Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-12-04
For the Spy.

have read with much interest the report of
William B. Inches, Esq, the engineer employed
by the City Government to make surveys of Hen
shaw Pond and its surroundings, with reference
to supply ofpure water for the use of the city.
Itappears by the report that no survey of the
soater shed of Henshaw Pondo or of Kettle Brook
has been made. knowledge of the extent of
the water shed ofthese two sources of supply is Of
great Importance in forming correct opinion as
to the quantity Of water that can be relied upon
understand that an accurate survey was made
of the water shed of Long Pond, two years since,
by Mr.. Inches. Why the survey of that of Ket-
tie Brook and Benshaw Pond should not have
been made the present season, seems strange A
correct knowledge of its extent lies at the very
foundation Of all the surveys, and it Is much to
be regretted that survey was not made, but that
the extent OF drainage was left to be guessed at
when other matters, even to square rods, have
been infinitely gone into,
In es timatiDg the extent Of the water shed of
both Henshaw Pond and Kettle Brook, a great
error has, undoubtedly, been made the error
however, is on the safe side, but still it is of the
greatest Importance in coming to correct decis-
ion, that the true state should be known. l have
a good knowledge of the topography of the
country surrounding Henshaw Pond and Dor
dering upon Kettle Brook and / have no doubt
that the drainage into each is double the esti-
mate of Mr.. Inches but calling it only fifty per
cent more than the calculation in the report, it
follows that the GUasiable supply of water for the
use Of the city would be double what Mr. Inches
makes it, that is to say 100000 gallons daily,
instead of 1880, 900 gallons.
propose to show this by the following calcu.
lation MIR. Inches estimates the water shed of
Henshaw Pond at about three hundred acres
(3O0) In point of fact it is all of six hundred
acres (600). Let it however be put down at four
hundred and fifty acres (450). He gives straight
lines for his estimate of the drainage into Kettle
Brook, that is to say, one mile wide, by two and
quarter miles long. As to his estimate of the
width, have little knowledge. 1t must vary
very much and can only be ascertained by a care
full instrumental survey.
In relation to the length, Che gives two and
quarter q AZ miles,) 1 can speak with much
confidence His estimate is far too small 1t is
over two miles and quarter in a straight line
from the Leicester road at the foot of Meeting
House IiilA so called, in Leicester, land this is
the southern limit of the water shed of Kettle
Brook or Wa;es reservoir) to the Paxton line
1t is known that Kettle Brook has several of
It's sources far within the borders of Paxton The
large reservoir of the Leicester Water Power
Company, of between one and two hundred acres
is situate mostly within the limits of that town.
and is filled in great measure by the drainage OF
OF land North OF its southern boundary 1t would
appear, therefore, that Mr.. Inches has left en-.
rrey ont of his estimate the 10b0le of the a0ater
shed Of Kettle Brook, an the toVn Of Partos, which
estimate at one halfof the water shed, in ques-
ton, of this brook lying in the town of Leicester
aud that an estimate may be safely based upon
2l60 acres of water shed, instead of upon l440
acres, as assumed by Mr. Inches. It is estimated
that sixty per cent of the rain that falls during
the year finds its way into the streams, and that
the other forty per cent is absorbed by the earth,
and IS evaporated or taken up by vegetation. In
my estimate the matter stands thus
Water shed of Kettle Brook north of the Ieic-
for Auvhar tho araFe-
Henshaw pond 2I6O acres.
Water shed of HenshaW pond $50 acres
Total 26l0 acres.
Or fifty per cent more than the estimate of Mr.
Inches is based upon.
In his calculation 1870 acres give
at 60 per cent. Of rain fall, l, 316 73I $50 gals
To which add so per cent. to con-
form my estimate 26l0 acres say 65S 1856 $40 gals
Total-1,a75, O97 $40 gals.
From this quantity Of water is to be
deducted what is required for the use
Of the Mills as by mr. Inches, 6760sOC COO gals
Leaving ,299 or $50 gals
Or daily supply in round numbers of three mil.
lions and SIX hundred thousand gallons (3600,
000) which is double the estimate made in the
engineers report.
There is already within the water shed of Hen.
shaw's pond and Kettle brook, water surface,
including Henshaw pond, mill ponds and reser-
yolrs,of about two hundred acres. In estimating a
loss oil forty per cent ofthe fail of rain by absorp.
ton of the earth, this extent of water surface
should be deducted, as all the rain that falls on
this water surface, is there retained 1t is not
absorbed by the earth or takenup by vegetation,
but forms part of tina body of water upon which
it descends. Forty per cent of the fall of rain on
two hundred acres is something over fifty mil.
lions of gallons during the year and that in addi
tion to the foregoing estimate.
II have thrown any light on the ques ton
which will come before our citizens, in a few DAYS
for their decision, my object in making this com.
munication will have been accomplished.
WORCESTER.