The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-28
THE CROTON AQUEDUCT.

A Second Mill River Disaster ymmf-
ncnt-Nearly Two square Miles OF tho
City Liable to Inundat
ElectioneerInS Tactics.
The inhabitants Of the region lying about
Tooth street, west Of the Central Park, have been
for some time past greatly alarmed at the con
dition OF the Croton Aqueduct. At last the spirit
moved them to refer the matter to the HERALD A
representative or this paper went there yesterday
ana called on one OF the principal property owners
or the neighbornood, who pointed out the matters
complained Of He owns two blocks between
Tooth ana lO2d streets, and lives in one OF the
houses Immediately under the aqueduct which
is in
SHOCKING CONDITION.
1t has been built thirty seven years, and from old
age has fallen into such bad state Of repair thas
one more severe winter might utterly destroy 1t.
Even severe thunder storm might occasion it's
absolute ruin. Leaks abound In the massive wall
pouring out in large streams in some places, and
dripping through the arches over the streets like
summer showers. broken stone over the 1921
street arch has allowed the water to pour out by
the hogshead till 1t was chOEed up by the deposited
silt or fine mud, and then taking new course, has
broken out III u dozen fresh places. The mortar
has become dsintegrated and can De picked Gus
in sond masses with the fingers or walking cane.
North OF Ninty-nintn street the water Is pouring
out as from a hose. South OF Ninety-eightn street
are some very bad holes. Four barrels are filed
every few minutes. The inhabitants OF the neigh
boring tanties have placed them there for dOmes-
tic convenience and inserted tin leaders In the
walls OF the aqueouct. The ground all about Is u
perfect marsh.
THE CONSTRUCTION
OF the aqueduct seems solid enough. The water IS
carried through arched brickwork and the walls
faced with handsome masonry eighteen inches
thick with arches over the streets; but entire neg
lect has left the great and merltorlouS work be-
yond repair. There IS no way now OF cutting on
the water while repairs could be made, ana there
Is imminent danger OF collapse at any time With
out warning, winch would deprive the city OF water
altogether aud deuge nearly two square miles Of
tile nelghbOrhood. The people are greatly alarmed
and the women especially are nervous ana sleep
less at every heavy shower Ii catastrophe Oc-
CURED, the hood would sweep down to Fifty ninth
street, filing the dangerous ravnes from Sxty-sec.
ond to SlXtyfftn streets In Eighth avenue, ManhaL-
square. Eighty eighth and Eighty Streets
ii scope could be given 10 the lnundatlOn 1t would
ngulI Manhatlanvine entirely; but ridge 80
TO occur that dreadful event might not
happen. No bnlging Of the walls Is yet
perceptible, the leakage everywhere evidently
acting by way oil q waste weir. relieving the pres
sure under existing circumstances
INACTIoN OF THE AUTHORITIES.
Mr.. Deerson another property owner, CON-
plains that he has repeatedly brought the dan
gerous condition OF the aqueduct To the notice Of
have not taken the slightest steps to mitigate the
evil. The residents OF the vicinity seem one and
all to charge the delinquency to politics. They
say that the work on the big pipes III Tenth ave-
for four years laborers have only been employed
In adequate number just before election time,
when they swarm like bees and get in each others
ways and That this year, as soon as the Leglsla-
ture adjourned, they were all Knocked OIL Now
few men engaged to keep up appearances, and
nothing they say will be really done till the FALL IL
then. There is no mistake that something should
be done, ana very quickly too.