lEx ICthrta SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said "Ever'thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book." Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Sfymour B. Dursi Old York Liurary LEVI DIS BROW S Water Boring Machinery. SPRING WATE&4> VERSUS FOR Supplying the City of New- York, CONTAINING A COMPENDIOUS EXAMINATION OF THE INTERNAL SUPPLIES, THE METHOD, AND ACTUAL EXPENSE OF OBTAINING THEM, ALSO, An Examination of the Water Commissioners Report of Nov. 1833, refuting- many of the objections therein contain- ed, and exhibiting- errors in their estimate of expense for procuring water on the Island, of more than Two Millions of Dollars ! $2,000,000 !} BY M. HALE. From error fly, and truth pursue.' NEW-YORK: p — MARSH & HARRISON, PRINTERS, No. 5 Eldritlge- Strut. 1835. rp rvs MS WL When the writer commenced penning these pages, it was not his intention to lay them before the public in the responsible situation they now appear. On pursuing his investigations he discovered so much of disingenuousness in the objections and errors in the details of the several reports that fell into his hands on supplying the City with pure water, that he consid- ered it the duty of any citizen possessing such knowledge to apprise his fellow-citizens of the fact ; — he has thus done. With the gentlemen who have appeared before the public by author- ity he has no personal acquaintance, and against them no ani- mosity ; bis endeavour has been "nothing to extenuate or set down aught in malice." If any of his remarks be caustic, they are so because the simples of which they are composed have been placed in his hands by official agents, and the patients must rest content in receiving a medicine prepared from ingre- dients of their own furnishing. An examination into the subject of supplying the City of New- York with pure and wholesome water. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The laudable public spirit that has ever been exhibited by the inhabitants of this city in introducing improvements to beautify and adorn it, to increase its wealth, and add to the com- fort and health of its inhabitants, deserves the highest commen- dation ; but there is one subject, and that too by which every individual is seriously affected, on which there appears to exist an apathy and indecision truly astonishing — the introduction of pure and wholesome water. For more than thirty years the deleterious qualities of the city water have been a subject of universal complaint, and vari- ous plans proposed, and projects introduced for remedying the evil. Large sums of money have been expended by au- thority, and speculation entered into under legislative sanction, and yet, from all that is at present before the public* some year? must still elapse before we shall be furnished with a supply, even if the citizens should feel disposed to submit to the enor- mous expense at which the work is estimated. The report of D. B. Douglas, Esq. who in 1833, under the direction of the Wa- ter Commissioners, made a very critical survey and estimate, in which he gives as the result, the total cost of introducing it on one route at $5,827,237, and on another $4,718,197 ; and when we add to this " the expense of distribution and reservoirs on the Island" as set down by Col. Clinton in his report in 1832, at 81,165,000, it would make the whole expense on the first route $6,992,237, or in round numbers, seven millions of dol- lars, and on the second route 85,883,197 ! Any one having a knowledge of the nature of the country over which it is to be brought, and the expense of constructing the proposed work, will I am convinced, be satisfied that these estimates will fall far short of the actual cost. 4 In the Water Commissioners report, Nov. 12, 1833, p. 365, doc. 36, they say, " the construction of the works will require some years" to complete them. All must be sensible that un- less prompt and efficient measures are taken to avert the evils, they must continue to increase with the increased ratio of our population, till they are completed. The indifference which is exhibited in a body politic on all subjects where the evils are not susceptible to their vision, or do not immediately press on them, appears to exist in this, and the subject only agitated peri- odically. During that portion of the year, when from the tem- perature of our climate the poisonous qualities of the water from the Manhattan or our common wells, are not perceptible from its coldness, and partially lessened by the check caused to the de- composition of animal and vegetable substances which are con- tinually accumulating on all our uncovered surface, we hear little ot nothing said on the subject ; but the moment the hot season commences and the whole mass is decomposed, hurried through the loose sand into our wells and mixed with every draught of water, then it is that universal complaint is ushered forth, and all our citizens alive to the evils and the injuries ; the press sounds the alarm ; our Common Council legislate on the sub- ject, and death hurries off its victims, whose disorders have been produced by this pestiferous compound ; the cool weather again commences, and all are again silent on the'subject. In 1831, in a memoir to the Lyceum of Natural History, by several highly literary and scientific gentlemen, after enumera- ting a number of other causes of impurity, they say, " but we are now to allude to another cause which must greatly impair the purity of our waters. Into the sand banks laying under our city, are daily deposited quantities of excrementitious matter, which, were it not susceptible of demonstration, would appear almost incredible ; with our present population there is put into the sand about one hundred tons of excrements every twen- ty-four hours ; in these deposites we find all the ingredients detected by analysis, and which destroy the purity of our water. The coldness of the pump water conceals the impurities when swallowed ; this may be tested by allowing it to stand until it acquires the ordinary summer temperature — its various ingre- dients then become manifestly palpable. These impurities arc not caused oy additional heat, they exist at all times in the wa- .