
next to the water by iron railing. From this
walk may be seen the whole upper porti n of the
! city and surrounding scenery. From this point
the principal distributing pipes proceed to the ex-
tremes of the city, sending forth at every corners
branches that penetrate the various streets, and ii
their turn send forth subordinate branches thai
deliver the water INTO the houses of the citizens
: The length of the Aqueduct to the distributing
: Reservoir is 4O3 miles, but adding five miles fol
e the length of the Reservoir or lake, called Crotor
bake, created by the erection of the dam, and fou
miles for the length Of the main pipes extendin.
; to the most southern portion Of the city, and th
5 whole length of the the CroiOn Aqueduct may b
: ESTIMATED at about fifty miles.
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