New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06
LITTLE OLD NEW-Y03
Some Odd Phases of Her March
10 Greatness.
XXXIIl.

with the possible exception o. the year in
which Independence was proclaimed. no other
year IN the eighteenth century was so fraught
with good for the citizens OF New-YOrk as the
year with which we continue our chronology.
118S While IL opened inauspciously. the seat
OF government being removed 20 Albany. leaving
the city neither a state nor q federal capital.
and while the scourge OF yellow fever was again
foIi by tbe inhabitants from the middle OF the
year until its end, two movements for the ben
eat OF the people OF the city were inaugurated-
the procuring OF water for drinking purposes
ana tie application OF steam as a propulsvs
power On water. We viii treat OF the first OF
these movements.
Under Stuyvesant three public wells were
dered SUNK in the middle o. three streets IN the
Dopuloss part q the town. where. IN case OF
FIRE. The water could be easily obtained The
water was not intended for drinking purposes.
the drainage and rainwater that ran through
the centre OF the street poured into the wells
end made their contents dangerous to the health
Of the inha bitants. On occasions when the flow
= from private wells temporarily ceased no other
= recourse was left 70 the people but 10 use the
water from the public wells. In 1901 four more
OF these were sunk. IN Broadway, Broad-st. and
r. Wsl-st. with the hope that better water would
e be obtained. though IL was found 10 be brackish
3 anc not suitable for drinking purposes. Move
Inent after movement started by the citi-
zens when the scourges OF yellow fever which
q attacked the city At different periods had passed
10 Ind the cause and all ended in inaction. OF
all the wells IN use only One-and IL was out
side the limits OF habitation. at what Is now the
q corner OF Park Row and Observation-Disclosures
pure. cool and palatable water Its supply was
y apparently inexhaustible. but its being, as was
said. outside the limits caused much trouble to
= the people 10 procure part OF it when II was
y most needed The enterprising mind OF some
- one grappled with the problem pump was put
p into IT, and It's product drawn into casks
Eno carried to the doors OF the citizens where It
vas soli 70 them at penny a half cask- II was
tafterward called tire Tea Water Pump. a name
N which Is to 2 degree self-explanatory.
In iT7s the initial step was taken by Christie
Dher COLES toward supplying the city with
water. Under his direction a reservoir was con-
structed al the public expense on the east side
y Of Broadway. between Pearl ana White SITS. on
i, Two acres OF ground purchased by the Corpora
ton from Augustus and Frederick Van cort-
lsndt a. the rate Of $500 an acre Into this
reservoir water was raised from large wells
a sunk on ne premises. and also from the Col
= lect and distributed by means OF wooden pipes
throughout the city. The supply proved insult
ncient. the water OF an inferior quality, and
ir the ensuing foreign occupation OF the city
+. the enterprise neglected. aud the citizens
returned 70 the wells OF their ancestors which
stiil continued 70 be located IN the middle o.
the streets
When The yellow fever broke out violently
II Juiy. l7Se. anc business was suspended and
scheols and churches closed the farmers even
n ceastng 20 bring their products 10 the narke;
81 because OF alarm, the citizens considered that
, the tine had arrived for quick action resardinr
the evidently tad condition OF the city's water
and with death list OF over two thousand
confronting them appealed 70 the Corporation
: Tor The appointment % a committee TO inou.r;
Y INTO me matter. preliminary report was mad,
&c the Corporation by a Dr. Brown who az
y, nrrneo the irnpurity OF the water on the ISLAM
q enc recommended the appointment OF a co-npe
tent ensinser 20 investigate the matter and re
en- port feasible plan 10 bring IN water from IN
~ mainland On his recommendation an Englisl
engineer named Watson was appointed xrh
recommended the raising az thu Rye Ponds "a
iss1 Reservoir In Wsstchester County u. ,lls to