•» ter, their presence is only disguised by its coolness, and its inju- rious qualities are in no ways diminished." If to this be added the decaying remains of the innumerable animals, insects, and reptiles which are every instant of time deprived of life, on or near the surface of the ground, in our cellars and vaults, and even in the insecure curbing and loose walls of our wells above the water, the wonder ceases that the impurity of the water rapidly increases, swelling the bills of mortality in our city during the summer months, particularly with children whose only drink is composed of such poisonous ingredients. Whenever epidemical diseases have visited our city, it has been generally considered that one of the producing causes was the unwholesomeness of the water. In 1822 it was demonstrated to the satisfaction of many scientific gentlemen, that the conta- gion was greatly promoted, if not engendered by the poisonous qualities that were thrown from Trinity Church Yard into the wells in the vicinity where the yellow fever first made its ap- pearance. It is a fact worthy of observation, that in all periods of the prevalence of epidemical distempers, their virulence is always greatest even among the temperate portion of the com- munity, where the wells are most exposed to an accumulation o£ filth, and the surface of the ground open to admit its impu- rities. With all this mass of testimony before us, and all alike sub- jected to the evils, the dangers, and the injuries, is it not strange that decisive measures have not been pursued to afford a remedy ! -to what cause is this to be attributed ? has nature in her bountiful Biorchorase no provision, vHrivfa ih© necessities, the wealth, and the enterprise of this great and growing empo- rium can convert to the accomplishment of so indispensible an object ? or is it that it must be obtained by some mighty effort, which from the magnitude of the work would add renown to the names, perhaps riches to the estates of those to whom the con- struction was entrusted. Must we wait till it is " dear bought and far fetched," when sufficient evidence exists to satisfy the most sceptical if they will only examine for themselves, that a sufficiency of that element i6 continually circulating through the natural channels under our Island to supply all our wants,that before the tide of improvement had covered its surface, it rose 6 in numerous places above the ground in its pure state, and that it might now be reproduced clear and limpid as it exists in the mountain reservoirs, from which all deep and large springs un- questionably derive their supplies, by sinking iron shafts. This fact has been fully established by actual demonstration in various parts of our city, where individuals have caused them to be introduced, and a few years ago by our corporation. — The inhabitants of the immediate vicinity fully appreciating the quality of the water and the abundance of the supply. Some three years ago, however, a check was put to their introduc- tion by a law of our corporation, which still remains in force, making it obligatory on the petitioners where a shaft was asked for, to incur the expense, if not successful, whereas in the case of wells, the property intended to be benefitted was as- sessed whether successful or otherwise. This appears to me to be giving a bounty for procuring surface water filled with deadly ingredients. So satisfied have been holders of real estate, and gentlemen engaged in manufacturing, where pure water was required, that they have at their own expense sunk shafts which have fully realised their expectations, both in abundance of supply and quality of the water, and thereby increased the value of the property in their vicinity, and added greatly to the comfort and health of the inhabitants. As these facts have often been laid before the public in detail, I deem it inexpedient to pursue the subject. Dr. Ackerly in 1832 says in his report to the Com- mon Council after testing both, " the water of the public well at the reservoir in Thirteenth-street, is equally pure as that of the Bronx," nnd tno Water Commissionei n in their Keport, Nov. 1833, p. 370, doc. 30, speaking of the Bleecker-street shaft sunk by the Manhattan Company, say, they " consider it a very successful operation," that the water 44 may with much propri- ety be pronounced good and wholesome." Citizens desirous of satisfying themselves on this subject, are referred to Mr. Samuel Ficket, of the Eleventh Ward, Mr. Guy Richards, at his distillery, corner of Perry and Factory- streets, Greenwich Village, or to the shaft on what was for- merly Lespcnard's meadows, corner of Grand and Woos- ter-strcets. 7 Having, during a long residence in this city Buffered great in- convenience from the quality of the water, never having been able for any length of time to drink it without some admixture to neutralize its pernicious ingredients, and having after the most careful examination satisfied myself of the foregoing facts, my attention has been directed to the subject, and an enquiry into the prospect of obtaining a foreign supply, of which I had heard much said. It will be perceived by the extract above quoted from the re- port of the Water Commissioners, (the last that has been pla- ced before the public,) that it will require some years to com- plete the works, and that they ever will be constructed, in my opinion, depends on a contingency which I shall hereafter discuss. 