The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-26

the Water Board on the LIST OF JULY and already the
me &c 70 sSs care he
each ward were made by the Alderman representing
II. Under this aystem the contractor. being 70 4
was found often diflcqt, sometimes impossible TO
enforce the terms OF the contract. Now the bust.
hess ,o5nd entrusted ed, to four men, who can
ss'd charge q THIS business the
AVOID It; hence they determined to limit the amount
OF money FOR street cleaning purposes % that tor
merly raised: Contracts for cleaning the various
wards nave been entered into, and by the terms OF
these contracts II 70 provided that the contractors
faii 70 90 their work the Commissioners shall do It,
his sureties held responsible, and the work win then
be done under the direct charge OF the Commits
The amount raised for street cleaning Is $4,000.
The contract price is within the amount at the DIS
chine has been tried and found to work admirably
on smooth streets On cobble stones 1t IL worthless.
STREET REPAIRING
The repairing OF the streets was formerly under
the control OF the Aldermen, and each alderman
was mainly concerned In his own ward. As was to
never conducted on an adequate scale. Hence it
was that the streets or Brooklyn were paved with
copble.stone pavements-a century behind the time
and brooklyn could boast OF having the worst cob
ble-stone paved streets Of any city In the Union.
The Streets when turned over to the Commissioners,
were OF course in most undesirable condition. but
they did not deem It expedlent to ask Tor more
money for the purpose Of repairs than was raised
ast yed Ma :" % aney nmtea 'neIr
Is done directly by the Board. The engineers eu-
pioyed in the Sewerage and Water departments have
means an unprecedented amount OF work
has been done at moderate cost. Citizens are sur
pairs remeded at once. Work that it took three
or four weeks TO do when had to be ground out by
the ponderons machinery OF the local bodies can
now be despatched In q single day.
SEWERAGE
Brooklyn Is conceded to have the most perfect
plan OF sewerage OF any city in the Union, for the
reason that 1t was undertaken on uniform system.
1t was devised by Colonel julius w. Adams, who was
reapponted chief engineer when the commission
districts have been put under way In the OUTLYING
portions Of The city. Contracts for sewerage are
given to the lowest bidder who can furnish
sum Of s75o,oOO. Within few years
It is it win be. beyond ali question, the healthest
CITY In the Union. The cost OF sewerage IL paid for
by local assessment. Though the Board Is doing a
great deal Of work OF this Kind 1t Is not doing as
much as is constantly pressed upon their attention.
City lots never command city prices unless when on
well severed streets.
The most Important under department under the
control Of the commission that connected with the
supplying Of Brooklyn with water. The readers Of
the HERALD probably remember the long contro-
yersy across the river over the method Of supplying
Brooklyn with water. There was strong party
until 1t was proven to them that II Brooklyn
was ever to be q city such source OF
p wsss in O' wHS Of oro
ton water by q pipe across the East river;
but was apparent, alter little consideration that
New York would soon need for herself the whole
supply Of Croton river BEFORE the matter was dis
posed Of number OF philosophical citizens came
from the ponds Of Long island. OF course sp the
scheme was at first ridiculed, and met with all
sorts Of puerlle objections. The ponds would dry
Nevertheless the friends Of the scheme organized an
association known as the Nassau Water Company
did nOt seem wise enough to do for herself As soon
as the project promised to be success the city
bought out the company. purchased eight or ten
ponds on the island and put the whole under what
was known as the RidgewoOd Water Department.
From the eight pondsnow put under contribution
through main conduit which extends to Hemp
stead distance OF ABOUT twenty miles. BY Its nat
ura now the water comes to East New York. 1t is
at that point pumped by two immense engines
into the Ridgewood reservoir. capable Or holding
16o 600, 600 gallons. When these works under.
20, O0O 900 gallons OF water per day At that time
the most sanguine did not anticipate that such
sorapid has been the growth Of the city that within
lev Years . tne proprety OF extending the works
sioners. The city is now using from le 600 GOO 20
OF consumption is Of course daily increasing.
Twelve miles OF water main were laid last year
under the supervision Of the Commissioners, and
twenty-five miles VIII be laid this year. In very few
years water Will be at the door of every man In
The future growth of Brooklyn was not, however,
lost signt OF ny the projectors OF tue water enter
prise The conduit Is OF o capacity to carry to East
New York 40, 100000 gallons Of water per day.
It now remains to be considered how the I'D.
be obtained. One plan Is to put additional ponds
under tribute. Another plan is to store the water
s o% tne ponds already IN in
demand for water IS most pressing. The depart
ment have one pond that mas not yet been tapped.
One OF these, known as Smiths pond, has q daily
overflow Of II, 900, 600 gallons.
THE CosT-PUMrINa.
From the fact that the water has to he pup1ped
Into the reservoir the cost of Its supply Is neces-
sarlly greater tnan In New York. For pumping two
engines are IN constant use at East New York. A
chansm They are, it IS believed the largest engines
Of their kind 10 the country. About the middle OF
ready for work. This engine has been built in view
not only OF the increasing demand for water but
OF the necessity OF stopping the other engines for re-
the time they were first started lifting every daY
1000 900 gallons OF water The cost OF the works
$1,000 900 The revenue Of the department for The
on the debt aid n extending water mains In the out.
self-susrainng. 1t 10 distinct branch OF the city
government Itself. 1t collects Its own revenue en-
Supervision OF the Common Council, to whom thew
render their account annually. 1t will be seen from
this statement OF the dltferent departments under
the control OF tho Board of Water Commissioners
that 1t Is IN one way or another responsible, In
great measure, FOR municipal affairs Ia Brooklyn.
Two OF the Commissioners have been In 0 fce four
years; the other two were appointed with the reOr.
OF the Board and they give especial atten
tion to the new business entrusted to 10. Their
terms OF oice vary from four 10 ten years and their
salaries are $1,000 a year each.
PROJECTED BUILDINGS.