The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-10-09
A GIGeETIC ENTERPRISE
n. worries Seven Wonders Eellpsed
-sIoo. 900. ooe Engineering Feat.
Bishop Falls House, \
Olive Bridge, y. ",
Oct. i, 1903.
sditor Of the OcsIa Banner.

.~cificstions ami costs are about
completed OF the new gigantic water
,l.ut, by the commissioners and their
.,yert assistants, Walter II, Sears,
chief engineer, and Sidney II. Clapp,
head draughtsman, who were APP
,ointed two years ago by the munich.
ma government OF New York.
sidney II. Clapp Was CONSPICUOUS in
drawing the plans of the Brooklyn
ul: water fire extinguishing plant.
This will forever settle the much
discussed question concerning pure
wafer supply for the increasing mill
hons Of Greater New York.
These scientific men have been
searching the country fer and wide
for the best location. Drillings aud
an estimate of the cost of art-sion
wells on Long leland were first made,
sgsin ut Poughkeesie, where II WAS
thought the water might be pumped
from the Hudson. The engines, fuel,
and salaries Of the employees at this
locstion would make great inrosds
yearly upon the city's excheQuer.
Aft.r a careful research the COM
missiOners have at last decided that
by dsmming up Esopus creek just
below the famous Bishop Falls, where
snstursl reservoir, covering an area OF
eight square miles, will be formed by
the surrounding mountains, the sup
ply will be greater, purer, and will
save the city many millions of dollars
annually.
Within this limit there will be very
few changes TO be made OF lands to Oe
bought. With the exception of the
little village of Shokan, there are
only few scattering farm houses
along the route, aud the majority of
the farmers are in favor of this
scheme; only few of the early set
tiers are lOatbed TO leave their old
hOmesteads, that have been handed
down from generation 10 generation,
10 seek pastures new amid green hills
far away.
ROUTE or WATER MAIN.
This large reservoir will be built on
al eleva.i ion Of 600 feet, which will be
sufficient height to force the water
by gravitation through the main that
will be run across the country via
Kingston, to the nearest point on the
Hudson, where il will be sunk and
carried down the river to the city.
SOLID FOUNDATION.
The most careful Investigations
have been made 10y these experts, re-
gsrding the analysis, the lowest and
greatest depths, and the quantity of
water going over the Falls per minute
and the quality aud solidity of the
rock and strata OF soil which will
form the foundation and walls of this
natural reservoir.
HOW AMOUNT OF WATER WAS OBJ
TANNED.
The electrical engineer had most
ingenious Way of testing the amount
Of water at the Falls. Twice day he
got into tiny car that sided on a
heavy cable suspended across the
creek: and when about midway he
would let down an electric meter at
tached To which was a long wire with
a "buzzer'' on the end of il, which he
placed to his ear and counted the rev.
olutiOns. BY this method the exact
number Of millions of gallons OF
water that flows over the Falls per
minute was obtained.
MOST FITTING LOCATION.
This historic spot, so happily select
ed by the commissioners, was in the
pioneer days, the Elysuim of the
Esopus Indians when the soft glow OF
their camp fires threw a cordial well
come to the warriors Cd their return
from days hunting and fishing ex.
petition.
1t is located amid hills and en-
lit Goes Right to tie Spot
When pain or irritation exists on
,l,o finn