1111 On procuring Internal supplies. In examining the Reports on the subject of internal supplies, the practicability of obtaining them, and their extent, I am truly astonished that any individuals, and more particularly public agents should have treated the subject so disingenuously, and laid such gross and palpably false statements before the public. In Nov. 1832, by a resolution of the Joint Committee on fire and water, Col. De Witt Clinton, United States Engineer, was appointed " to examine the continuation of the route from Chatterton Hill, near White-Plains, to Croton River, or such other source in that vicinity, from which he may suppose that an inexhaustible supply of pure and wholesome water might be obtained ; also the best mode of conducting the same to the city, and the probable expense, as well as practicability of bringing the water across Harlem River and the most suitable point where the same shall be, and the best mode of doing it." It was with great surprise, on taking up his report, doc. 61, published by the Corporation, that I found one of the first sub- jects treated on was " Mr. Disbrow's plan of sinking shafts," as the report terms it. 8 Having no desire to derogate from the deserved reputation of that promising Engineer, in whose early exit our country's ser- vice has sustained a great loss, and society a bright ornament, I deem it proper here to remark, that in pursuing this investi- gation, I disclaim any intention to apply the least censure to him, for I do contend that he was a gentleman too well ac- quainted with official responsibility, and too sensitive to his own reputation, for intelligence, accuracy, and integrity, to have ever allowed himself to append his name, and thereby hazard his reputation to statements so absurd, and calculations so false, and not even hinted at his instructions, unless by request, and that too from a source which he conceived of too high a char- acter to allow him to doubt for a moment of their accuracy ; and it becomes the imperative duty of this extra official agent, who has thus veiled himself from public scrutiny to come out, and either sustain the positions there taken, or avow the authorship, and thus redeem the character of a lamented citizen who has passed beyond the reach of self vindication. The short period of time, only six weeks from the date of his instructions to that of the report, precludes the possibility that he even examined these statements, but that they were handed to him engrossed, and thus placed in his report. Six weeks was a very short time for him to perform his official duties with fidelity and make up his report, and from the wide range of investigation he has submitted on that subject, any one who examines it must be convinced that it must have industriously omipied the whole period. On taking up the Water Commissioners Report I perceive that they have travelled over the same ground on the internal supplies, and I have introduced the foregoing remarks only in vindication of Col. Clinton, and shall review the estimates as laid down by them. In 42§ Col. Clinton's report states that the "plan" might suc- ceed on "a small scale," but when "extended" to "a whole com- munity," it will be " an experiment of a very doubtful charac- ter." In 43$ the fact is conceded, " that perforations sufficiently deep will produce water," and that by M tubing out the bad springs and veins, it may be of excellent quality, soft, cool and palata- ble." Here is an important admission, and leads to the inqui- 9 ry, docs such water exist under our Island, and what the pro- bable supply ? That the native water which supplied all our numerous springs, formed our ponds, and produced our rivulets in various parts of the Island, emitting abundant supplies of the purest quality, at the period when civilization was first planted on it, no one I apprehend will deny. Aged citizens, born on the Island, can now point you to the places when in their boyhood they drank from the cool spring, or angled in the clear brook, where now not the least trace exists that either ever existed. The springs and rivulets, which fell into the East River on the slope of the Island that formed its bank from the Battery to Roosevelt-street, have been lost from the recollection, and are only known to have existed from the records that have been preserved. The Collect remained in its natural state for a greater length of time, and it is only a few years since its surface has been en- tirely enclosed. This natural reservoir is worthy of a patient investigation. The internal construction of our Island is a gneiss rock ; it is of an undulating character, rising to the surface at some points, and at others covered with a deep coat of earth, rang- ing from 70 to 130 feet. In these hollows water from the springs finds its outlet through the stratum of the rock which form their bottom, and the slope of their sides and accu- mulates till it rises to where nature has provided an outlet and then flows off. That the Collect is formed for one of those natural basins, no possible doubt exists. The vast amount of vegetable matter which had accumulated in it, and which had been collecting for ages, forms not the least evidence that the Architect of nature had not there created a magnificent reser- voir, and that when the waters were introduced through their rock-bound conduits from the mountain reservoirs into it, they were not clear and limpid. The mucillaginous substan- ces that since filled it were all produced by vegetation, and the washings of