, 1863-05-06

find space for, from the very interesting and
able report Of the Board Of Public Works OF
Chicago, to the Common Council for tile
year, ending April LIST last.
TEE SUPPLY OF WATER,
Thewho}e amount Of distributing main now
in connection With the works, is tB miles and
2,63S feet.
The supply mains, not included In the
above, ART IN length i miles aud 2.o47 feet,
making the whole amount Of pipes laid In
the c,ty, Of all sizes, 104 miles and 500 feet
The Water Works have cost lis, .09
and have been paid for, with the exception of
sG5, f40.36 derived from water tents, from the
Eale Of six and Eeyen per cent bonds.
The income from this source is as follows:
Water rents received from January /,
1s to March 81 1s63, inclusive, S1s8, 1923
ProfsB tapping pipes. 1852
Total income for fifteen montts s.. sls9, ,a9aso
The expenses and repairs In the same period
were $122, ,G14.57.
IMPROVING THE DR1SKISG WATER.
Three projects hare been under discussion
during tile year, all looking toward IN i'm
proyeIAeut In the quality Of our drinking
water. OF one Of these thu report says:
we believe that it was very generally ad-
mftted by the citizens, that water obtained
at distance from the shore, would be
pN1eF A4AA bSkteF tNAh cou4a Dc 0ad
otherwise, but the difficulties which attend
the making and maintaining Of q conduit
running two mills out into the lake have been
considered to bc SO great that there is ceu-
erM apprehension that while it is very desir-
able that the supply shpuld be obtained
thence, it is not possible within any reason
able limits Of expense, and we confcss to hay
ing had the same fear ourselves.
The careful investigation Of the subject
has satisfied us sufficiently to say, that With
our present knowledge, We consider it pr:ac:i-
cable to extend tunnel Of FIVE feet diameter
the required distance under the bed Of the
lake, the mouth or inlet to such ! conduit be-
ing the outmost shaft, protected By 1 pier,
which will be used in the Construction Of the
tunnel"
"The only doubts the Board have about the
feasibility Of the tunnel, grow out of the ques-
ton as TO the Vracticability Of building tho
piers, and Of maiutairing them exposed to the
violence Of the lake storms as long as Will be
necessary in the construction of the tunnel.n
1.-THE estimated cost Of the tunnel extend
ing two miles out into the lake from the
pumping works, is s307 ,552."
t'Ihis estimate does not include, however,
any provision for light house, which it will
be necessary to place on the outside pier, if it
be allowed to remain above or near The surf.ce
ot the lake after the tunnel is built.
The following are the two additional plans
alluded to above, with their estimated cost: !:
TO construct hlteriug Or settling basin
on tic lake ehore, dse miles north Of
the Water Works, and to convey the
water thence to the works By "a lse.foot
brick aqueduet: i cstimficd to cost: saoos75
To obtain water from Ave miles north Of
the works end one mile out iuto the
lake. depth thirty feet if the earne as
Ole mile of the pumping woElR.) ly
dyc-foot tunnel and aQledrct, with the
inlet and gate referred to, is estimated
10 cost. So0uDO
CHICAGO RIVER.
"Much attention has been given by the
Board to the means to be adopted for purify
| ing the river. The cleansing or flushing of tie
| river, By the introduction Of lake water in
| large quantities by communications connect.
! ing the lake with the North and South
| Branches, is apparently tue best Of the various
| methods suggested, and we have no doubt
| that the river could be kept comparatively
pure in this way, and SO that it would neve,
ent, proposing the construction Of the larges1
| Of such works, we recommend that the 1lra
work If this character to be undertaken, b
an nuucduct, to be made through North street
connecting the lake 'fl.h the river. ana tha
the necessary machinery be erected for pump
ipc the lake water into the river in such quan
titY as to change the water between Mort
street and the mouth of the river once i
twenty four hours when necessary
"Thc proposed aqucauct will be circular !
I 10TH, LHE1fE 1ECl Al THANKFULLY StF1AS -
the top Of II being several feet below IL
! level Of the lake. The pumping machine1
can be arranged TO pump both from the 1al
aud river, and from the river into the lake"
, The estimated cost Of this work is S14Ooo
: nrl the annual expense connected with
about $500.
!, SEWERAGE WORKS.
= 15GS5 feet, or about three miles Of scwe
r yero built during 1862, making now the who
:. ! amount Of public sewer5 LAID, 81 81 milo
- The sewers built last year were generally brit
- sewers, more than half tic amount being
s sewers ! l-2 feet diameter.
If The cleansing Of the sewcTs for the fifteen
!, months enuing April l, 1863, cost. s, ,697
- The repairs Of the Sewers for the same Pc
!. The balance of account in our last repol
~ stated to be due from s. Lind. Treasurer
h the late Sewerage Board, has not yet be'
r. paid. The amount now charged to him
ID S1os, ,C93.5
10 By the late charter amendments, an adj
~ ional issue of sewerage bonds Of S500, 900 It
oi authorized.
m Including the street taxes collected annual
"a there hare been expended for street clcauil
:. aud repairs in the three divisions of the cit
e. duriug each year from 1867 to the prcsc
time, about the following snms:
ANA