The New York herald., 1877-03-16
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Commissioner Campbell Opposed 10 The Con-
strucdon Of a New AquodusL
THE CRoToN RIVERS ABUNDANCE.
Condition Of the Present Aqueduct and the
Question OF q Water Famine Discussed.

Tho following is an extract from the report Of the
Commissioner OF Public Works tor the fourth quar,es
OF 1876 relating to the Croton wator SUPPLY
Having in my reports for the second and third quar-
ters year discussed, with some mnuteness tho
question OF the water supply, will close with state
,nept of the conclusions which have arrived, afteg
y lui invest lgation OF the subject
First-The present aqueduct has q capacity OF daily
supply OF about ninety live millions of gallons THIS
amount with that stored In the city res.
cnt population, with proper guards against waste
will for years to come. To insure this do
srabe result II IS necessary however INA. Inc aque'
dtlou, that waste shall be prevented ny comp'
ance the part OF all who take and use tho water,
legal requirements and restrictions OF the de-
part menL Tho following report from the Engineers
Bureau contains islactory information IN reer.
TO the present condition OF tho Croton Aque-
duct:-
To Jomn g. CAMrBxL Chief Engineer Croton Aqueduct:
DEAR sn In reporting the condition Of the aquedus
" ps 80 that the line and
the usual vigant care WAS exercised IN Maintaining the
made during the drought Of last summer aow d
them have shown most satsactory results and. although
mains better condition than tor many years past Very
'0'p0'''" SESJaMlN S. CHURCH. Assistant Engineer
While IL is true this great city is dependent iot
its supply OF water upon single CONDUIT, and that
breach this structure would occasion inconvenence
and yet as no such disaster has occurred SIN
OF the aqueduct period OF thirty .hve
years. its safety (until new aqueduct shall become
imperative by the increase of popuation) may, with
skui care aud attention. be confidently anticipated.
CONDITION THE AQuEDUCT.
The possibility oil interruption Is not sufficient
warrant the great outlay required by u now condus
until absolutely demanded by the growth Of the CITY,
especially at this time. when debt and taxation
bear so heavily, not upon property ouy, bus
indirectly upon every inhabant OF New York.
Even should break an occur , IN ,,. IN" aqueduSt @
days be temporarily spanned by wooden trunk until
the masonry should be restored, and, though tenn
yauion iUht N ayr inf
cient supply OF water would In the interim, be fur
n,shed by the city reservoir. In regard TO measures
spec0rs have, as before stated, been detailed to cx
the within their respective districts and
to report where waste Is found and continued
alter notice discontinue the same. Tho law EN-
powers the department shut of the water prem.
where such violation Is persisted In, and 1t Is my
intention strictly 10 enforce tho law and tho ord-
nances relating 10 this subject AS general rule cti-
have gwen heed to the instructions OF tho IN
spectors, and apprecabe Improvement has already
beeu observed.
In stables and other large establishments, where
has been excessive and unpardonable II will be
necessary apply METERS and the docks and piers
and In the washing OF yards and walks and in tho
great abuse has become habitual. stringent
ana summary measures WIN DO taken 10
gotten that the distributing pipes have been much
number and size within the past few years,
and that there IS limit to tho capacity Of the presen!
limit has been nearly II not quite reached, unless the
demand can be diminished by putting stop to waste.
ment of the can be prevented thus postpon
ing Tor some years the necessity OF conduit.
while sufficient and liberal supply OF water
still be furnished Tor all the wants of the CITY,
OF WATER FAMINE.
SecOnd-The Cr0ton River anu watershed Will Turn. IA
supply OF water Tor city OF more than double the
present population OF New York. and consldered IN
connection with the additional supply which en- may be
basin presents tho cheapest and most feasible system
for the permanent supply 81 water to thus CITY,
The Croton River itself being insufficient ut times OF
minimum diminished flow 10 meet the demand It
becomes necessary 70 resort to storage rescrvors.
which be drawn upon during the dry season. AZ
tho close OF tho present (1S77) there will DO
available two large artificial reservoirs whose com
bned capacity will bc nearly thousand millions
OF gallons. Adding the quantity which may be drawn
from natural lakes nearly nine thousand million gal
ions may be relied on in addition natural ow
the river, to keep up permanent and steady
flow through the aqueduot This amount may even ba
exceeded during the season occasional rains would
In part refill the diminished reservoirs. Had the great
In process oil construction been available
during the past the scarcity arising from the
traoriinary drought OF 1S76-a drought unexamplcd
for period of fifty years-w0uld not have been felt
l am therefore justified in saying that when THIS
brought into scarcity arise until
the demands the city shall exceed the capacity Of
the aqueduct To make assurance doubly sure, how
reservoirs will be we'll to commence, within the
three years, third reservoir, ana to this
end plans and estimates are being prepared oy the
Chief Engineer that the best site may be selected
a careful comparisons and the work prepared Tor
contract al the proper time
HousATONC AS A RESERVE.
Third-The unprecedented drought OF the past year
and upon the water supply OF this city called
forth many suggestions and propositions for meeting
the deficiency by drawing from distant streams. I
have already explained that the Croton Rivor and
basin are adequate for the supply OF a city Of more
than 2 900 900 inhabitants; but eating TINS
important subject have been led to look beyond the
Croion basin and to consider wha, additional supplies
may ieasby and economically be secured Tor the
unlaing and abundant supply OF water TO this great
metropolis. Ny knowledge of the topography vi the
country Immediately north Of the Croton valley,
obtained from reconnaissance and surveys made
several years ago, :, induced tho belief that
the water of the Housatonic River might be
tapped and led by conduit to the head waters Of the
Croton. cursory survey recently made establishes
the perec. eas'Dy % ~ sm pn a. , aa wy
ing source in the Berkshire Hills and IN its south
erly through the State OF Connecticut, APP
proaches point ten miles north OF the head OF the
Croton, withintwo mics OF the New York state line
Al point, known Bulbs Falls tributary Of tho
Housatonic breaks through the mountain range which
divides New York from Connecticut, ard opens way
or the introduction of canal by which the wacrs Of
the Housatonic may be led and discharged into the
Croon basin. BY means of this great auxiliary sup
ply from large river Of tho purest quality, the water
supply OF this great city may be considered assured
even for the distant future.
legislative sanction OF the State Of Conncc
tcut will bo required IN pcrectng this plan. Will
here enter into further details Of the project,
they will be embodied IN special report at some
future time, but have deemed It proper to mako this
brief auson TO the matter in view OF It's importance
and tho general discussion which took place during
the past the permanent supply OF water Tor
this city.
F6urth-Plans are In course Of preparation with .
view to extending the high service system, by which
ALL or nearly ALL tho elevated portions Of the city may
be supplied by the method wnict has already given
much satisfaction The power at present in use is ap.
Piled up It's minimum capacity, and perhaps In
desire to anord all possible accommodation, this sys
TEN has been Iltte TOO much extended. The add.
tionai works will he commenced during the present
year. and will prove valuable addition to the general
water system OF the city. AS there lots be-
longing the corpo reserved by the department.
for this purpose and eiigby situated Tor their lOca.
ton, the expense will be limited to the cost OF the
works themselves
THE STREETS TO BE CLEANED