earth from the high grounds on its shores. It is not the effect of visionary speculation to carry the mind back to the period when the aboriginal, standing on its banks, beheld it a clear pure pond, its crystal surface reflecting the green foliage of its shores, and the fishes playing their gambols % 10 in its limpid bosom. This is all consistent with the laws of nature, and as deducible from natural causes and effects, as the falling water from the clouds, or the lightnings within them, ex- hibiting their fiery forms and sending forth their tremenducms and unresisting force. If further evidence were necessary to con- vince any one of their natural purity, the circumstance that the Manhattan Company located their works on its margin, and with a well only thirty feet deep, affords testimony tha-t at that late period, 1799, the waters were considered good. Had this not been the case, interest would have prevented the location, and public sentiment raised its voice against it. The area of its surface was probably from sixty to eighty acres, and the slopes of its natural bed of gentle declevity. I am informed by a respectable individual, that when Mr- George Lorillard erected his houses at the corner of White and Centre-streets, he procured iron rods with joints, and forced them down sixty feet before coming to the bottom, and that it was a common remark that it was bottomless. It appears astonishing to me that among the numerous examinations, the amount that has been expended on them, and with a knowledge that it might easily and with a very trifling expence have been effected, no attempts have been made to test the waters drawn from below the bed of the Collect. The underlayers are pro- bably composed of similar strata with those in other parts of the Island, where the springs rose in abundance and formed marshy grounds. Mr. Disbrow in sinking the shafts a1 the intersection of Grand and Wooster-streets, and Greene and Thompson, after passing about forty feet of filling in, came to the original mud composed of the remains of undecayed vegetables and trees, intermixed with a small share of alluvial earth ; this continued from fifteen to twenty feet, when he came to a stra- tum of fine blue clay about six feet in thickness, and having passed that, came to a bed of sand similar to that which formed the surrounding hills. Having proceeded five or six feet in that, and finding the waters pure, he discontinued boring, and the water rose to within seren feet of the surface in great abundance, and of a quality that will bear comparison with most of the country springs, and so remains without any deteriora- tion. The samp results were exhibited in the shall sunk In 11 the Washington Market, and that, it is well known stands where the waters of the Hudson once flowed. If a shaft were sunk in this manner at the Collect, which might be effected for less than $1000, the quality of the water would be then fairly tested. Doubts have also been expressed of the abundance of its sup- plies. On this subject I shall lay such facts before the public as I have been able to obtain, coupled with such observations as appear rational to me. The natural outlet of the Collect was at, or near its north west point, forming a creek at what was denominated the stone bridge in Broadway where Canal-street intersects it. I have made particular inquiries in relation to this outlet, and all agree that a considerable quantity passed off, so much so as to form an open channel through Lespenard's meadows to the North River. Another outlet I have been informed carried part of its waters from the southeast point into the East River, some- where in the vicinity of Roosevelt-street, and the nature of the ground seems to favour such a conclusion. All old citizens recollect the tea-water pump of ancient times — the springs that fed this were undoubtedly tributaries to the supplies em- bosomed in the Collect. The Manhattan works also at the south bend is supplied from others. From these we are informed by the Water Commission- ers, p. 357, doc. 36, that "it is said to be capable of yielding more iban 1,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours," equal to one twentieth part of the supply necessary for 1,000,000 of inhab- itants, at twenty gallons to each. These it will be recollected are located in the banks near the south end of the Collect, and must have received their supplies from springs in that direction. The waters would not have retained their purity had they been supplied from the surface water, and that thrown up on other points and mixed with the impure ingredients with which that large basin is filled. I learn also from the same report, p. 373, that as early as 1774, a work was commenced on its western side, between Pearl and White-streets, but that " the war of the revolution" " was the cause of the abandonment of the work in an unfinished state." This affords strong presumptive evidence, that at that period, large springs discovered them- selves in that direction. I am also informed by an individual of undoubted veracity, that when a boy, he used to skate on the 12 Collect, that at or near the point where I before mentioned Mr. Lorillard tried its depth, there was a large spring boiled up to its surface " as big as the heads of two hogsheads," as he ex- pressed it, that it never froze over, and that he had frequently drank from it and the water was good. From these facts, and I believe none of them have been doubted, I leave my fellow-citizens to judge, whether the wa- ters in their native state are not of a quality equal to any other spring water issuing from the gneiss rocks, which underlays our whole country, from the Green Mountains in Vermont, to the Catskill in this state, and