The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-29
SAFETY OF THE AQUEDUCT.

An Examina alton by the Official Engi-
neers Dissfpates Alarm-No Danger OF
q Deluge.
The incipient alarm felt by the jewellers in the
region west or the Central Park and in the vicinity
OF the Croton Aqueduct to the possibility OF its
giving way under pressure of the and letting
down upon them a second Mill River hood, IS, it
seems, the very trustworthy authority given
below, entirely groundless. On seeing the report
OF the expressed fears Of the inhabitants OF that
portion OF the island in the HERALD of yesterday
morning, Mr.. Tracy, Chief Engineer of the Croton
Water Works Immediately despatched TWO of MS
trusty assistants to investigate the cause of the
rumor, and he gives the result OF their examina-
ton OF the Aqueduct in the following letter to Mr..
Van Mort who was also OF the investigating
party
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS,
NEW YORK, June %, 1874. !
To GEORGE NJ. VAN MORT, Esq, Commissioner OF
Pubic Norks:-
SIR-Thls morning my attention was called
TO an artlce in the HERALD newspaper, headed,
'rne Croton Aqueduct," alleging that the Croton
Aqueduct is falling at what Is and mas been always
known since the construction OF the aqueduct as
"Clenjennln Naley.n
am perfectly familiar with the plan OF the work
and oil its actual construction While 1t was being
butt, and for the first ten years after the work
was brought into use, had the entire control OF
the repairs on that part OF the aqueduct and some
years since, when was appointed Chief Engineer
Of the Croton Aqueduct, went with the Keeper,
VINO was one oil the rnasOnS employed III tue original
construction OF the aqueduct, and VINO had a de-
tailed knowledge OF the mode OF construction
across Clendennn Valley, and had been IN charge
OF TINS work Tor great many years, ana MADE
very careful examination OF the whole work, not
only once but on number OF OCCASIONS and the
interior was examined on our last annua iuspec-
ton in November last and found III good order;
and have never seen anything up TO The present
time that leads me to believe that there are any
greater leaks In Cendennin Valley than there
were one year after the aqueduct was nnished
The conduit over the arches Is composed OF
iron, imbedded III brickwork and lined on the IN
side also with brickwork; the iron was prepared
by giving 1t heavy coat OF asphalt inside and cut.
Not being physically in condltlon 10 go myseiI,
sent today two OF my assistants ana the Keeper
OF that part OF the acueduct, In company with
YOURSELF to make a careful examination ana re-
port To me Ia detail the condition OF the WORK IN
that vicinity. one OF these assistants was with
me on the aqueduct during It's original construc-
ton, and the other has been with me most or the
time Tor the past twenty years; and rom the in
formation thus derived, 1 am certain there Is no
possible chance Tor any material injury 10 the
works OF the aqueduct ITSELF or 20 persons or prop
erty IN the vicinity, and that the HERALD reporter
was imposed upon by some designing persons who
do not live In that Immediate vicinity. lie speaks
of defect in The 1920 street bridge. There never
any bridge at 10st 102d street, the aqueduct
at l02d street being IN a deep cut.
As you are aware the electioneering dodge" Is
void OF truth. The work has been prosecuted as
RAPIDLY possible, consistent with economy The
cause OF the reduction OF the iorce on this work,
as soon as the Legislature adjourned, as the art-
Gle states was LOT the sole reason that the work
could not be further economically prosecuted until
the contract was made Tor the granite Tor the gate
houses This granite VIII be delivered within
lew days when this work VIII be pushed rapidly
Onward and, IN TACT. completed within the time
allowed by law TO wit, June /, 1875, when the en-.
tire masonry aqueduct will be dispensed with and
Ine water conducted through iron pipes. nave
no doubt that we shall be able to get the water
through these pipes BY October next
cannot help thinking that the person who &c.
employed by another department OF the city gov
esnWepL aRd whose sole object was the producing