The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-11
THE LONGEST TUNNEL.
Interesting Facts About the New
York Aqueduct.

Interesting Facts About the New
York Aqueduct.
New York sun
The longest tunnel in the world Is
rapidly approaching completion In
other words, New York, in about
eight months time, and after the ex-
penditure Of about s2o,0o,ooo. viii
have her aqueduct-
1t Is OF interest to the public to take
q glance at this great engineering feat
in some OF its more practical features
the question OF New York's water
supply and its utilization under pres
emf and prospective facilities being OF
vital importance.
The drainage area OF the Cr0ton
basin covers about 36i square miles.
In other words, the supply from which
New York derives her water is brought
to Croton lake from that area Of
country.
This vast water shed, even in periods
of the greatest drouth, viii furnish a
supply of water equal to the needs OF
the city for about 30 years 10 come,
allowing for an increase in population
in ratio proportionate to that OF the
past. But, under present conditions,
the facilities for storing this water are
totally inadequate. The present ca
paeity OF Croton lake and other reser-
voirs is roughly estimated at about
1905. 900 900 OF gallons, and, assum-
ing that each year, like the present,
shall give a regular monthly rainfall.
averaging about four inches, these
reservoirs viii be kept filed and equal
10 the increased demands made upon
them by the new aqueduct. But.
given a few months OF drouth, New
York may find herself as badly oil as
ever.
The reason for this is obvious. The
rainfall at present being far in excess
OF the storage capacity OF the Croton
reservoir, the great excess OF water
passes over the dam and so into the
Hudson river and out to sea. Hence
the necessity for the proposed Quaker
Bridge reservoir, which, when con-
structed, as 1t inevitably must be, will
impound and store all this waste water
and furnish ample reserves from which
TO draw in seasons OF drought. This
reservoir therefore, is most impor-
tant feature in the present plan for
improving New York's water supply.
When the dam shall have been con-
structed the proposed reservoir will
have a capacity OF about IS 900 600, 900
of gallons. Ii will form n lake prac-
tically about sixteen miles long and of
an average width OF over half mile,
from the mouth of the Crotch river TO
Croton falls, near Purdy's. by reason
OF its vaster body and greater depth,
the water in this reservoir will not
only be cooler but OF greater purity.
It's well known fact that the rays of
the sun, acting upon any body OF water
Of n general depth OF less than eight
feet, cause vegetable growth of green
scum, the gradual decay OF this rem
ders the water more or less impure,
although not actually deleterious to
health.
Apart from its supply of water from
the Croton basin, the city has two
other sources of supply--namely, the
Bronx and Byram rivers. The pres
ent or old aqueduct, as il is now
called, has daily delivering capacity
of 10000, 600 of gallons, r.. 900 600
more being obtained from the rivers
first mentioned. New York il, there
fore, now. and has heretofore been,
using about 1l5,00O,000 gallons OF
water daily. If, however, full head
OF water could be turned on at the
gates OF Central Park reservoir, the
consumption would not fall far short
oil ~. 900. o00-the use of water having
of necessity been discouraged rather
than otherwise. But with the new
aqueduct and the Quaker Bridge dam,
the public will be educated to the liber-
al use of water, and the consumption,
especially among the poorer classes,
will be greatly increased.
The new aqueduct is about 20 miles
long, and will deliver to the city $50
0oO, 900 gallons day 1t Is horseshoe
shaped and little over f3iS feet in
diameter from Croton lake TO a
point near Jerome park, through
which section the water win run BY
gravity, with a fall of about seven.
tcnths of foot TO the mile, filling the
conduit 90 the extent of about Jour
fiths OF its capacity. At Jerome park
the aqucduct makes a somewhat alb
rnpt fall OF about hundred feet, pass
ing under the Harlem river some 800
teet below the level Of the water. run
ming under Manhatten island. and
finally rising az One Hundred and
Thirty-iifth street, where a gate house
has been constructed from which the
water will be distributed bv means Of
eight iron pipes. four of which run
into the reservoir ut Central park and
four 10 the city.
Throughout its entire length this
great tunnel has been blasted out OF
solid rock, with the exception OF three
or four spots where "blow-ofsn have
been constructed with the object of
rapidly emptying the acqucauct-
which here meets the surfacc-for the
purpose OF examination. repair or
cleansing The tunnel is lined
throughout with brick. and, in one or
two places, where the rock has been
found imperfect and 4 leakage il pos
sible, iron has been added a. a lining.
In eight smoaths' time this vast an
dertasing viii have been ACCOMPLISHED
and nothing will then be lacking bnt
The quaker bridge reservoir. which is
now under consideration by the new
commissioners.
As there is no cloud without lin
ing. So too, there Is no rose without
is thOrns, and il is an undpuhted fact
that The new and increased water pres
sure. when u does come. will create no
little trouble, especially in the lower
ami business portions 81 the city. For
II must not be forgotten tina. the
average New York plumber is no,
addicted tosrattinE in strong. thick
pipe where thinner and less costly
one VIII answer the purpose. Under
the present weak pressure the house
piping connected With the New York
supply i adequate; but given the diff
terence between the present, 50 TO
SPEAK "throttied pressure and that OF
tail one, and sad indeed will be the
heart OF many a householder. owing
20 me bursting snd leakage of pipes
orleinatly too thin. and doGhly 80 now
that they are emAsculAiesi by wear
and tear. IL IS an III wind. however.
winch blows nobody any good and the
Pafaecr VIII reap rich harvest.
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