the Allegany in Pennsylvania, and the same from which the Croton derives its supplies. I shall for the present close my remarks on this portion of inter' Tial supplies, by fixing it at 3,000,000 gallons in 24 hours, which I consider a reasonable estimate. The water Commis- sioners have rated the supply necessary to be obtained, for all purposes, at 22 gallons a day for each inhabitant ; this on the foregoing calculation would afford a supply for 136,362 inhabi- tants. Following up the North side of the Island, we next come to Lispenard's Meadows ; these commenced at the northerly ex- tremity of the Collect, nearer the North River, and the south- ern part of them separated by a bed of earth where Canal-street intersects Broadway ; they spread out in different direc- tions and formed a marshy quagmire similar to the Collect, of equal depth, and about the same area. Their borders were surrounded by springs which rose to the top of the ground, and they were also discovered at some distance from the shores. — The Mechanics who erected the house on the corner of Thomp- son and Grand-streets in 1822, informed me, that on excava- ting the cellar, which is directly opposite the shaft before mentioned, spring water came up, which was good to drink. — In corroboration of this, Mr. George Lorillard, the proprietor, ordered a square place below the bottom to be flagged up, which I have often examined, and although the water in sum- mer was very cold, yet the surface water destroyed its purity ; Jhis was on the opposite side of the street from the shaft. In this shaft, the water rose to such a height that it might have been carried into the cellar by a pipe. The abundance has never been tested, and although hands have pumped there 13 constantly a whole day, yet no sensible diminution could be perceived, and my opinion is, that a fire engine could be sup- plied by it for hours without exhausting its supplies. The suc- tion pipe of a fire engine was applied at the other well, on the corner of Wooster and Grand-streets, for a length of time without any apparent effect. The water of this well is of the purest character, and numbers pass other wells that were before considered good, to obtain water at this. These mea- dows extended nearly to the river, and large springs were there found, also, as far up as above Spring-6treet ; and I am inform- ed by an individual of undoubted veracity, who resided near the intersection of Spring and Greenwich-streets, and still lives there, that before the commencement of improvements in that neighbourhood, on an adjoining lot, a spring issued from the banks of the meadows, the water of which was of such su- perior quality that the owner used to sell it at a penny a pailful, and that it was a great resort for the inhabitants of the lower part of the city, to drink of its waters. He further informed me, that it was in consequence of the abundance of the springs, and the superior quality of the water, that the name of the street was changed from Brennen to Spring. The well, in which the young lady was drowned, which caused so much excitement a number of years since, was near the intersection of Wooster and Spring-streets, and its waters were considered of a very excellent quality. I am also informed, by an old citizen, who owns property in Spring-street, that where Thompson-street now is, before it was regulated, large springs existed between Broome and Bpring-streets. I have not the least doubt but that as great a quantity might be procured from these meadows, as from the Collect, but I shall set down at half, viz : 1,500,000, a supply for 68,181 inhabitants. If an objection should be raised which has often been palm- ed off, that these waters are all obtained from the same springs, I shall only interpose one argument against it in this place, and leave the remainder to subsequent examination, when the whole subject is before the public. That the high level of the rock which passes under our Island is on the high grounds extending from the Battery, on Broadway to Thirteenth-street, and so on in the centre of the 14 island, no doubt exists, and its declivity is generally east and west, with spurs rising in different places, like small hillocks on the surface of the soil. This probably separates the waters that supply the Collect from those of Lispenard's meadow. — Besides the beds of all ponds are formed of what may be term- ed packed earth, that is, a stratum so nicely and compactly compressed as to be impervious to water. This, although of- ten of no great thickness, yet resting on the natural earth, however loose, is a perfect security against the waste of wa- ters, that nature had designed should be there congregated. It is not unfrequeut that the earth, under this layer, and around the ponds, is of the loosest character. An instance occurred a few years since, where a person, who owned a mill near a pond in the north part of New-Hampshire, which was situated on high ground, and being scant of water (in a dry time,) his neighbours, without his knowledge, in order as they believed, to do him a favour, undertook to lower the chan- nel near its mouth ; after digging only a few hours, having broken through the bed of the pond, the water swept away the loose sand on which it lay, undermining the pond, and the whole of its waters rushing like a mighty torrent, carried de- struction in their course, till they arrived on level ground, and buried a large number of acres of fertile land to a considerable depth. Through these beds no cavities exist, except where the springs rise, and only of the dimensions necessary for them to cast off their waters, otherwise, the waters would not be re- tained in their place. Springs have their channels defined as. well