The New York herald., 1877-11-21

the third quarter Of the present year. ending Septem
Der 80, 1871 Az Will be from the summary OF
the document which is given below. It contains q
mass OF interesting Information and Statistics cover
ing the whole aeld treated OF.
The summary OF expenditures shows tho outlays to
have boom
On account Of appropriations raised by tax.
aton $3.50 600 ~
On account OF assessment fund for street
On account Of iuuaed debt ior improvement
ana extension Of water supply. y.......... 255008 81
Total. ss85, ,44s 5s
CRoTox SERVICE.
The work the reservoir, on the middle
branch fthe Croton RIVER has been vigorously pros
scuted that there every assurance OF It's compile
ton time receive the rainfall OF next winter and
spring The recent rains have Increased the volume
In Croton River to cake recourse to tho lakes
longer necessary In addition to tho repairs OF the
aqueduct this has been by add
ing the sides OF tho embankment far al the ap-
propratIons would allow.
During tho quarter 49, 26s buildings were inspected
to detoct water waste; s,7o3 cases Of leakage were
due to defective plumbing, and 402 cbargeable will
fui neglect Considerable progress has been made In
applying water meters along the water front, and to
large stables, manufacturing and othor establish-
ments.
WATER SUPPLY, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Tho Com missioner gives statistics which show the
rainfall Tor 1915 and 1871 respectively and says that
has
been far more stringent Nothing like the drought
Of 1877 has been known for half century The sta
tistca tables show that tho six months rainfall from
April 10 September 80, 20 II inches IN 1915 and
a oS inches in 1877, showing falling OF ola inches
luence unprecedented droughts, invited criticisms
upon the city water system, sometimes accompanied
by suggestions for Increasing the supply The
irougnt occurred whilo mportant works for incroas
ing tho supply OF water were progress but still IN
complete, and honce the Inconvenience from dimiu-
ished quantity. Nt Nti
BLAMING THE CITY OFFICIALS
It Is not tho pIan says tho report system which
Is at fault but the department aud officials charge
who have ,aed JAILED to iuiai their duty In providing tho
the increasing demands Of the city and to provide
against such drougnts as have occurred for two sue
Scessive years and TO which every country sometimes
liable.
The Commissioner adds that. aitor a careful study
reason to alter the opinion expressed In previous
ports, that the Croton systcm--wth such auxiliary
dcaed-is the most economical that can be adopted.
wATER FROM THE PAssArC.
Referring 10 the suggestion OF obtaining wafer from
the Passaic River near Paterson, the Commissioner
says that that district contains about nine hundred
City, as well us noboxcn, receive their supply from
thence and concludes by giving as his opinion that
supply FROM THE HUDSON RIVER
II has been proposed to pump the water Of the Hud
Ton River at Poughkeepsie TO the high gronnd lying
miles to the headwaters OF tho Croton.
II tho Hudson River shall be used for the supply
Of New York It's waters must bo taken when It I'M
Affected by the perhaps 100 to 120 miles above
slty. and thence conveyed by aqueauct pipes in
the valley OF tho Hudson tseli to the point of dsrbu
uon. tho OF such work over tho rough coun-
try which borders tho Hudson river would be enor-
nous.
In concluding his observations upon various sug-
Ecstons made tor the purpose OF increasing the cty's
water supply. the Commissioner claims even ii a
supply could be obtaiusd Long Island convey
ance Dy pipes under the East River In considera
Bile quanuty would be attended with hazard. Tho
m I'M tn DtVOh hiC Uinug ntI IAnntn
to tho best mode OF securing tho end pro-
posed The big sshes average flow al, n ooo any
gallons general average the eleven years ng
$4,000. 900 gallons. and the minimum average daily
to be delivered daily BY tho aqueduct IL follows that
even in the dryest year over zoe, 900 gallons
reservoirs so as to bc delivered when de-
manded, the Croton basin would supply
daily per capita But ARTIFICIAL reservoir has yet
been brought into use, that at Bcyd's Cor
sr having capacity o. nearly dyo S Sooo
has been three years in course Of construction.
and will be ready Tor use IN January 1878. Tho time
has arrived, In Commissioner Campbels opinion, for
commencing the construction OF third reservoir, for
which site has been selected the east branch OF
the Croton River. This reservoir will occupy
nearly three years IN construction, aud will have
capacity OF 4, 500, ,000, 900 gallons.
The only aqueduct which brings water to the city
has performed It's functions for thrty-ilve years. In
tunnels or excavations continues IN good repair but
Ia crossing places upon artificial foundations somo
slight settlements occur, causing cracks and leaks
Within the past Two or three years considerable work
rHE WASTE OF WATER
The of water must be prevented by tho uso OF
meters In all large Establishments Within tho past
year meters have been placed IN restaurants ON
INA piers This measure, fully carried out with care
lul inspection OF private houses, win effect an I'M
portant saving
careful survey 10 now In progress for the purpose
OF seeing what supply can DO drawn from the Bronx
River. Il has been estimated that a dam thrown
county would aid the flow Of the river SO az 10
AFFORD steady daily supply OF 100000 gallons.
point north OF the Harlem River, at an eeva-
tion OF ffty foet above the present aqueduct, apd
trict Ii these waters. from the Bronx and tho Rye
ponds can DO introduced q cost commensurate with
the quantity delivered II will aid In securing the object
proposed
As fifth means Of supply The Housatonc River
offers the most interesting and important subject Tor
consideration. Tho waters OF this river might DO
tapped led by CONDUIT to the head waters OF the
Croton Tho Housatonic Is largo river, coursing q
porlion OF state OF Connecticut and receiving
erai tribuarics BY means OF this great auxiliary tho
supply may be considered assured The watershed
OF the Housatonic has OF 750 square miles;
ana from measurement OF the stream mado at
time when the water was very low, u was found TO
discharge zoo, ,000, 900 gallons daily canal Of about
tweniyscven miles IN length Will lead the waters Of
this report deals also with the measures taken and
to be adopted in tho "high service" OF
water the elevated OF the island Treating
Di the distribution Of water the Commissioner IL oi
opinion that tho unexamped low price OF iron pipo
makes very desirable to carry on just now tho plans
already adopted for extending the piping In Whatever
direction may De required
THE REVENUE FROM cRoroS WATER.
The revenue derived from Croton water from Its In
PRODUCTION Into the city l842 TO the lst day OF &C.
tober, 1871 is $30 1906 338 80 The city expended
IN maintenance aud Improvement since 1855,
S34, Co., l03 70. Cost over revenue 81 $50, 764 o.
LAMPS AND
The number OF public lamps has been increased
during tho quarter from ~ 500 to 20 1871 Lamps have
been erected nine OF the most ircquontcd piers
usod Tor passenger landings. The pnotomoric appa-
ratus used IN testing the illuminating powers of tho
gas mas beon In use nearly three months.
FREE BATHS
Tho total attendance at the six public baths during
the quarter 227,743, tho daily average for
bath being $3.50.
THE DEPARTMENTS REVENUE.
ThdEollowing amounts OF money were collected by
tho department and paid into tho city trcasury:-
Croton waor rent $13l Z42 ~
Penalties on Crot0n water rent. 9i6 10
Ii