The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-18
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
COMMISSIONER cAMPBELL's REPORT yoR THE
LAST QUARTER--THR cRoToN AQUEDUcT


AND KISGsBRIDaz ROAD.
Below will DO found tho most important part OF Com
missioner Allan campbcIs report 10 the Mayor Of the
transactions OF bis department. during the quarter end
ing March 31:-
KxPExpITrREs
On account OF approx raiions. provided
from taxation for the year 1870. $l22 095 ~
On account or appropriations provided
from taxation for the year lSI6........ 226 608 -
Total on account OF taxation. S34S6o4 OF
On account OF assessment fund. for street
On account Of funded debt, for improve.
mcnts squeducts, reservoirs and
Croton pipes rncIuding S0l7 81 for recon-
structon OF sewers). ll39l5 3S
Grand total. ssss, os4 s.
less than for the Same quarter in 1875 which had been
me lowest quarter snce tho passage Of the charter Of
ter since the passage OF the charter
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Relative TO the Croton Aqueduct and water supply
Tho safety purity and abundance OF the water supply
arc so essential 10 the health and comfort Of the CON-
munty that every element which could In any manner
affect ihem - watched with care and anxiety
During tho past season the durability OF the aque-
duct mas been severely tested and proved By the ire
quent storms and ireshets that have caused SO much
damage in various parts OF the country and have been
especially dangerous to reservoir ana aqueduct en-
bankmentH No serious damages have occurred and the
usual force emp Dyed in the maintenance and repairs OF
the aqueduct and has sufficient to meet
walls cuvert and fences caused by the action OF tho ele
ments.
The work on tho new storage reservoir in Putnam
county, now in course OF construction by contract has
been partially suspended account OF tho delay in
the legal proceedings TO acquire title ~ tho ano re
CURED
Tho rainfall has been very abundant for the quarter
III 66l00 nches SO that the natural dow Ia the Cro-
ton River greatly OF the capacity OF tho
aqucduct, the surplus running over the Croton dam
having varied from three to sixty-threo inches in
depth But the consumption has repeatedly during
mat har nd tha Nv dni
into the Park reservoirs, diminishing the depth and
head OF water 10 the great Inconvenience OF part OF
the population THIS 10 due to excessive wase, which
advice appeal from this department has been able
10 check The Chief Engineer reports that when tho
wasiage Increased rapidly, on some days being
l0t000 900 gallons in excess Of the quantity used tho
previous day THIS great waste takes place mainly n
IN protecting thoir plumbing by other means
than excessive and often rockoss waste OF
general interest OF tho city by avoiding taxation
To provide the additional supply OF water tho
waste above alluded to. While comfort, health and
pure in the greatest abundance yet wastefu
travagancc, even in the use Of this cheap element.
should be dscouncnanccd by every rejecting person.
Possibly some means may DO devised before another
winter 10 remedy the evil.
suspended during the winter, but may be resumed
At the request OF tho Board OF Aldermen have mado
report designating the streets and avenues where 1t Is
desirable and necessary that pipes DO laid
propose during the approaching summer 10 mako
some examinations OF the question OF add ,tional
supply OF water from'the Croton River. While have
idea that the city Is at present prepared
ter expenditure Of 600 900 or $40 900 600 TOR
aqueduct that such work Is absolutely ncccs-
sary, manifesty the part OF prudence give tho
subject timely consideration, and TO make such further
investigations as may DO necessary to arrive at correct
conclusions.
THE BOULEVARD CONSTRUCTION
The Boulevard works are rapidly approaching CON-
pletion the force employed on them having been
duced from .4S9 men and teams January l. TO 903
and teams on March 81 Reductions will continue
10 be made until the completion OF the works, which
may be expected during this year, when y source OF
great expense will be stopped
There certain works which have for some time
been In contemplation the cost OF which would be
trcly assessed upon adjacent property ana II IL should
DO tho wish Of owners carry such improvements
II would proper to do so. upon petition of the
number OF property holders required by law.
kINGsBsfDGE ROAD
The necessity or improving tho "Kingsbridgo roads
OF the Common Council, but by persons residing
or owning property in its vicinity ! have given tho
subject due consideration The XXI gsbridge road' Is
an important horoughtare being nearly four miles in
length, from l55th street to Harlem River. 70
vert this road 'sreet by the necessary work
OF grading paving. curbing tagging, draining &c,
has been proposed and Tor which proposals were st
sum OF $500 600 half OF which would TALL upon he
city large and the other half upon adjacent prop
erty regard such outlay at the present time az
trcly unnecessary aud in view OF the heavy burden Of
existing taxation as not to be thought Of
rho population in this part OF the city Is compare
lively sparse. though as before stated, the Kings
bridge road IS an lhoroughare or drive Tor
considerable numbers living between the Hudson and
the Harlem rivers and IN the annexed wards north Of
the latter stream.
In my opinion the traffic this road will be quite
WE'LL II moi better, accommodated by thoroughly
proving II as road instead OF converting u into
regular street. with NIL the appliances Of paving, flag
eing, &C, and IN stating my plan TO some OF the
citizens interested lind that IL would probably meet
with general acceptance.
a good smooth road (of macadam character where
necessarily OF about thirty icot wide. should be made
the present grade IN tho centre Of the road
laid out, the portions be OF earth aud kept
smooth, TO afford agreeable drive In mild
weather. The cost OF such an Improvement would DO
comparatively small, and yet II would answer all
quiremcnts Tor several years TO come. The difficulty
ia Carrying out TO lie in existing laws, which,
while admitting Of outlay OF $500, coo 10 make
street, do not clearly authorize the expenditure OF
$50 700 to make road which would answer equally
good, II not better purpose have requested the
opinion OF the Corporation Counsel upon this subject
Ii the anomaly cannot DO otherwise special
law, which there could be no objection, might DO
passed the Meantime tho road Is beng,
far possible repaired out OF the appropriation Tor
roads and streets.
DETAILS OF EXPENDITURES