in, as above the earth, and any person conversant with deep excavating, cannot but have seen them forcing them- selves up through the hard pan, whenever met ; it there- fore follows, that in the beds of these ponds, which covered a surface of more than one hundred acres, numberless springs have their separate outlets from the rock, their separate chan- nels, and find a separate opening through the beds of the ponds. It would be an anomaly in nature, that a spring thrown with a rapid force from a mountain reservoir, the moment it met the earth, spreads off in every direction. As well might a person contend that because blood flows from a flesh wound, an artery or vein was severed. Thu internal *vater courses are to the 15 earth, what the vein9 and arteries are to the human system, and although in both cases the fluid penetrates the whole body, giving life and freshness, yet it is only when an incision it made that a current is created. Continuing northerly on the Island, we come to the southern extremity of another tract of moist springy ground, near the intersection of Bleecker and Carmine-streets ; this continues a northerly direction, following a line nearly parallel to Broad- way for more than a mile ; a brook formerly run through it, and numerous springs were around it. It is on the lower part of this tract that the Corporation have recently sunk a well as a tributary supply to the Thirteenth-street reservoir. This well is only twenty-five to thirty feet deep, and sixteen feet di- ameter. 'While examining these works I was informed by a citizen, that he had a well about two hundred feet from this, where he often sold to the water carters eighty casks a day. It is the section of the City forming the west line of this tract, and be- tween that and the river, that furnishes all the water sold in the lower parts of the city, the whole area of its surface not exceed- ing a square mile. The springs which supply these wells are no doubt the same that empty their waters into this valley, and surrounded as it is on half its circumference by the rocks rising to, or near the surface, they undoubtedly find their entrance through its stra- tum. Knapp's well is on this tract, the good quality of its wa- ter is so well established as to need no comment. A little above this well, at about half tide, a spring may be seen throw- ing its waters up through the bed of the river, in great profusion for thirty feet in length. Mr. G. Richards procured Mr. Dis- brow, to sink a shaft for him at his Distillery, corner of Perry and Factory-streets, within the distance of sixty rods of the well sunk by the Corporation, above mentioned ; having pro- ceeded seventy feet he came to the rock, and continued in it one hundred and thirty feet, found plenty of water of the purest kind, and although the boring is only two and a half inches diameter, yet it throws up a greater quantity than is necessary for the supply of his extensive works. Mr. Disbrow also sunk another shaft on the north western side of this tract, for Mr. Underwood, near Sixteenth-street. 16 Here the depth of soil was only twenty feet, and one hundred in the rock. The water in this shaft is of the purest charac- ter, and as soft as any spring water whatever. Large quanti- ties from this shaft are carried down town, the casks labelled M Underwood's rock water." One of the largest Hotel's receives all its supplies from it, amounting to several casks a day ; — a large washing establishment is also carried on, the whole wa- ter for which is procured from it ; — this is only two and a half incli bore. In Col. Clinton's report, p. 244, the water sold annually was estimated at $273,750, equal to an investment of a capital of $5,475,000, and the consumption is annually increasing. This enormous tax is levied on a small portion of our citizens, and not one hundredth part derive any benefit from it, when it is well known if shafts were sunk in any part of the city, and continued to a sufficient depth, water equally pure might be ob- tained. In another part of this work I shall give a diagram of the formation of the rock under our Island, which has been kindly furnished me by an experienced Engineer, whose oppor- tunities for forming correct conclusions, and whose critical en- quiries and practical experiments, entitle him to the fullest confidence. Further up, where the Episcopal Theological Seminary now stands, was another large marshy, springy tract setting up into the Island ; and passing from this over a high ground, formerly the residence of Bishop Moore, we fall into a valley where were formerly the French Tan Yards, and now the Chemical Works. In this valley a creek set up nearly to the centre of the Island ; this affords equal demons trations of abundant supplies, as the others that have been particularly de- scribed. The three last mentioned outlets of springs on this side of the Island, all diverge from near the same point in its centre, at its summit level ; and on the east side others pass off in the opposite direction, and fall into the East River above, and at Kip's Bay. In one of these, sunfish pond is located, and from the waters of which, in the early history of the city, water pow- er was obtained. I do not conceive it necessary to go into details on either or any of supplies, above where the present population extends. They continue in nearly similar distances 17 io the northern boundaries of the Island, and on both sides with similar aspects, and probably affording equal facilities for abun- dant supplies, when extended population shall require them. The before mentioned springs on the Sixth Avenue, at the Theological Seminary, and at the French Tan Yards on this side the Island, and those on the other that fall into the