The New York herald., 1876-11-14
THE WATER QUESTION.

LECTURE BY PROFESSOR n. OGDEN DogEsrUs
ON THE SUBJECT OF .'wATER AND CRoToE
wATER"-REMARKs or Ex-MAYoR SMITH, OF
BOSTON. AND REV. DIR. oRMIsToS.
As per notice already published in the HERALD.
Professor Dorcmus delivered brilliant lecture last
night on tho subject OF ..wa,cr and Croton wster'
before large audience which assembled at the church,
corner OF Fifth avenue and Twenty first street.
The learned professor took broad view OF this I'M
portant subject judging from the wide field Of obser
vation from which he drew his illustrations Begin
ming with The history OF the earliest Efforts Of civilized
to furnish artificial supplies Of water TO the CITIES
and settlements, he pointed out the numerous and
magnificent examples OF success which atten ded these
early efforts and how the abors OF the ancient peoples
OF Egypt, Syria, China and even Peru furnish to-day
examples OF engineering skin and perseverance which
later ages may deem worthy Of repetition.
From this starting point Professor Doremus entered
into scientific analysis OF the question Of water sup
ply, In which he explained the nature OF the various
phenomena which produce evaporation and rainfall In
different parts OF the globe. The Gulf Stream and the
Japan Current were given illustrations OF the
wonderful mechanism OF nature in the operation or
which the beautiful gifts OF Providence dispensed
mankind In exact proportion to their necessities
Climate and relations 10 heat and cold produced by
oceanic currcIts were fully explained so that mono in
the vast audience could tail TO understand how
wonderfully the Creator has planned and executed the
work Of terrestrial creation Many extraordinary In
stances quoted OF where showers Of blood milk,
flesh. sh insects and fruits startled tho inhnb
of regions not usually visited by even ordinary
thrown thrown into eons.srnSti.n by tho si%pe fall
OF rain IN their ARD territory Enormous
masses ssca o, ice fans % ,S nn psIs %
beloved tnat dreadful convuston OF nature
hand and that the limit Of tho worlds exist
ence had been reached Some OF those examples arc
really startling even when announced from lecture
platform. but as they are taken from historical
records there can be reasonable doubt to
their occurrence From the rhcnomena described
Professor Dorcnius proceeded TO explain the
chemical properties OF water and tho mat
This formed OF the most interesting features of the
lecture and listened 70 by tho assemblage with Ihc
closest attention All kinds OF horrible looking things
in common drinking wafer are visible TO the eye
by means OF the microscope, but when these animal
not be seen. Microscopic plants, ag1 and the mi.
forms Of vegetable lie were also described and
.neir effect on the quality OF the water sr, es, K
the majority OF instances they produce
harmful effect the animal economy.
The purity Of water for human consumption naturally
forms a subject OF the greatest interest connection
with the supply OF large citics The utmost efforts
sources Rerard,ng the quantity OF water 10 be
furnished to cities the lecturer called attention to tho
allowance accorded to she principal centres Of popu-
laon-the chief cities OF tho world-and showed that
New York more literally supplied than any other,
having 95 gallons per capita Of Tho population to 50
iyn. 60 in Boston. 60 in Dublin, IS in
Paris 33 in London and 20 In Sheffield
With storage capacity In the Croton Valley water
shed OF n 600, 600 600 of gallons We could draw
200 000 900 OF gallons daily throughout the for
consumption in New York addition TO that now fur
nished through tho present aqueduct Quoting the
Chinese proverb "Dig n well before you thirsty"
the lecturer touched the subject Of Salt water"
aud showed that have already resources sufn
cent to cover all wants II only utilize
them property The area Of the Croton
watershed Is 800 square miles and this area
should yield daily average Of over 800 600 900 OF
gallons from the rain shed. We only getting
10 600 OF gallons In this way Dr. Dorcmus touched
on every possible phase OF tho water question with his
accustomed ability, and concluded his remarks amid
tho applause of the audience
Following Professor Dorcmu1 ex-Mayor Smith, OF
Boston, entertained bis hearers by brilliant address,
made remark that tho physical distractions
TO our present supply from the Croton Valley should
be utilized to complete the dams the valleys
and thus convert them into great natural storage
resuryOra