The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-07
YORK HERALD TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 875-TRPLE

supply Randalls Island and the fear or increase OF
scurvy from that Immediate examination Ol tue
supply pipes Harlem River to kandalls
Island showed the worthessness at that
time, of the eght-mch, wood lined iron pipe.
All practicable repairs have since been MADE nut re-
cent examinations (see Engineers report annexed)
show the impossblity OF making the pipe servceabe,
and that Randas Island must rely Tor IT'S fresh water
supply upon the single threeinch lead pipe supplying
II now and last spring To furnish water 10 ihe Islands
which depend on the Croton Aqueduc Tor their supply
and TO repair injuries 10 the supply pipes from anchos
lrosti &c, the following work had to be d0ne:-- -,
Ia lS7l-Three wrought pipes laid To BlackWelis
Island and two gutta percha pipes taken up and rcaG
In lSI2Three wrought iron pipes laid to Bllckwells
Island and one TO Wards Island
Ia is'3-One slx-inch wrought iron pipe, encased IN
OAK boxing ana cement, laid TO Blackwells lsahd
Ihls pipe has since furnished full and uninterrupted
supply
In the winter of 1873 to 1874 Wards Island was
without steady supply the pipe across the river
Dehg frozen Water was supplied through hose across
eral times.
cement, was laid to Wards Island and has since fur
nished an uninterrupted supply Of water
WINE these several pipes were being laid the Com
missloners OF Charities and Correction were obliged to
be entirely without fresh water, carry II upon
boats Experience on Randas Island, well
the other islands should be warning sufficient against
relying upon uncertain supply that furnished by
a single unprotected pipe and against putting of the
remedy to the last moment and TO an Indictment season
Under the law Of May 2S 1875 passed for the purpose
among Others of providing the means to supply Ran
dals Island with abundance of fresh and pure water
law, introduced June g. and is now before the
Board of Aldermen; but the proceedings OF the
Board of last Thursday show that substitute was
offered which, if pa, sed will only further delay
IL framed that expense can be incurred under
it. Very respectfully, FIfz JOHN POTTER
Commissioner of Public Works
DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS,
CHIEF ESGlSEER's OFFICE, CRY HALL,
NEW YORK, August 30, 1875.
JONI c. CAMPBELL, Esq, Acting Chief Engineer
DEAR SIR made personal examination yesterday
of the water supply TO Randals Island There are TWO
pipes crossing from l22d street TO the island under the
Harlem River One is lead pipe, three inches inter
nal diameter, and the other an iron pipe wards pat
ent) of eight inches internal diameter, with wood
lining of one inch all around leaving waterway of six
inches diameter The iron pipe gave out last winter
and disconnected and has remained so ever since
Before shutting of the lead pipe found the pressure
OF water the New York side TO be twenty four pounds
per square inch and the island eighteen pounds In
order to determine the condition Of the iron pipe /
shut Off the water from the lead pipe shut of the
supply of water accumulated IN the reservoir
on the island and opened the gate of the iron pipe
the river and found the pressure Of water then
the island but two and IL half pounds The loss
of twenty and half pounds pressure in crossing the
river shows conclusvcy that although the iron pipe Is
not broken, yet it must be full OF cracks and holes
Very respectfully,
JOHN C. THOMPSON, Assistant Engineer.
The Croton main ordinance was called up by Alder
main Reilly after the reading of the communication,
and was again defeated all the republicans voting as
usual against it,
Mr.. Morris, before the vote taken the or
dinance said that the department showed its ignorance
of the location ofthe mains when the main in Broad
way last June burst, and did not discover till the
lower Of the city without water for forty eight
hours that there main IN Chambers, corner Of
Centre street. that could be connected with the broken
main. Mr., Campbell the Engineer. had said that the
supply of great ever; that the high
service had been tapped Lexington avenue ana that
the force OF water great enough to go over the
house tops He said that the water in the reservoir IN
the Park twelve feet below its natural level and it
was folly to talk about putting in extra mains