East River, have their rise, near the Deaf and Dumb Asylum. Here Mr. Disbrow sunk a shaft. The rock forming the sur- face, was perforated 112 feet, two and a half inch bore, and the water rose to within eighteen feet of the top, of a good quality and abundant supply. As I intend to limit my estimates to moderate bounds, I shall set down the waters to be obtained from these three points, viz. at the Sixth Avenue, the Theological Seminary, and French Tan Yards, at 3,000,000 gallons, a sup- ply for 139,392 inhabitants. From Kip's Bay, following down the eastern side, we come to the extensive marshy ground near the Dry Dock. The improvements on these grounds were a long time retarded, from the little prospect of procuring good water, until Mr. Samuel Fickett, employed Mr. Disbrow to sink a shaft for him, at the corner Fifth-street and Avenue D. The result of this experiment established the fact, that water of the purest quality might easily be obtained. In the progress of the work similar results presented themselves to those on Lespenard's Meadows, with this addition : in this perforation he continued the work till he struck the surface of the rock — within a few feet of it, he came to a layer of earth, composed of sand and gravel, which appeared to be designed by nature as a filterer, to separate the foreign substances contained in the water which might be injurious to the natural purity of it. This provision nature has supplied over all the surface of the rock, where springs rise from its bed. Several other shafts have been sunk on this ground, and at other places, all confirm- ing the positions here advanced. I shall name only one more. A shaft sunk for Mr. Allaire, at the foot of Cherry-street, near Williamsburg Ferry. This is only between seventy and eighty feet deep, does not extend to the rock, the water of good qual- ity ; his works are all the time in operation, the pump is kept in continual motion, and a stream constantly flowing off, not being required for use. 3 18 Although my opinion is, that an equal supply may be obtain- ed from the eastern slope of the Island, as from the western, yet I shall set it down at half the quantity. I shall set down the whole supply that may be obtained from all the eastern slope of the Island, from Kip's Bay to the Battery, at 3,750,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. The calculation therefore, that I lay before my fellow citizens and am fully prepared to defend, is, that the internal supplies that may be obtained, are as fol- lows : From the Collect, 3,000,000 gallons, Lespenard's Meadows, 1,500,000 The Valley above Bleecker-st. and above that to the Chem- ical Works, 3,000,000 and on the eastern slope, 3,750,000 11,250,000 for the whole, equal to twenty-two gallons per twenty-four hours, for 506,818 inhabitants, or for 33,787 in each Ward, for fifteen Wards. I am well aware that these statements will startle my fellow citizens, and I am prepared to meet such an event. The pub- lic mind has been studiously, though guardedly, guided in ano- ther direction, and not even allowed to pause at home on the subject. Our citizens " Have learned on credit, and on trust believed." While the public mind has been busied for more than thirty years in examining reports of able engineers, on the supplies of foreign water, containing careful guages of streams, and showing the amount of supplies from them, and declarations that these are produced from pure springs. I find but one document referred to in the report of the Water Commissioners relating to the purity of the internal supplies, p. 3G7, doc. 36. A. communication was presented to the Common Council, by a Committee of the Lyceum of Natural History, 1831, answering certain queries proposed to that Institution, on the practicability of supplying the city with good water, within its own limits. As I have not been able to obtain a copy of 19 that document, I take the conclusion set forth by the Commis- sioners, as good authority for what it contains. They say, p. 368, the Committee arrive at the conclusion, " that the water obtained from the wells in this city, is derived wholly, and ex- clusively from the atmosphere, either in the shape of rain, hail, or snow ; that this is first absorbed by the sand, or earth, through which it descends, unlil it reaches the rock on which the Island rests, or until it saturates the earth and can make no further progress," that by 44 numerous observations" they have " cal- culated" "the annual fall of water at thirty-six inches," that they cannot " accurately estimate how much" allowance must be made for evaporation, and the quantity carried off over the paved streets and other outlets to the river." They then give an analysis of the water at " fifty-six," " thirty-six," and " thir- ty-four grains of foreign matter to the gallon," and " state as their unanimous opinion," that no adequate supply of good and wholesome water can be obtained on this Island, for the wants of a large and rapidly increasing eity like New-York. I confess myself at a loss how to meet this objection, origi- nating from such high authority. Are the citizens of New- York prepared to credit this novel doctrine, that all the water we procure from our wells, is derived from " snow, hail, or rain ?" Will they lock up their senses to what is every day ap- parent to their vision ? — the waters rising from the springs, on the simple declarations of this learned committee, that it is not the fact that they do rise. Can they be made io believe that the million of gallons thrown up in twenty-four hours from a well thirty feet deep, at the Manhattan Works, is produced from this "rain, hail, or snow," having been first "absorbed " by the sand, or earth around it ? Are the