Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-07-25
NEW YORK LETTER.
NEW YORK,
July Dist. 1890

July ZlSt, loSO.
DEAR REGIsTER-New York has
had plenty to talk about during the
past week. The new Croton aque-
duct was opened last Tuesday, and Is
the greatest piece OF engineering ana
work OF its kind in the world. Gro
ton Lake, from which the reservoir is
supplied, is a distance Of 30. IL miles
from Central Park, and as the water
travels at the rate OF two feet TO the
second, it will take the water y hours
TO travel from the lake to the reser-
voir. Only about twenty-five million
gallons a day is to be drawn from
Croton Lake at present, as the city
has not reservoirs sufficient to receive
the entire supply which the huge
pipes can bring. The aqueduct cost
Biz. 500, 900 exclusive Of the supplying
dams and ninety seven human lives
were sacrificed in its construction.
The total capacity OF the new aque-
duct is 318, DOC, 900 gallons a day, as lar
as the horseshoe" section EXTENDS,
from which point it is $50. 600 ga lions
a day. With the completion OF TINS
monster aqueduct the maximum daily
water supply of New York is rs fol-
lows: From the new aqueduct3lS,0O O,
600 gallons; from the old aqueduct
95. 900, 900 gallons; from the Bronx
River pipe line 100000 gallons.
Making total OF 43l, 900, 600 gallons,
and New York's actual need is esti-
mated at only 100000, 900 gallons a
day. so You see this city need not fear
a water famine. There is no aquee
duct in the word that compares with
this one in magnitude and power.
One i'm London carries the water
further. but from the small quantity
it supplies does not class with thls.
Then, too, there was no great engln-
eering work connected with the one
i'm London. it being simple flow OF
water through pipes laid just under
ground, whereas the obstacles TO be
overcome i'm the laying OF the new
Croton pipes were supposed TO De III,
surmountable. The most difficult part
of the work was the tunneling under
the Harlem river OF course there
was great political fraud connected
with this great work, some OF the
worst ever seen in this city, but it IS
all over now. New York may justly
feel proud to think that she boasts OF
three of the seven wonders OF the
World-the Brooklyn Bridge, the
Statue of Liberty and the new Gro
ton Aqueduct.
This CITY was visited by one OF the
most widely-felt fires it has seen III
wears. The big Western Union Tele-
graph building, corner Of Broad way
and Dew streets, was completely gut
ted by the flames last Friday. 1t is
or Strnntnrp OF
brick, stone and iron and is fire PROOF.
The three top stories were the ones
burned and these included the operat-
ing and battery rooms-the most I'M
portant in the building. Fortunately
it was early in the morning, Few
minutes before seven o'clock, and be,
fore most of their employees mad
arrived-otherwise there might nave
been considerable loss OF life. Hall q
dozen girls who help in the restau
rant at the top OF the building were
driven to the roof by the flames, but
were rescued by New Yorks fearless
fire department. A sky-rocket with
rope attached was sent over the Dullu-
ing and ladders brought out, lashed
together and run up from the roofs
of neighboring houses. All OF the
girls were brought down safely, but
badly scared. The building was
soaked with water but the walls and
floors are all as solid as ever. Inc
loss to the company, Of which Jay
Gould is the head, is about $500, OOO,
but as this is great corporation the
people will have to stand the loss.
The great danger of a fire In a city
like this is the number of other large
business buildings that may catch
from it. The buildings are regular
human "honey-combs," and in every
case of a fire there is more or less loss
of life, still the fire department here Is
as near perfect as you make them.
Looking down Broadway at the fire
was a great sight for the pictorial
newspapers. The street was crowded
and about a dozen engines were pun.
ing and throwing their streams OF
water to the top Of this immensely
high building from which the flames
were bursting. When the girls were
saved a mighty shout went up. Of
course all traffic on the streets was
stopped, and one who sees big New
York fire will never forget 1T. ms
fire retarded business all over the
country.
The following is taken editorially
from the Sun and speaks for itself:
Magnificent forgettery' is the policy
which Col. Elliott F. Shepard prayer
fully commends to Republicans. Poor
Bill Tweed! You never said so good
thing. Magnificent forgettery' would
have been the earnest prayer OF those
eminent Stalwarts, Ananias, Monro
Edwards, Black Bart and Benedict
Arnold. The Massachusetts, bride
takes the Pennsylvania embezzlerr,
the Ohio forger and the New York
liar combine in the prayer for one
magnificent forgettery.' Don't they
wish they may gettery it"