The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-01
THE GREAT RAIN STORM.
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
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THE CROTON DAM SWEPT AWAY.
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Stoppage Of our Supply Of croton
Water.
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IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION OF MAYOR WESTERvELT.
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Serious Damage to Railroads and Fac
tories.
TRACKS, BRIDGES AND MILLS DESTROYED,
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SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE ERIE RAILROAD.
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Seven Men Drowned at Stairway Station,
on the Delaware River.
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NUMER Gus LAND SLIDES..
APPEARANCE OF PAssAIC FALLS,
TO-, &c, DC.
Seven Men Drowned at Stairway Station,
on the Delaware River.
NUMEROUS LAND SLIDES.

APPEARANCE OF PAssAIC FALLS,
TO-, &c, DC.
The rain of last week was terrific 1t extended
over miles of territory devastating the country oil
around us Our reporters and correspondents have
rs the particulars far they could gather them on
Sunday, of the effects of this storm. We have not vet
heard of one half Of the damage done to railroads
bridges, farms and factories by this overwhelming food
The most serious of the disasters probably that the
Croton dam; it is the most serious to this city, at all
events and the authorities in this view call upon our
citizens to govern themselves the emergency requires
hilons-perhaps two millions of dolars-in pro-
pery have been destroyed by this sudden melting Of the
SHOWS and the great fall Of ran in the last few days
THE DESTRUCTION OF PORTION OF THE
CR0TON DAM-ST0PPAGE OF OUR SUP.
PLY OF WATER.
Information startling in its character reached our
city yesterday afternoon respecting very serious breach
having taken place in the Croton dam at Croton Falls
cutting of the supply to reservoirs which furnished
the city with water. The continuous heavy
rain from Thursday last to Sunday morning was the
cause of this lamentabe breakage in the dam storm
OF such magnitude has not been known to take place
since the construction of the dam. We are not fully
In possession of the extent of the damage DONE but We
dous breach has been made carrying away the north
end of the dam, denominated Gravel Hill.
The first intimation Of the affair reached this city at
about two O'Clock yesterday afternoon, by messenger
sent directly from Mr. Adams the superintendent of the
dam at Croton Falls This messenger arrived at Thirty
first street by the Hudson River Railroad from Sing Sing
and proceeded forthwith to the residence CT Mr. John
Flinders, the Water Purveyor, in Elm street. and in
breathless haste delivered his message to wit-"That
Ia I, A. a.
ply of water cut Off and for one to come with
instructions what to do in the matter"
Mr.. Flinders Immediately replied-"Go to Mr.. Smith
the President Of the Board Stop stop Upon second
thoughts III go myself" And of started Mr.. Flinders
TO the residence of Mr. Smith, and announced the fact
Intelligence then despatched to Mr. De Forest
of the Croton Aqueduct Board and Mr. Craven the En-
gineer who both left the city by the three O'Clock train
Of the Hudson River Railroad for the Of the dis
aster.
During the afternoon a board of consultation was
called and held in the Mayors oce consisting Of Mayor
wastervelt, Mr.. Smith President of the Aqueduct De-
partment, Mr.. Ely President the Board of Aldermen
Mr. Taye late of the Engineer corps Of the Croton Aque
duct Department Mr. Flinders the Water Purveyor, and
Mr. Matsel Chief Of Police Their deliberations result
cd in the following proclamation
OFFICE OF CRoros AouEDucr DEPARTMENT,
April 80, 1854
Hon. JACOB A. WEsrERvELT,
Mayor of the city of New York
SR-Intelligence received this afternoon that the
earhwork adjoining the dam the Coton river has been
carried away BY the food caused by the immense fall
of rain of yesterday and the day before The supply for
the aqueduct to this city is in consequence cut off,
Measures have and will be taken to prevent the Of
water by shipping steamboats, manufactures, bathing
establishments fountains packing and slaughter houses
&c. and it will be necessary that citizens be cautioned
nf fhap ia ahaoluf
necessary The extent Of the injury to the dam is not
known. The messenger despatched by the superinten-
dent Of that district could only say that he sent TO
cay to Mr. Craven the Engineer of the Croton Aqueduct
Department that the dam had given way and that he
wanted there. Mr.. Craven, and Mr. De Forest,
of the Croton Aqueduct Board Immediately left for the
Of the disaster by the O'Clock train of the Hud
River Railroad, and win make of every possible
means for temporary remedy of the accident
ELIAS L. SMITH, President
PROCLAMATION.
MAYORS OFFICE April 30, 1854.
Whereas information has been received by the Coton
Aqueduct Department that the dam the Croton river
BY of which the aqueduct is supplied has been
seriously injured by the recent freshe and the supply
for the city is present cut or whereas the quan
ty of water in the reservoirs is sufficient for but very
few days supply, do hereby enoin 1t upon all good ct
to observe the utmost economy in the OF water
refainng from any but such is absolutely neces
sary and earnestly request all persons to aid the Croor
Aqueduct Department in observing the restrictions in the
use Of water rendered indispensable by this disaster.
JACOB A. wESTERvELT, Mayor.
In addition to the above proclamation of the Mayor
instructions have been given to the Chief Of Police who
directed tie police captains Of their respective districts
to refrain from unnecessary OF water, and to notify
the citizens OF each ward in the like manner. The
Water Purveyor proceeded forthwith and shut of all the
hydrants the docks for the supply Of the shipping
steamboats, &c., and by this time the manufacturers
bath houses, fountains and in fact all places where
water Is used to any extent.
We are informed by Mr. Tracy formerly one Of the en-
gneers employed in the construction of the dam tina,
he cannot scarcely believe IL to be possible that any
the mason work could have been swept away by the
freshet. The breach as he understands IT, has taken
place under the gravel hill and If that Is the case the
loss Of water cannot be supplied for length of time
The two reservoirs contain supply Of not than
about hundred and fy millions of gallons and the
city thirty millions daily therefore, the
reservoirs would last but few days aud It behoves the
people TO be spang of the water until the repairing of
the dam is completed In order that readers may be
enabled TO form idea OF the extent Of the Croton
lake and the construction Of the dam, give brief
description OF them
The lake is irregular in shape and so formed by the
variations in the banks Of the river and the obstruction
b the channel by the dam erected at the head Of the
works. The lake is four miles in length, and
Of four hundred varying In depth from one 10
City feet and holding available supply Of ave hundred
millions Of gallons above the level which viii allow the
aqueduct to discharge thirty Ave millions Of gallons per
day About two miles above the DAM the lake Is crossed
by Pines bridge, at location and crossing well knswn
as such in the revolutionary history Of the county -
beauty Of this sheet Of water strikes every viser With
pleasure while the cleanliness Of its banks reflects credit
the keeper of this portion of the works. well
the precautionary measures adopted by the projectors Of
this magnificent undertaking.