The New York herald., 1862-08-20
OPENING OF THE NEW RESERVOIR.
Introduction or the Cr0tOn Water Into
the New Reservoir.
Speeches Of Mayor 0pdyke, Meyndert Van
Schaick and Mr.. Marsh,

The Central Park is OF the great attractions or
Che city, and tho reservoir is Of the
most useful and beautiful features OF this Park It sell
dom occurs 10 the great Of the citizens OF New
York how intimately dependent for present prosperity
and consequent magnitude and importance this great
metropolis upon proper supply OF good water. The
Croton water is good water. and tho supply from the
river never fails But has happened that the city has
been without it's Croon for day or So or lust Iong
enough 70 prove how indispensable IL Is 70 4he city Of
Nsw York.
The old reservoir could only contain supply sufficient
Tor three or four days for this city that by any
dent the supply 10 the city from the river was cut on
We could only have enough TO last us few days. after
which We would be In . condition which cannot well be
Imagined for the want Of this greatest necessary OF life
and prime instrument Of cleanliness. Tho new Croton
reservoir has capacity for containing l,029 900 900
gallons Of water, or enough to supply the city, the
supp'y from the river should be cut OF, for
about thirty days. with such an inmensc
supply Of water in reserve 1t will be utterly
impossible that the city DO in want OF water,
even for single day, the faure. This immense re-
sorvoir, which has often described has water
surface OF 96 acres and contains altogether no less
than l06 acres It's cost TO the city about 81 OoO
and It has been In course Of construction since April
1853 is the most stupendous work Of tho kind the
world These few facts will give an idea Of what the
mmensity Of this artificial lake Is 10 those aho have
never seen it or read a description OF IT.
The announcement that the water soc "a Ia lot ipto
the reservoir yesterday aI.ernoon drew together an
Immense tnrong OF the popuace steadily they came in
ovo' from oVerr part oc the city, and strcamed to-
vfuS .no srvoir from every tho Central
A,out three O'Clock from 10000 to IL 900 people
qua assembled 70 witness the ceremony introd ucng
ia futn dan
she ihuent gates were opened the water role and
eaped into the reservoir as though It was delighted with
its new abode. The water had fall from The cat es to
the bottom Of the reservoir Of twenty feet in ten
heavy streams Many persons expected to see the
reservoir filled soon; but, to their astonshncnt the
bottom or the basin not even danlped Az another
evidence Of the magnitude Of the reservoir We may
esate that IL mil take these ten streams Gre. moaths
pouring the surplus potcr Of tie Crotor Yiycr into he re-
seTrot' before Il can be filed OF there must bs
considerable allowance made for evaporation.
The evening hne that II contributed largely to
Che universal comfort felt in beho.ang the interesting
ceremony. The powerful rays OF the sun werc gently
ahaded by svery clouds, which, while they did pre-
vent their sparkling reflection upon the dancing water
shaded on the oppressiveness Of the heat Of August
1hore were some scenes got up among the crowd
before the speeches commenced which qune anu.
sing. None was perhaps, funner than to dandy,
who was near tho water pushed still nearer ill he re
ceivcd toerabe shower bath, by a wag in the
crowd. The laughter which followed the with
drawa OF his hacss head from its refreshing predica
mont was louder than the noise OF the waters.
But the band playing the national airs some one
N going to make speech II is Mayor Opdyke. The
music ceases, and tho Mayor mounted tho slnccs
snrough which tho water is rapidly passing speaks
foliows:--
FELLow CrzxSTs-we have seen to-day the completion
OF that great reservoir that supply city with
We have right to be proud such work would be
completed when the whole energies Of country are
tho has ss SseO Of gigantic But this
aoti and anxiety, nor can its value TO the
OF tisis great hydraulic work was FIRST put forward
II met serious opposition, account OF tine enor-
mous expenditure which il known II would involve
The szblsct was submitted 10 vote and almost every
taxpayer voted ssanst IT, and WAS thought tho work
would not be carried ou, or commenced But there
:. gentleman present hore tonls who was the earlics,
nc stediest friend Of this project and who n.Yer forgot
> sof moment from it's 10 its compile
tion Whether in city in state government he eyer
interests. Under his care and TALENT and attention
grand reservoir Of the city OF New York, which you
called the father of the whole work. And fellow
ctzens allow me 70 introduce 70 you Mr. Van scback
more than can about H. (Aprlause.)
Mayor opdyke now resumed his seat and Mr. VAN
aAog reviewed the history OF the Aqueduct from tho
time OF its commencement to its completion 10 showed
ably how will prove beneficial, fact, how il is nds
peusabie, to the city,. He reviewed IL. in
pafsOn with other works OF similar kind. showing
its Incompatible superiority, and concluded with
statistical statements showing the amount OF exIen
diturc, the trouble and difficulty oc the work. &c
He was frequently interrupted by applause which showed
that The popuace appreciated the abors or Mr.. Van
Schsick their bohalf
After sic speaker had concluded the band played, and
theu 70 the occasion read by John c hesney
On the part OF Messrs fairchilds, Walker CO. the
contractors for the WORK, Mr. Marsh their counsel deli
vored al oratisn prasng the substantial and yet sym
fnetrcai proportions OF the reservoir.
More music secceedcd; tho citizens wound up by walks
and drives through the Psrk While several by Invitation
OF the contractors, retired to saloon in tho vicinity,
where refreshing repast placed at their disposal
The whole affair passed OF successfully, and reccted
much credit ON those who ns.nagci IL. II Of
those miestoncs which tho progress tie
great events or of the greatest cities in the world