Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-07
NEW YoRK's WATER SUPPLY.
FHcts About the Great Croton Dam
Now Nearing Completion.

Now Nearing Completion.
The great Croton dam, begun In 1892 to
create an artificial reservoir which shall
protect Manhattan and The Bronx from a.
water famine for a generation or two to
come, will not be finished this year, as the
legislature originally provided that II
should be, and the probability is now that
several more years will elapse before 1t is
completed.
How long the project is likely to be de-
layed II, as seems probable, the construc-
tion is revised by substituting side walls
OF solid masonry for earthen entertainments,
has not been made known. reports the New
York Sun, but few expect to see 1t finished
in the term of Mayor Low.
The new Croton dam, usually called the
Cornell dam, to distinguish 1t from the old
Croton dam inclosing New York's present
reservoir FIVE miles above the point where
the new retaining wall is being constructed,
will be the largest dam IN the world. The
whole work when completed will be a feat
Of engineering, the magnitude OF which
is little known in the places which will ex-
p~erience the benefits derived from it's &C.
complishment.
The new dam will form a reservoir nine
teen and two-thirds miles long, fed by q
watershed Of 373 square miles. The water
will submerge the old Croton dam thirty
four feet, put farms and houses, now ten
anted, hfty feet or more under the mood
and increase the present available storage
capacity of Croton lake from 1000, 900, 900
to 49, OO, oOO. 300 gallons.
New York will then have in all the reser-
voirs Of the Croton river watershed about
$500, OOo, 900 gallons OF water in storage as
protection against drouth. But after
the new dam is completed Il will take nve
years to fill the reservoir.
Unlike many large cities which have an
unlimited supply OF water always available
in natural lakes and rivers, New York Is
dependent absolutely upon artificial works
to collect, store and distribute its water
supply.
Manhattan and The Bronx are depending
almost entirely upon the yield Of the Croton
| river watershed and In 1900 the average
daily consumption Of water from the Croton
river was about 2b6, 900. 900 gallons. The
| ordinary daily flow OF water In the Croton
during the dry season Is insufficient for
this supply. hence the need for the present
large storage reservoirs TO save from the
wet season a surplus for the dry.
Since 1887 storage reservoirs and the
aqueduets to convey their contents to the
city have been steadily under construction,
until New York has now thirteen great
storage reservoirs in addition to the dis
~tributing basins within the city limits. to
be increased shortly by the Jerome park
reservoir, now almost completed.
The new dam, which is expected to ensure
for many years \ good supply Of water to
the borougha composing what was the old
city Of New York, and over the plans for
the safety Of which the engineers are now
bordering anew, extends right across the
Croton valley at q point about three and q
quarter miles below Croton lake, and II ID
a wonder. II has now been nine years in
building and its cost Will be very close "a
5 5000, 900.
In height 1t is 300 feet from the lowest
point Of the foundation. which is 1874 fee
below the bed OF the river, and even should
the plans calling for the earthen side EN-.
bankments be retained 1t will contain about
e75. 900 cubic yards Of masonry. It's prin.
eipal features are the main stone dan
across the valley, an overflow or spillwaI
wall and the earth embankment with ma
sonry core wall on the southern slope o.
the valley. II L. against the security o.
the latter that the Aqueduet commission
ers' jury OF expert engineers have pro.
nounced.
The main masonry dam Is ITO feet long
It's northern end is ITO feet high and ~
feet thick at the base, but in the center 1
Is 300 feet high and 216 feet thick at tn
base. At the southern end II will be 20
feet high and at the base 1874 feet thick