The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-01
A Project to Bring Water from Lake
George to New York at Cost
of S5O,OOo,OOO.

At a meeting of the associated proposed in
corporators of the New York and Hudson
Valley Aqueduct Company, held in February
last Col. j. T. Tanning, the chief engineer,
presented a report, with surveys and drawings,
to show the feasibility and desirability of
drawing the future water supply for New York
from Lake George. From the report it APP
pears that the altitude of low water in Lake
George is 322 feet above mean tide at New
York The distance from the proposed outlet
of Lake George to the Harlem river on a iea-
sible aqueduct line is about 225 miles. The
lake is about "a miles long. and averages from
Ii TO Il miles in width. and has an area of
about 30 square miles. BY a short turn at
the head of Durham Bay, the report says, a
new outlet can be made toward the south.
The lake has a little more than 5000 square
miles of watershed Ii is assumed that by
short canal the surplus waters of the upper
Hudson tributaries may be conducted into
Lake George to reinforce the reservoir. Al
lowing for the requirements of the manutae-
turing and canal interests at Glen's Falls and
bel6w on the Hudson River, Col. Tanning
estimates that a total of 1872 inches of rain
may be collected annually for storage. Com
putting the minimum amount estimated for
storage upon 5000 square miles of the upper
Hudson watershed, it gives ], 1871 ,672, 430 gal
Ions for daily average, which, with the surplus
flow from the Lake George watershed, would
make daily average of ], 800, 600, 600 gallons
available for the purpose of city water supplies.
These figures in the preliminary estimate Col.
Tanning believes to be lower than the proba-
BILE flow of water would warrant.
The water of Lake George, the report says,
is well adapted for commercial and domestic
purposes. The comparatively low tempera-
ture of the lake will protect its waters from a
&c and
mate life, the decomposition of which in or
binary ponds and reservoirs 80 much impairs
the purity of the water.
Ii is proposed that the conduit shall be ut
the first construction an open canal with q
capacity of SOC, 100000 gallons day, At
Lake George ii will be BIB feet above mean
tidewater. at Yonkers 2l3 feet and above the
Harlem River 20 feet. Il Is anticipated that
the entire canal will be covered in time. and
it, capacity thus increased in midsummer by
the consequent reduction of evaporation, aud
in winter by reduction OF thickness Of ice. 1t
will he paved its entire length and the smooth
ness of its sides improved and thus the rapid
ity Of flow and capacity Of the canal enhanced.
Short tunnels will be required in several ia
stances along the route to reduce the length
of line that would be required to pass around
prominent spurs. a., for instance. at Fishkiii
Mountain and Anthony Nose. Siphpus will
be required in several instances, and where
the pressure exceeds twenty feet they viii be
of boiler iron in a series Of seventy-two-inch
diameter riveied tubes, in number according
TO the required delivery Of water. These
tubes VIII be placed side by side. and the NUN
Der viii i=c increased as the demand ior water
increases Stop gates, waste weirs. and
waste sluiccs viii be introduced a. the tapog-
raphy Of the line and other conditions shall
a Il a.
20 the lake will h. larger in section than tho
coaduii. so Is 10 provide for the rapid storing
Of water when the feR Of the rver Is sbaee
the average The report saws that the capae-
ity Of the canal can he readily aud eheaPly IN.
creased from time To time. as shall b. ~
quircd, hy raising it, hanks. 4 raise OF the
f0w line sixteen inches vill INCREASE the ca
paciiyof the canal luO. GO, co gallons per day
Prom the terminus Of the canal, pear High
bridge, the aater wiil 10 conveyed into she
eity BY iron pipes. The report says that alain
pipes can be extended IN BrooklvH and DER
sey city. aud also Newark. II called for. and
Distributions esn In like maRRer b. made to all
the towns and cities along the line 81 the ca
nal.
The apgrl ximaie estimate 81 the cost Tor
ITO miles of canal Il S2si. -. 600 sesrn miles
q tunnel. 81. ~. co; tcn miles % siphon.
$40, 90, 600. and the Hudson dam and canal
engineering, land and water rights, and r,,of
ing sud paving ten miles of the canal will
brinx the whole eoss 10 St9.47a,ooo. Il is 80
,imais-d that ihrce years woaid b. required ioF
the construction Of the entire wusks.
According 70 table ol the popala,iaa in he
vicinity of the conduit line that may SHARE
directly in rs sanitary advantages, and IA Is
finanriai and commercial benetts a. SELL
there arr thirty towns aud villages besides
NeS York and Brookiyn. together vith which
cities they contained in isso a pePalasioa q
2.oos, eSl. The ,.Fesea; ropalasion i essisaa.
ted al 2,USa, Ssl frssa The map af the ean-
DAFT i appears that branches may h. balls Ia
supply Troy, Albany, Hadsoa, Red Hosk,
PoagkkeeEzic, Cold SprinE, feekskii. larry
town. Yonkcrs, and Messehessur-