The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-17

% fl NEW 1ohk, July 10, 1857.
To the Editor Of the Press:
The lapse OF one year since the greet fire in
Portland brings foreibly to mind the scenes of
that terrible catastrophe. Many persons will
| never forget the fearful night of July 4, 1885,
1t was night of mis- fortune and dismay. The
smoke that curled up from Commercial street
on the afternoon of that day was at first look
ed upon as trivial affair. In the general hi
larity that prevailed ON the anniversary of the
Nations Independence, nobody thought of a
city in confagration-of whole streets depopu-
lated-of thousands of men, women and chill
dren homeless and destitute of the sun dawn
ing on path of devastation where one quarter
of the beautiful Forest City of the East was to
be laid in heaps OF hot and smouldering ashes,
Yet SO it was 1t seemed as if no human eff
forts could arrest the disaster; and when the
Kissing, darting leaping flame enveloped the
buildings onMiddle street and cinders in wind
rows covered the pavement of that business
thoroughfare. then, all hope was lost. Onward
came the sea of fire, which was at last only
stayed by the destruction of all combustible
material in its path. Fatality was written in
every lurid glare, and mans feebleness in ey-
cry crashing wall
We are glad to see the citizens of Portland
are awake to the Importance of an adequate
supply OF water to meet the exigency of anoth-
er disaster. The whole country, which pour
ed in its alternating contributions to an extent
never before equalled, also feels an interest in
a subject of such vital importance to city
whose misfortune excited the commisseration
of the great body of American people.
1t is only about ten years since the city of
Brooklyn, now containing population of some
100000, started its water enterprise. 1t was at
first stienuously opposed by many citizens
who were frightened by the expenditures of
the New York Croton Aqueduct. The origin
ators Of the Ridgewood Water Works were the
members of a private company called the Mas
sau Water Company. As laid out it was an
immense work, and in 1857, before any consid-
cradle work had been accomplished, the city
of Brooklyn, in its corporate capacity took the
work out of the hands of the company and car
ried it through. The Ridgewood Water Works
have cost, up to the present time, "a, 900,
and the water pipes extend through all parts
of Brooklyn, having frontage on East River
of about nine miles, and running through ev-
cry avenue and street from Greenpoint to the |
extremity of South Brooklyn or Greenwood |
Cemetery.
The typographical character of Long Island
was adverse TO the enterprise; the supply could
only be obtained in one direction, and there
was no elevation sufficient to give head or force
except by artificial means. Consequently, |
eUery drop Of acater is pumped up to the reser-
voirs that supply the city. About five mile, |
from the City Hall at the reservoir on the |
Ridge, two steam engines are in operation |
night and day elevating the water ITO feet.
The water from Hampstead Pond is only |
about fve.feet above high tide, and the aggre-
gate water from all the sources descends
through the great conduit toward the
pumping apparatus at the rate of six inches
per mile. The level of the water here is lust
about that of high tide in New York harbor.
whence it rises for distribution the ITO feet.
This department is rather expensive, and the
mechanism for the purpose is most perfect,
always reliable and to be depended on for
certain supply to any required extent The
water comes from seven ponds, the largest of
which is Jamaica Pond. The conduit is four
teen miles long, running near instead of into
each pond, connecting by lateral channels
with each. The supply can be cut off from
any pond when required; and it is said the
supply from all will be inexhaustable for years
to come. A singular fact is stated in relation
TO Jamaica Pond. 1t contained large depos-
It's of muck which, it was thought, untitled
5he water for drinking purposes. The city I'M
iertook the work of taking out the muck, and
actually did it, notwithstanding the progpos-
ications of some people that without the
muck the pond would not hold water. The
'asin of Jamaica Pond is now full of clear,
ealthy water. Thus this great work was
ushed forward in spite of every obstacle, and
o-day in the Ridgewood, Brooklyn rejoices in |
IS good supply of water as any city
n the world The experience of the citizens
# Brooklyn who have been personally inter-
sted in the water enterprise indicate some i'm
'ortant desiderata in works Of like. character.
The first is that it is better to go double the dis
ance to get Oater s0ith sufficient natural elena
ion Another, that, as in the case of the
the city should control the aoork,
eing able to carry it through W tn more expe-
ition and more general satisfaction than any
rivate company. NASSAU.