New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-11
THE CROTOy WATER.

Two hundred and thirty six and half miles of Gro
ton pipes underlie the dirty psveuents of NewYOrk,
carrying through all the crowded streets aud between
the rocking cutters ceaseless tide Of pure, health
giving water No other city in the world enjoys supply
so extensive and none needs it continually No other
city in the temperate zene is so constantly exposed,
through immigration and trade to the influx of pestlen
tal maladies and 10 other city government has
manifested such superative Indifference to the public
health as that which New-York has just shaken OF.
With population peculiarly subject evers and other
epidemic disorders and with streets which have be-
come the standing reprOach of the country for their
paralleled flthness we are yet enabled to hold fair
rank in the sanitary scale For this rank we are in
debted almost entirely to the Croton water. Twelve
years have suAced to spread it through nearly every
part of the town nearly all the edifces built during
that period have il laid throughout, while public
hydrants provide measurably for dwellings not inter
nally supplied.
OF the 236A miles of street pipes now in use three
quarters Of mile are lS inches in diameter; twelve
niles Of So inches six miles Of 30 inches one mile of
"a inches six miles Of % inches, three miles of 16
inches fifty miles of II inches, mile of 10 inches
one hundred and fftyeight miles of inches, and
small quantity of4 inches AbOutGi miles have beenput
down within year. chiefly of 6inch pipe. The entire
works were never in better condition than nOw-the
only considerable desideratum being more room for
storing water and this provided for in the act passed
by the last Legislature to facilitate the acquisition of
" lands for a new Reservoir" During 1853, seven
miles of the aqueduct in Westchester County were
fenced for the better protection of the works another
portion has been graded soped and seeded down the
~ i. l. IL
throughout the line and the tagging of the distributing
reservoir has been relaid in bed of cement to pre-
vent the percolaton Of rain water into the chambers
beneath The last examination Of the aqueduct was
made in November, and occupied three days, during
which the water was entirely shut Off The work was
in good state, very little repair being needed, the
whole expense of which would be less than $4,000
The most important addition to the works during the
past year. has been the putting down of $500 feet of
4Sinch pipe between the gate chambers on the north
and south sides of Manhattan Valley between Harlem
and Manhattanville) the purpose being to increase
the capacity for delivery at that point This Improve
ment however, will MOI bee ome available until the pro-
posed extra pipes are carried over the High Bridge
while the present syphon at the valley easily delivers
all the water that now crosses the river A main of
ting Reservoir through Forty.second-street to the
Eeyenthayenue connecting with the mains in all the
intermediate avenues and in Broadway. This Forty
second street main is mile long and cost S65 OOO
The CrOtOr Board complain that efficient steps have
been taken to the ground for the New Reser-
vor as authorized by the Act of the Legislature and
urge imNediate action in the mstter The ground
named the Act lies between Fifth aud Seventh avenues
and Eghtysixth and Niney-sxth-street north Of the
present Receiving Reservoir The entire expenditure
for the extension of the works during the laat year.
was Sll707l 43, leaving in the treasury balance of
S72l9l So o. money appropriated for that pur-
pose. The number of permits for the use Of
water taken out up to the close of 1853
was $500. The entire receipt of the year
from water rents was S579,96l % showing
on increase over 1852 of S35, 995 81 The entire
Of the Department from water rents since the
water introduced in 1872 period of eleven years
and eight months, has been S3,35553l a.. Large as
il s, however, the annual income OF tie Department
hsrd pays the interest upon the debt but blessing