Year: 1859

A question has recently been raised as to the
security Of the new reservoir now in course of
construction in the Central Park. The importance
of the subject TO the interests of the city and Of
property holders in the vicinity have induced US 70
take some pains to inform ourselves of the character
of this work and of other similar structures. We
visited the Park for the especial purpose of exam
lining the ground the barrier that is to nclose the
artificial lake, and the materials employed in its
construction.


In the northern portion of the Park, just above
the Receiving Reservoir, which extends between
the lines of Eighty sixth and Seventy streets
and between those Of Sixth and Seventh avenues,
the new reservoir is laid out oser broad level
covering lO6 acres of ground the circumference Of
which is little over a mile and half The
primary object Of a receiving reservoir requires il
10 be at great elevation. lis enbankments,
therefore, are usually artificial, and in this ca,e
they are but occasionalyprotected by higher ground
on the outside The natural drainage is toward
the Fifth and Eighth avenues, near which the
reservoir reaches; and on these sdes the most
disastrous effects would be experienced IN the
event Of the embankment ever giving way. The
possibility of such an occurrence is always
serious consideration with engineers; and il may
well be so wheD even by the bursting Of a beer vat
in oDe Of the great London brewerles few years
ago, several houses, with their inhabitants, we're
swept into the River Thames. The principle, upon
which embankments for retaining water are con.
structed are established py long experience, and
tie practicei essentially the same in nearly all the
great works in the different countries of Europe
aud in the United States. For diyerting rivers
from their natural course and cOnfnng them within
artificial banks the embankmeLt lis almost always
' the mound with clsy wall in the center, vary
"in width according to the depth Of the different


parts of the old bed Of the river which il has 10
intersect. The materials for these banks are
obtained from excavations for the new bed. :"
This is simple account, from late English trea-
tise on Embankments, giving the construction most
appropriate to resist, not only the pressure Of
standing bodies Of water bat, what is much more
destructive, the wearing action of deep currents.
IL viii be observed that DO reference Is made II
the width or area Of the water, but that the clay
wall is TO vary in width according to the depth
which the current may reach. This is an important
consideration, for the area Of pond is Of no con-
sequence in considering the strength Of 4 barrier
that is to retain its waters except so far if may,
by an immense surface open to the winds, be liable
TO destructive waves In this case, the effect,
which is superficial, is guarded against by slope
wall Of stone reaching above the hight they can
rise. The danger is from the depth, or, in other
words from the hight Of the column Of water; and,
as strong barrier is required to contain pond of
water. the surface Of which is no larger around
than barrel, as one of equal head or depia thst
covers miles Of ares. The depth Of water in the
new reservoir 10 to be "a feet, as maximum, above