The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-13
SOURCES OF OUR CROTON.
LhhEs AND STREAMS FROM WUrcu
NEW YORK GETS wiTER
An examination ns to tho Cause Of Imr,,,,,
Bits Of Beautiful scencry-A Pine va,,,
TO be Turned into n Water Re..r.s, "oS

some OF the streams that supply Crotop
water rise In Dutchess county, and some com.
from over the Connecticut line. but most OF
them start In tho hills OF Putnam county, where
they form network Of lakes aud ponds con.
Meeting at last with tho Croton river The priD.
| cpal lakes from which water can now be drawn
are Croton. Mahopac, KIRK, Gleneida, Gilead.
and the great storage reservoir at Boyd s Corner
Croton lake Is in a very bad condition, and n
| ride along its shores Is rendered unpleasant By
| the offensive odors which arise from the scum
on Its surface. Reaching the head Of the lake,
and following the Croton river. which Is the
main inlet, the odor ceases to be noticed, and
the sparkling water Is apparently as pure a.
when II left the lakes among tho hills. A short
distance above the mouth OF tho Croton the
Muscoot comes In on the west. At present
there is little water In this stream, and II It be
followed through the long chain OF swamps and
owlands which II traverses, It will be found To
be the outlet OF both Mahoplc aud Kirk IakesI
and that 1t Is so nearly dry Is owing to the faos
that from neither OF these lakes Is any water be-
ing drawn, nor has the city at present any right
TO take water from them. The water privilege
Of Mnhopac II controlled by the Empire Saving
Machine Company, which obtained II by tho
purchase Of the old Red mill and about an eighth
Of an OF land at the outlet, years ago,
There has been no water drawn from Mahopas,
for city use since the drought OF 1870.
BEAUTIFUL LAKES.
Still the beautiful lake rema ins, and with Ia
millions OF gallons gives assurance that, whil5
the connections remain intact, New York need
never suffer water famine. Its broad, clean
surface, free from any trace OF impurty. broken
by wooded Islands, and dotted with white sails,
presents a most attractive scene to the tired
ct ee at the door OF one Of many pleasant hotels
among the dense foil. ge OF Its shores.
Kirk lake lies about half n mile west OF Mahs-
pac, and its water Ia not 50 good In quaIity
sun II Is sweet and nearly pure and were II not
that Mr.. I'M owns the water privilege, and re-
Ia In n @ nj
acceptable addition to the supply for the CITY.
From Mahopac To Carmel the distance Is fout
pears to wind aimlessy between fertile fields,
westnerheaten old farm housed with great
lures the very stone walls ~ which are fringed
with blackberry vines. suddenly, from tho
brow Of steep hill, Glenelda is seen nlhnR the
valley yellow, Its blue waters pleasantly contrast
ing with the white house and spires Of Carmel.
which Ia on Its further shore. Gleneida Ia one
Of the lakes from which tho city is receiving its
water, the privilege being held by lease from
may be amply satisfied by drink from faucet
In the hotel IL Is at present being drawn on.
and furnishes the city with about lo,OOO0O0 gal
Ions daily.
THE SITE or DREw's UNDERTAKING..
Two miles south OF Carmel, over beyond Ssn...
mary Hili, hes Gilesd. the gem Of all the lakes,
is only equaiied ia this state by ' Like George.
The ride TO Gilesd Is made interesting by tho
u Seminary Hill. Far to the westward rise the
high hills along the Hudson while toward the
east the horizon Is bounced by the huZy he ghta
OF Connecticut. Spread out Just beon are me
dense forests. white villages, and gltttcring Likes
Of Putnam county; while the view Is bounded
on the south 10y the broad farms Of Westcnests r..
On the summit OF the bil are the ioundatiOn
walls OF tue great Methodist college whcn Dan
lei Drew was building at the time OF his faIIure.
The descent Of the bill Is quickly accom- ned,
aud GIead, sparkling like an AMETHYST IN It's
heavy setting VI hills, Is soon seen on the left.
Al the lower END OF the Like Is the massive
stone gateway from which are pouring for tho
citvs use l2,OOJ,OOl gallons daily Of water ~
clear crystal. A bottle Of this water
placed In the office Of the chief engineer SIX
years ago, and 1t ID to day clear und sweet as
when taken from the lake.
Just below the outlet and half hidden bo-
nsI,e spfs s e%., is the Id mill the ownet-
lege. At present Its great, weather stained
overshot wheel Is IDLE. anu the lake foams aud
lease from the toll Of turning IL.
