The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16

In order that every member Of the department may
| be warned against reoccurrence While rigid
discipline Is SO enforced, the Commissioners watch
motion Is ope ss when VACANCIES occuf to every
member, II qualified to be an Of1cer. Patrols from
each company are constantly on duty With orders
whole city, as well as the city institutions on the
islands, are connected with headquarters by the
| extensive line of telegraph recently completed.
Connected with the department Is the Bureau oil
Combustible Material, created by the Legislature
other liquid oils, and constantly tests samples
OF the oils they deal IN. During the year, 2.sSe
for q, $ s FOR powder
| issued, and 9,162 samples of oil tested. Sur.
veyors are constantly on the alert to discover IN
nammabe oils, or their careless use, and that i'm
portant source OF danger is now completely under
the control OF the department. This bureau also has
it in charge to that hoistways In stores kept
covered at night, and MIGRANTS and the telegraph
unobstructed. 1t has within the year turned into
the relief fund OF the department $sl,401 for IL
| The extensive system of telegraph now used by
! the department, including over six hundred miles
or wire, with its communicating or talking Cir
cults, and thorough connection OF every part OF
the department with its headquarters, affords great
alarms are cpo%manicated. It also adds materially Hl
to the expenses of the department. in its care and
maintenance, in additional attendance, chemicals,
&c, and in repairs and constant temporary re-
mOvas of some OF its 1900 poles, rendered neces-
sary by the erection Of new buildings on the lines,
The expenses of the department for the past
year, according to the report OF the commissioners
a. az 20 TINS has
axea y law; The expenses sa % SSt vary y
within the year, and the ''e outlay o'' has as
the amounts asked Tor by the Commissioners for
additional buildings for companies above Fifty
thar ON the end Of the and
Board OF Estimate. The rapid growth OF the city
about and above the Central Park, and the entire
change orthe character of the improvements, and
the concentration Of valuable property in that
vicinity, since the organization OF the department.,
ers after careful consideration, to require the IN
crease of the number OF companies in that quarter
which they have sought the means to contribute,
but have been unable to procure In the present un-
Willingness to increase the public expenditure
The Mayor, therefore, cordially concurs in their
The purchases of the department are made in
quantity, and its supplies issued on acquisitions set
ting forth the articles required, and approved by
the department before their issue. In case new
article Is required, its necessity and the cOndemna
ton OF the old one must be first certified by the
The entire working of the department has been
reduced to system, compliance with which Is re-
CURED and, II necessary enforced on all its officers
and men and the result Is uniformity ana econ
omy of action which goes far to render the Fire De-
partment of New York model, to make it the CEN
ments of other cities OF this country and of Europe,
and to enable the Mayor to say that its superiority
Is 10 tnOSe entrusted WIN us anu
source OF pride to the citizens OF New York.
The Croton Aqucduct
In good condition. and will stand time.
1t will be seen from the report of the Commits
soner OF Public Works that the Croton Aquednct
has delivered an abundant supply of water to the
city during the past year, Notwithstanding the fact
that the season was dry One The report also
shows that the CrOtOn Aqueduct IS In good and
sound condition, and That there Is every reason to
believe that with proper care it will perform for
centuries TO come the duties for which it was built.
AND THE NECESSITY FOR STORAGE RESERVOIRS.
the report OF the commissioner OF Public Works,
with its accompanying documents, show that the
water shed OF the CrotOn River above the point at
which the Aqueduct receives its supply, is capable
OF supplying with a never-lailing quantity of water
q city win three times the population OF that Of
New York at the present time 1t Is only necessary
to construct enough reservoirs throughout the
CrotOn basin in order to store the water TO be used
when the natural flow Of the river ana its trDu-
tares is too small to supply the needs OF tue city.
The Storage Reservoir, now nearly completed will,
with the assistance which may be had from the
natural lakes, protect the city against dearth OF
water for several years, and the department. Of
Public Works Is already preparing to construct a
new One which can be finished In time TO meet the
actual necessities OF the city; and there are numer
be constructed as the requirements of the city
increase with its growing population. 1t Is. there
fore, unnecessary to look elsewhere Tor source of
supply.
The Croton basin is on the confines or within the
limits of the great range OF the Allegheny Noun
tains, and its lands are very hy or mountainous
ana contain but little OF what Is known as swamp
land The whole district is full of nevepfailing
springs. There are also within its boundaries many
small natural lakes which generally located on
have bold shores and deep water OF great purity,
and evidently receive a large part OF their water
through snbterranean passages from remote dis
ity could by no possibility furnish from rains and
SHOWS the large quantity OF water which flows from
almost wholly granite, and hence but little or no
mineral impurity is found in the waters OF this dis
turbd, owing to the fact that the land is so uneven,
rough and stony, that It Is now and will In the
of l. peyRes th ha
Providence naturally designed this basin to supply
great metropolis with water.
NEW WATER MAINS.
The new large water mains that the Department
of Public Works are now laying will undoubtedly
greatly improve the head of water throughout the
city, md In case OF fire strengthen the security OF
property.
The amount of water furnished in this city Is
greater for each inhabtant than in any city In the
world, but the waste is enormous. The Department
to check this waste but, nnaded by the citizens it
cannot overcome 1t entirely because the water,
when unobscrvedly wasted on private property,
runs into sewers unnoticed. II the citizens would
exert themselves to aid the department in check
ing this growing evil all night have water delv-
cred to them under better head than they are
now able to get 1t.
Department OF Taxes.
The Report of the Commissioner Of Taxes and
Assessments, submitted herewith Is repete with
interesting information to gil who participate in
the direct support Of the local government and will
well repay the trouble of careful perusa
The aggregate valuations of real and personal
estates for 1872 amount to $1,10409S,0S7, and for
1871 to $1076 253, 633, showing increase for the
current year of S27, S44,454
1t will be seen from the report that while the
assessments of personal estate In the city and
county of New York increased over $4,000 900
in six years, the personal assessments during the
same period in the rest OF the State were dimnishe
$17,000,000.
The Commissioners estimate In their report that
the aggregate OF mortgages upon real estate IN the
city OF New York amounts to q sum exceeding
$i0O,00o,0O0, Of which life insurance companies
hold s10c 900 900 and savings banks about the
amount, while large part OF the remainder is held
by parties residing out Of the State.
Banking capital in the city OF New York is as
sessed in the sum OF S76,727,745 for the year 1872
The total number of assessments made is:--
OF pieces of real estate 1927 217