The New York herald., 1873-07-20
A Magnificent and Massive Engineering Work
AceOmplished-An Artificial Lake Con-
tanning Three Billion Gallons Of
Water in Putnam County.
Six Billion Gallons Stored for
Emergency.
Proposed Preparations for Co
tham,s Future Wants.

equalled anywhere in the world. Recently great
engineering success has been consummated by the
engineers OF the Department OF Public Works, but
quietly and with so little Ostentation that very
few OF the citizens who have paid the taxes
whereby the work has been carried have had
more than dim and vague idea Of what stupen.
A0us projects were being executed.
ANCIENT AQUATIC WORKS.
It is striking ana important fact, illustrated in
history and among the hoary monuments OF former
great enterprises OF mankind that those which had
for their object prosaic and practical usefulness
have outlived, in most instances. the magnificent
EFFORTS Of artistic genius, at least, remain more
intact and more palpabe as indications q the
energy and strength OF the civilization OF the de-
parted generations. The use OF artificial conduits
for the supply OF water to large cities can be traced
back to very distant epoch in Persia ana Judea,
and Jerusalem still drinks the clear liquid which is
drawn from the "Pools OF Solomon near Bethle-
hem. Therefore, as moral, 1t may be well re-
marked that the false brilliancy given to reputa-
tiOn in the restless and varying light Of municipal
politics may in the future time, when we shall all
sleep with fathers, be forgotten in the durable
grandeur Of the blessings conferred upon the
people by practical science. Among the chief
marks OF the greatness OF the Incas OF Peru and
the MOnteZumas OF Mckee are the gigantic aque-
ducts of the Andes and of Chapultepec, the ruins
Of which are still visible to the wondering gaze
of the traveller The conduit which crossed
the great valley OF the Condesuya, passing along
the precipuous sides and winding around the bases
OF the mountains, penetrating through huge tun-
nels and spanning the deep Q7IebrdddS upon walls
OF stable masonry, was no less than four hundred
and fifty miles in length. The pure and glistening
water from the high springs still trickles down
through the ruins Of the old works, and in some
places even finds its way through portions Of the
artificial channel which still remain. making the
vegetation greener and more luxuriant along its
course. Nature In this way generally gives express
sion to the fact OF the greatness and power Of sci
ence. The Romans built water wOrks-many Of
them stin existing-which have been the wonder
OF many ages, exceeding all other nations both
ancient and modern, In the skill which they dis
played In their construction The aqueducts and
reservoirs Of Egypt and Babylon, built under Sc
sostris and the great Semirams, are now only
known through history; but the idea which II con-
veys of their magnitude and perfection
impresses most critics with the thought
ehat the civilization Of those nations was
not, alter all, so very far behind our Among
modern works OF this character those OF Marseles,
Lisbon, London, Philadelphia and Boston are far
famed; but none OF the present approach those OF
our own city in extent and perfection. They were
completed in 1912 at a cost OF S12,500,0O0. Since
then innumerable improvements have been ac-
COmplSneu, anu d lew very eApcuSlNe engineering
mistakes have been made, Of some OF which the
citizens, who have ''paid dearly for the WHISTLE
have never been made aware Letting these,
however, sleep IN the general shadow OF ignominy
in which repose the other doings Of the Tammany
dynasty, the tact cannot be Over-estmated that
the results growing up in spite OF them are mag
nincent engineering works, OF which any NUM-
TAKING TINE BY THE F0RRLOCK.
:. The recent apprehensive feeling among citizens
IN regard to drought has afflicted the country for
nearly two months. and now, apparently, threatens
the city with aiictiOn still more dire, has caused
the real resources of the Department OF Public
Works In case OF genuine water famine. and also In
iatlcn in the future This problem was ne not Sr arst
mooted, however, this s. season % BY the people who
o1 S Sd not
until long after the drought began-but
Van Mort who already anticipated possible cir
cumstances. In the latter part Of June Mr.. Van
the HERALD paid visit to the new Croton dam
near Boyd's Corners, in Putnam county work
in progress OF construction for over SIX years. 1t
was begun under Mr.. Tweed's administration, in
ject ever undertaken by the Department OF Public
Works, and Its completion was naturally the cause
Ofncias VINO had been connected with the project.
At Brewsters Station the visiting party was met
the Resident Engineer, under whose direction it
had been executed. drive OF six or seven miles
brought them to sxoxx VALLEY
where the new dam is built stretching across the
of war. The hills that bound the valley are very
diversified and picturesque in their appearance,
very preciptate IN surface and abound In clear and
ROCKS Of which they are formed An inspection OF
the dam and of the immense sheet OF water whose
whole pressure and weight rests upon 1t took place
soon alter the arrival OF the party and when this
was followed by sail backward from the head to
the foot OF the lake, their hungry appettes were
mnistered to in an abundant lunch spread in one
OF the rude temporary outhouses, but which was
This reservoir, which has been constructed for
the purpose OF storage OF water only, is on the
west branch OF the Croton River, which formerly
meandered in quiet and retiring mOdesty among
meadows and stony pastures at the bottom OF the
valley. The fields were also dotted with farm
houses orchards and barns, all OF which now
NO more,
And the blue waves roll nightly on deep GaiIee.
Fences, buildings trees and bridges were all
cleared away BY the laborers TO give place to the
huge, transparent mass of crystal water, which
forms one OF II the Prsstest lakes IKE, In the &C country
It's bottom. were 1t drained; but they have been
restored in lar better form and wind pleasantly
nns nns vie, Sew Of the whole valley and the
very nearly. The height OF the structure is about
sixty feet above the original bed OF the river, and
the surface Of the ground. It's length Is about
seventy feet. The walls built OF dressed gran
width. The space between the outer and inner
walls ts nlled with hydraulic concrete masonry, |
packed In BY the utmost of manual force The |
Inner side OF the dam Is covered oy an Immense |
empankment Of earth, about one hundred and !
eighty feet deep at the bottom and slantino grad
ually to the top The pressure on the dam Is thirty
pounds to the square inch.
TIE sTUPENDTY OF THE WORK
can best be conceived by viewing IL from above, !
when alone It's colossal strength, altitude and |
extent can be for the first time fully comprchended.
The water is drawn through the bottsm OF the |
dam IN large cast iron pipes, which are encased
and secured in masonry and lifted with stop valves
in such manner that 1t is under complete control
At the egress OF the pipes is tower OF masonry !
built from the bottom oil the dam to height above
the high water mark, and provided with screens