The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-19
WATER FOR HOFFMAN BLAND.
An Abundant supply New Given by sn Arts
sian Well l,oO0 Roet Deep.

An Abundant supply New Given by IN Arts-
sian Well 1000 Roet Deep.
Tn State quarantine station on Holman
Island. in the lower bay, now has an adequate
water supply for the first time in It's history. 1t
in derived from an artcsinn we'll 1000 feet deep,
which has Just been got into working order.
Hoffman Island 10 an artificial island. con-
structed OF cribwork, surrounded by q concrete
wall filed in with sand, and protected from the
sea by o heavy rip-rap wall. It contains about
seven acres. has accommodations for about 1000
immigrant passengers, but until recently
had an inadequate supply Of pure, fresh
water. The necessity Of abundance Of water
for washing. bathing, flushing sewers, cleansing
quarters. cooking. drinking. and supplying tho
boilers was evident and tho authorities have
considered many sources OF supply. When Ho6f-
man Island was built o number Of cistcrns wero
put In between the dormitories and were sup
piled by rain from the roofs OF the adjoin-
ing buildings. Tho water thus obtained was
pumped to all parts Of tho island. The
capacity of these cistcrns was sufficient for
tho needs Of the people on Hoffman Island
for all ordinary purposes, but inadequate to
supply their needs when n large number OF
suspects were under detention. In such emerg-
cncies water boats were chartered to refill tho
~cisterns daily with water brought from New
York or Staten Island. This method Of replon-
ishing tho supply Of water was undesirable be-
cause extra precautions became necessary. to
prevent tho crews Of the boats from conveying
strictions placed on tho boats Increased the cost
of supplying the water. The uncertainty, Of
prompt delivery in atormy weather was another
argument against this method, as o water famine
was to be feared II the boats were kept away for
twenty.four hours.
The Health OfHcer requested the Legislature
to take stops to establish a permanent system
O. 81 T VA supply; s1naiy an APP HiPpT ,o re s}ato OF
Island shore, there to connect with tho local
water works. This plan, however, was found to
be impraStica6le. and the scheme was aosn,
the cistcrns on Hoffman Island because they
wero located under ground, and were In. danger
Of contamination from the surface. Tanks wero
to receive tho rain wator from the roofs, and the
cisterns were abandoned.
After it was found that tho pipe line to tho
adjoining shore OF Staten Island was no longer
an artesian we'll. Work was begun on July 20.
1896. The pipe was driven through soft mate
rial to a depth of 4l2 feet before striking rock
tanned, but 1t was found to be salt. The boring
was continued throughout the fall and winter
without cessation TO u depth of about 800 feet,
at which point water was found on April 10. The
water was brackish and not In sufficient guam
THY. The pipe was driven still deeper, until at q
depth of one thousand feet from the surface an
H %ns sstaIn supply %, RRg noMiss yh RnFs m rGs' ao %itsf
continuously for, ~tifty-one hours, with a capac-
iy OF twenty gallons o minute. or 1,2OO gallons
an hour. Tho Hew pump which will, be put In
ply OF thirty-ive gallons a minute. The driving
OF tho well and the new pump for permanent
use cost the State 81, 200. This is within the
pipe line 70 Staten Island. The Health Oficcr
Is having the water subjected to q chemical test,
the result of which will DO known in a few days.