New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-03
Croton Aqueduct and broadway Under
ground Railroad.

The Chief Engineer of the Croton Aqueduct sent TO
the Senate Friday hisreply 10 resolution OF inquiry
as to the practicabity of conducting railroad under
Broadway in the City Of New.York he says:
assume that the inquiry refers to roads constructed
upon the general plan as that vetoed by the Gov
ernor last year. also that the grade location pan OF
the tunnel &c. the same proposed in the report
Of A. p Robinson, esq. Civil Engineer.
In reply, beg leave to state, that to set fortn IN
specific detail the extent aud cost Of the WORK OF re-
moving end RELAXING pipes and the reorganization OF
sewers necessarily resulting from the building OF such
a road. would require more time IMAM appears 10 nave
been anticipated by your Honorable Body nave
been compelled therefore 10 confne myself In general
terms to tie principal points involyed which, To-
gether with the aid Of the accompanying par
and profles will enable you 10 form at least
an approximate estimate Of tie complicated difficulties
10 be encountered far the waterppes and sewers
are involved; the damages TO the inhabitants whose
daily comforts and daily absolute necessiues are de.
pendent upon the uninterrupted use OF these paphc
works the losses OF manufactures suspended the FISK
OF destruction Of property by fires during the total or
partial interruption Of the water supply and other H.
terests affected.
First: The Water Supply-It must be borne In mind
that the chief supply Of the whole city is drawn from
the large main pipes through Ffth-a'e and broadway
directly on the site OF the proposed railway. FROM
these nan.pipes the water is distributed east anu
west to the river limits. AT whatever polnt tne WORK
on the railroad should be in operation il would at once
involve the necessity of the removal OF these manppes
from the section where the work might be 10 progress
During the time taken for this removal and the recon
necon OF the numerous lateral branches ,ne ,a,
ants in the interesting streets would be cut Oh rom
water eutrely while the rest OF the city rom rF9fto
river south OF the point Of work would De depenun.
solely the utterly inadequate supply coming thrVIsn
the small cross mains reaching districts FOR when toey
were not intended by the way OF lateral connections
with the remote parts Of the general system or net
work Of pipe distribution.
When IT is considered that even now when all the
mains are in operation, complaints OF an insuncient
lead of water throughout the lower part Of the city are
constant and urgent YOU will more readily understand
he condition TO which the inhabitants might oe re-
iuced II that head were materially diminished as
most certainly would be- by the construction OF the pro
posed railway however well devised or ski!iullJ con-
Quoted might be the operations ,,.
The above statement implies the possolity OF PROSE-
eutpe the work on the road in the most careful and
deliberate manner commencing at the battery sha
working in regular sections. But It is undenla0e tnat
II the road TO be finished in any reasonaoe uns
il would be necessary TO work il IN many points smu
taneously This while il would increase the numDer
Of persons deprived OF water, would also diminish the
supply through tho lateras to the rest Oh inc S's,
The extent Of damage TO individuals ana 10 COM
NAMES growing out OF the construction Oh tne sue-
gested railroad. it is impossible TO estimate WIN even
approximate correctness Inc area oi Pprn1ssa
covered the extent and variety Of interests invoved
and the different degrees Of Inconvenience ana loss
sustained BY each class Of sufferers all make up Whoe
so complicated that the actual experience alohe .,
proyed results could warrant any summing w W
The total loss or damage. That the municipal govern,
which has guaranteed 10 the consumers tie use OF
this water would be obliged TO make good tne losses
growing out Of the interruption, seems proeao. III
i do not ADVERT 10 INC Coot w WV st'J
these changes in the mains because the cost OF removal
and reconstruction would depend on so many cont!n.
gences that it Is impossible TO arrive at any degree VI
accuracy aud because also II is proposed the halfway
The reply Of Mr. Craven is very full going INTO on
the iits details OF the matter and is accompanied oy
maps showing the position Of the pipes Iuas com
&C.. but the above are the principai poin's oon'
tanned in il; and in conclusion ne says a.i.
I'm calling your attention to the eo%psaceu oths
which would certainly arise from the ~
I have
sppnorted in general by estimates, but trns, you
viii mpoby Of SGns SSsS Ultimately %
lorn al ue s - smaces would be impossible, until all
on Tue os snts which would be instituted were
finally san an Sai al %Sn 81 Pee
PIE are ~ yege the last verdict the last suit would
10 be rendered before the total sum Of liabilities
coud be known.