New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-06

located on the Bronx River. where the surplus
water would be used in raising the water. which
would thence be carried to the Harlem River
in an open canal then conveyed across the river
through an elevated iron pipe 20 a reservoir.
where Il would be altered. and then distributed
through the city"
In January. 1879. "a large and respectsbi
committee Of the Citizens, Physicians and of the
Corporation appointed TO inquire into the
causes Of the late Pestilence. and in two long
and able reports on the subject enumerated
the following causes: Deep. damp cellars and
filthy sunken yards: unfinished water lots: burial
grounds In the compact part Of the city: mar
row streets; sailors boarding houses and tip
pIing shops: digging Up made ground: putrid
substances being allowed TO remain In streets
and houses. and the want OF an adequate sup
ply OF pure and wholesome water"
When the report OF this large and respecta-
bic committee was submitted 20 the authorities
shrewd men presented various schemes 20 meet
the emergencies that confronted the people.
one OF these men was Aaron Burr. who was
planning TO extricate New-York from the hands
OF Hamilton and the Federalists. the first step
being hts own election TO the Assembly. Burr
was anxious for influence to that end, and knew
that among a certain class OF men the more
publicity was given to his movement the more
he would be talked Of and consequently the
more prominent he would become. He also
had in view the power welded by Hamilton IN
the only two banks in the city. which We're con-
sidered HsmiltOn's creation and through which
he supposed discounts were Influenced by polit-
teal consideration. Taxing advantage OF the
Investigations regarding the cause OF the ter
rible ravages OF yellow fever in the city and OF
the impression that the braeksh wells contrib
uted largely to the spread OF the pestilenoe Burr
f1nr
purpose Of supplying the city with pure and
wholesome water. but which was TO use and
exercise all the privileges Of a bank. In apply
ing to the legislature for charter authority
was asked TO raise 100000 although It was
uncertain how much money was needed. AS
the amount named might possibly be too much
the projectors proposed to insert IN. the charter
2 provision that the surplus capital might be
employed in any way not inconsistent with the
laws and Constitution OF the United States OF
OF the State OF New-York.' While under dis
cussion IL was proposed IN me Senate TO strike
out OF the bin this clause. Burr objected. say
ing that the supplying a city Of fifty thousand
inhabitants with water would not Of itself re-
munerate the stockholders. and that It was in
tended to give the directors liberty TO found
anything they wanted-an East India Company
bank or anything else. None except those
In the secret knew that the name Manhattan
Company meant Manhattan Bank The bill was
referred 70 the Chief Justice OF the State who
recommended its rejection because Of the I'M
limited powers conferred by the surplus clause
These objections were overruled and Governor
Jay signed the BILL The papers Of the day at
tackled the Governor. Burr and ali who were
concerned in the scheme. and Burr lost his cleo
ton TO the Assembly. After the company was
formed it obtained grant from the Corporation
Of the grounds formerly occupied by COLES, and
erecting reservoir in Chambers-st between
Broadway and Centre-st,. pumped water into IL
from wells sunk in the vicinity whence il was
distributed by means OF bored logs through the
city. The company soon tired OF this scheme.
as did the people OF the bad water and turned
its attention to the banking business No rec
ord exists OF this company having even at
tempted 10 bring water into the city.
Again the people had 10 return to the Tea
Water Pump. whose water appeared TO taste
sweeter than ever. and in emergencies TO the
braeiish water OF the other wells on the island
But new schemes were not wanting for supply
Ing the city with wafer such as cutting an open
canal 20 the Housatonic River. in Connecticut.
or obtaining water from the Passaic River. in
New-Jersey, or boring artesian wells None of
them were adopted. however. Some one called
attention 10 the Croton River flowing into the
Hudson near the old Van cortlandt Manor
House. forty miles above the city. 1t offered
special advantages. IL traversed a region
where tea OF more natural i.k.s might az any