New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-30
MUNICIPAL WANTS.
INCREASING THE WATER SUPPLY.

COMPLETION OF THE LARGEST STORAGE REsER-
voIR IN THE CoUNTRY-DEscRIPTION OF
THE NEW WORKS IN PUTNAM COUNTY.
The largest reservoir in the United States,
with an immense dam connected with It, Is nearly COM
pleted and about Jan. 1873, will receive water from
tho nelghboring and lakes IL Is situated n,
Boyds Corners In Putnam County, between the Iiar
lom and Hudson River Railroads. A large valley
OF 900 acres, containing numerous lakes, Is the
site which has been chosen for the immense
basin which will be used as storage reservoir
TO provide an abundant and uninterrupted supply OF
water for the city occasion OF drouth or OF IND
mense connaation. The reservoir has storage capac
y OF 3OOO0OOOOO gallons and the capacity OF all the
reservoirs that supply city Is thus increased to $780,
gallons sufficient to feed the city at the present
ratio OF consumption for 80 days II to this be added the
100000 gallons which constitute the minimum quantity
daily furnished by the Croon Reservoir Ia seasons OF
severe drouths the supply win last 70 days
The dam is situated at tho southwest end OF the
reservoir 1t Is built Of solid masonry four feet thck Is
feet high and about 100 feet In length 1t has tower
at one end through which the waste.water will be con-
Quoted to the land below by o pipes which con
duet 1t into the Croton River, thus utilizing the whole
supply It was deemed nadyisabe by the engineers to
arrange the dam that the water should overnn the
solid masonry it would have the efectof undermining
the foundation accordingly large welho.e has been
made just within tho wall of the dam which will conduct
derneath tho dam to the Croton River. This immense
work f. situated on the branch OF the Croton River
about miles above the CrOon Dam and preparations
making for the construction OF still larger storage
reservoir in tho middle branch OF the Croton River near
the village Brewster, that will have storage capa-
city OF 3,7OO.OOOODO gallons
The water supply was anxously considered by the
people whom the drouhs Of 1869 and 1870 were expert
enced long before the fate OF Chicago and Boston had
awakened IN the civil authorities appreciation OF the
immediate necessity OF making tao facilities adequate TO
the increasing requirements Of the city, IL Is Thought
that by the addition OF tla5 new storage reser-
yor, the city, especially after the completion
OF the new main, will bo safe from the
dangers Of great water famine or con-
Migration; yet it is urged that due regard for the
future health and prosperity OF the city demands that
an abundant supply pure water such the proposed
now reservoir will furnish, shah be secured for many
years II is urged too that the present Is the
proper time TO provide for the wants OF the future De
cause the continual rise In tho value Of real estate VIII
make the acquisition of the necessary land required for
additional storage reservoirs from year TO year mere
expensive.
An Investigation by the Croton Department under the
direction of Commissioner Van Mort has resulted in the
discovery that sufficient water can be collected In the
Croton district TO supply twice the present population
Of this city The difficulty lies in the fact that tho guam
titles collected have heretofore been very irregular at
the seisOnS OF y'dI, anu III 1iio "AJ
the daily supply has been less than onethird
Of the quantity consumed; hence In order
to secure an abundant and uninterrupted sup
ply OF water 1T has been deemed necessary
to obtain storage capacity for sufficient quantity to
carry city safely through the most proacted season
of drouth which may possibly occur. IL is beiieyed
that the contemplated new reservoir VIII be ample Tor
any such emergency The daily consumption
Of CrOtOn water from April lol, 10 April l. lo, wts
So 100000 gallons, and IL Is noticeable fact Jhal Wlle
the population OF NewYor has little more than doubled
five tunes as great. THIS indicates that IL Is con-
tinually applied 10 purposes that manufactures
are increasng and that there Is general ana growing
waste The waste occurs many points that entirely
concealed from view-n sewers Ii the increase OF
waste prOportiOnate during the next twenty years 10
that the twenty years. other storage RESERVOIRS
will needed but it IL gratifying to learn that the
Croton Water Department Is making great eXertlOns 10
enforce sparing use OF CrOtOn, anu thAt more
rigid surveillance is to be exercised In the Tutuge