REMINDER OF TWEED.
The buying Of this mill and the eighty acre
farm belonging to it, showed good foresight on
tue part OF Tweed, under whose direction it was
done. The purchase had hardly been concluded
Se Water wopS ~I for 1 s on'e when psa
Dre"'s grandson came IN hot haste having
been authorized by the old man" to give
$D'UO. TINS prompt and timely action on the
part OF Tweed was considerably marrei, how
ever, by the presentation Of the title deeds OF
tue property 10 Ills secretary, Foster Dewey, no
stu holds them, but makes no objection To the
use Of the water 10y the city.
Az the loot 81 tho NIL the water from Gilead
Joins tue west branch Of the Croton. which Ia
already nled with rapid torrent from Gleneida
Of rupfui OF ms water SHOWS II to be sweet az
nut, and as free from unpleasant taste or udor
as the morning dew, although II has but a few
miles pack run through the entire length oi
CaINeI's swamp.
Ths storage reservoir, with its capacity Of
nearly 3,0OOOOOOO gallons. Is about two-thirdI
empty, and Is supplying To the city 6O,0OOUOO ol
illons a day. Water has been drawn IRON u
Three miles east Of CARMEL in the town Of
south East, is a fertile valley covered with
branch OF the Croton,
AN ENORMOUS RESERVOIR.
The entire valley Is now being converted into
an Immense storage Reservoir, by the building
at Its outlet, OF what viii be one OF the anosi
dams In tho country. Tue dam alone will cOvoi
I'VE acres, anu viii be $50 feet broad at its base
aud ~ feet ON top. IL VIII be " feet In height
aud Will hold In check 4,OOJ OOOUOO gallons OF
wafer. Although this reservoir VIII prove Of
great utility, aud It's broad sheet Of water viii
add much TO tue beauty OF the landscape, ons
cannot think Of the destruction which must
precede its completion without regret. on the
barhs Of the little stream, In the midst of the
valley, stand half a dozen great branching elms.
must he removed 10 the hillside, and lite shading
rows OF thrifty naples cut down. On the right
Of the road stands the beautiful house Of Mr..
II cost II 10000. Its grounds are extensive and
hte la7teiuiI ornamenicd with flowers. shrubs,
aud Trees the whole bounded bN a handsome
cut stone wall. The appointments Of tue mouse
and outDulldinss are al that can be furnished
by good taste. aided 10y grea; wealth. mo
buildings must be removed, the shade trees ut
down, anu the gardens destroyed.
Ntit the hfhu ~ IN" W JtNttl reservoir rlSel
the deriicks OF the well know Iily- Foster IRON
mine Tho uulldlng ~ this great reservoir with
Its suhetb dhu has been intrusted TO the resi-
Gent engineer II tue " alter oTks Mr.. Thomas
Enmrt, and - being presented with care aud
OToushuess,
THE SOURCE OF IMPURITY.
Tho east branch of the Croton rises in the
southern part Of Dutchess county aud after ro-
celvlHg tho water, OF many SIN ller streams
and ponds, nnay Joins the west and mi idle
biauchrs AT CrOtun Falls, aud thence flows 10
tiie ihhe as Cfutun flVcr. BetWeru the tOw.is OF
Rawlings and Brewsters IL bsccts the great Pat.
ttr5on swamp. Anld The many coujsrturas cx-
pressed as u the present iupufity OF Crllnn
water, common one Ii that tue troubie atises
nom this passage OF the east branch through
the swamp. lhis theory has been dlspr0ved w
test ~ the water IN the brancn ABOUT a nile
below the swamp. The swamp, though of course
CoHtalhlng pools OF stAennut waters. If fan II
clvaf, cool, spilugs. Even were tn " iter Ia tne
most hlthy condition on leaving the ~ tinu IL
would clear Itself Oy It's long dow uytrlts nn'. OF
gravel and rocks before reaching Cruton llAe.
Inc difficulty Hes in Croton like and it VIII
IN nll probability be felt untU fcieut ram hl
IAN 10 carry the water over tho i tin. he, truu-
Ole Is caused by the decay q the masses Of vrge-
table matter which have accumulated ana de-
chYed IN the Lake ever since the dam Was built
me Only radical cure Is a new Gam at the mead
OF the present lake and second aqueduct, tho
far nj frI - ali f.ff