New-York tribune., 1872-03-27
ular reservoirs
MINI.
Total flfteen lakes. .......2Ils

y
artificial lakes could be easily formed by the erection Of
dams Mr. Craven the former chief engineer, selected
a number OF such points, where dams OF moderate d.
mensons would create storage reservoirs The
aggregate capacity Of the reservoirs indicated by him
as practicable amounted to 67oo0c0o0o gallons, or
enough to supply the city for than two years AZ
the rate Of gallons per day. In reply TO query
whether sufficient quantity OF rain would fan In the re-
zion 20 fill such series Of reservoirs Prof Chandler re-
plies that the average rainfall Is IN the neighborhood OF
so inches about 81 gallons on every square foot, or
nearly 1000 gallons TO the square mile About IS
TO 40 per cent OF this finds its way into the streams
and becomes available the remainder being evaporated
or absorbed in vegetation The amount which can be
used for water supply, it will be seen, Is many times
than il needed to furnish an unlimited quantity 70
note that long ago these lakes referred "
by the Commissioners as available for future use.
and the many natural advantages Il possesses Without
becoming impressed with the wisdom and Orsthoughs %
the Importance TO the welfare OF o. nsWns an
unlimited right to the use OF TINS rnerg cs can
granted in 1854, with the . Original chaster
o. the SrSSH tAaf AaSet ns ounnftV furnished BY ths
river alone be little the needs OF the
city. But the daily use of water has Increased from
20 10 gallons and it has for some years
been evident TO the authorities that additional storage
capacity be obtained It was for TINS reason that
the last Board OF Commissioners decided on establishing
the reservoir Boyd Corners, which, when completed
During the extreme dronth of 1892 the city very
near beng left entirely wi hOut water AIter running
on short supply for long time on the I'd or OctoDer all
the available supply was practically exhausted ana the
entire dependence OF the CITY was on tas sna qy nov &
OF Croton River not exceeding OooO gallons per
day fortunately on dne % 81 C % from the
! threatening danger.
TAKING WATER FROM THE LAKES.
In 1870 the Spring dryer than during th rre-
cedug wear and il became evident early in the car that
immediate atention must be given to prcrng an ade.
auaie supply OF water for the dry eason After thor
| Ao1- q.
ply by the Chief Engineer i5 determined that the
only means OF obtaining full supply OF water would be
by securing the right TO draw from a number of the
| lakes. BY direction from the Department OF Public
Works such rights secured and the outlets cut
down. although the ow Of the Croton for 100 day
was sufficient for the daily needs Of the city, full
supply OF pure and wholesome water was furnished
during the entire The drawn from were
Mahopac, Gleneida and Glead Lakes and Kirk Pond.
On this subject the Chief Engineer says his Last
! port April, 1871
| Bya rain-gauge which was kept b. this Department
at Boyds Corners in Itnam County the record shows
that IS per cent rain fell at ha5 point between the
Ist day July aud the 3st day OF December lse9 than
fell during the same months IN 1870 In fact we were
even compelled TO obtain part OF supply OF water
from the lakes during the month OF January 1871 Since
at their outlets, and some OF them have now risen
to higher, point than they were when We
Is now full up 70 higwater mark, and a large stream
flowing from IT, and there can be no doubt but that tho
others will Ill To their normal hgh-water mark before
the dry Of 1872 commences and nowithstandng
the fact that the population OF the city constantly in
and that the quantity OF water consumed IL
creasng in ratio than the increase of popua-
tion, t s evident from examinations and
wholesome water can be obtained from the valley Of
the Croton for city with twice the population OF New
York.
The right to draw from these lakes, by which the city
was protected from the imminent dagger OF water
famine, not obtained by legislation but by prtyae
contract between the Department OF Public Works and
the owners OF the land adjacent 10 the outlets Tie
| privilege Of drawing from Lake Mahopac granted
by the Empire Sewing Machine Company and from Lake
Gleneda by Mr. Cole the owner who receives in return
$1,000 per year from the city, The outlets OF Lake Giead
and KIRK Pond were purchased in the name Of Mr.
necessary 20 buy two farms. At Lake Gilead farm OF
about 70 obtained with MILL the sum pad
50 acres was secured for aO Mr. Tracey asserts that
purchases made with the understanding tna
sssrance is given that Mr. Tweed now stands ready q
fulfill the agreement. Lake Gilead Is OF the hand
sheets Of water in the State not excepting Lake
George. Its water is clear crystal and " most ex
eellenluaty In this matter there seems 20 be reasof
for believing that the Department acted for tie good
the city.
THE ACT OF 1871.
To enable the city authorities secure an undsputed
right ~ such real estate property may deemed
necessary for the purpose furnishing securing
further and inexhaustbIe supply OF pure and wholesome
water" the act OF Feb. 81, is7i, drawn up and
passed. by this act the Commissioner OF Public Work.
may enter upon any land or water for the purpose
| OF making surveys aud examinations. and agre,
with the owners and occupants upon the price e
be paid In OF failure 10 agree proceeding,
to be instituted In the Supreme Court as provided
for by the Railroad act of 1850 The money required fo
the land and for the construction OF aqueducts
vors, dams sluces gateways canals and other appur
tenances OF the waterworks raised on bonds q
be Issued by the Controller reputation Of the Com
missioner OF Public Works aud, by Amendatory act
chapter 32s passed Apr g. 1871, the amount to be ex
pended for these purposes Is limited TO 100000 De
year.
To this act an amendment has been this year sub
mitted by CommissoDer Vaa Nort providing that aep