waters in the Bleecker-st. shaft, which is sunk forty-two feet before it reaches the rock, and then four hundred feet in it, an iron shaft interposing the introduction of any of this " absorbed" water, and the water ris- ing to within thirty feet of the surfaee, affording a supply of 120,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, any affinity, or, are they affected by the rain or snow that falls on the surface of the Island ; the happy millenian days of unlimited credulity, I trust, are not so near at hand, as to indulge a belief that such would be the case, and yet our Honourable Water Commis- 20 sioners, have introduced this as their only evidence against the purity of the internal supplies. I take it for granted, they had fully investigated the subject, and if there had been any other objections, they would have been submitted. It certainly was the duty of the Commission- ers so to do, and as they have not, I shall believe none others presented themselves. I believe, this futile attempt, for so I must consider it, was intended in the onset to divert the atten- tion of the public from the enquiry whether we could be sup- plied from internal sources or not, and make them the more readily submit to the unreasonable delay, and enormous ex- pense attendant on the introduction of foreign water — a more convincing argument in favour of the feasibility of procuring internal supplies, than the facts I have here laid before my fel- low-citizens, or any arguments I may use to convince them of their existence. This opinion, I think, I shall fully establish, in treating on their estimated expense of procuring it. Another remark I consider important to introduce, and I shall then leave this part of my subject to public scrutiny. If I have succeeded in establishing the fact of the existence of numberless springs that discover their outlets and throw off their waters to supply the Island ; another is equally clear. If the internal structure of the earth were visible to the eye, numberless veins of water, of all dimensions, would be discovered coursing through its body, destined to refrigerate the soil, and slake the thirst of the animal creation of some distant country. These are always discovered, by digging, in all parts of our country, some nearer the surface, some at greater depths, and no doubt exists that thousands of them are now llowing under our Island. In corroboration of which, I give the following de- scription of a stream of water, flowing in the bottom of Ball's Cave, in Scoharie Co. N. Y. extracted from 44 Silliman's American Journal of Science." After describing their descent eighty feet perpendicular, and the same distance in an oblique manner, they came to ** a small stream of pure limpid water, running in a southerly direction" on its bottom ; having fol- lowed it over one hundred feet, their " progress was checked by a considerable body of water, into which the brook entered. Mr. Gebhard, Dr. Foster and Mr. Bonny, having procured a boat, renewed the investigation, which they describe as follows. 21 " Fixing a light in the prow, they commenced their voyage, by passing through an arched passage in the rock, so low as not to admit their standing erect in the boat. Having proceeded about fifty feet in a southerly direction, they altered their course to the leA, round an angle in the rocky passage, and found themselves in water, about thirty feet in depth, and so limpid that the smallest object might be seen at the bottom." They thus proceeded about three hundred feet, when they ar- rived at a rugged shelving ascent on the right shore of the lake, and beneath which its waters disappeared. A subsequent examination from this point, is thus described, after a few feet in a passage, in which the navigator was obliged to assume a recumbent posture, " he proceeded a quarter of a mile." — ** Here the water was thirty feet deep ;" proceeding on, " he encountered a dam of calcerous tufa, over which the water broke with a slight ripple. In this manner he passed fourteen of these dams, which varied in heighth from two to twelve inches above the surface of the water." However, the internal fountains that contain these waters, are formed where they may be located, or by what laws governed, one fact is fully established, that whenever a vein is struck in ex- cavating,thewateris immediately diverted from its natural course, and if entirely severed, and a pipe inserted, it rises to a heighth corresponding with its outlet. A supply may in all such cases be obtained, equal to the amount of its volume, and the extent and elevation of its source. The subtilty of this fluid is so fine, and its gravity so great, that where the spring issues with great force, it affords a large supply, although its channel be quite small ; a considerable brook is often seen flowing from a vein apparently very small. No possibility exists of exhausting these supplies, unless the fountains that furnish their waters are broken up ; and in proportion as you force the water from them, their currents will be accelerated and the quantity increas- ed. Millions of gallons no doubt pass in this manner under our Island, that may be rendered subservient to our use. The nondescript construction of the Thirteenth-street well, forms no objection to this theory. I give the Water Com- missioner's description, p. 369, doc. 36. " This well is sev- enteen feet diameter, and one hundred and thirteen feet in 22 depth, with three horizontal excavations of four feet in width, and six feet in heighth, and commencing twelve feet above the bottom of the well in the rock, two of them 75 feet, and one of them one hundred and ten feet in length." I am at a loss to know in what system of Geology the projection of this plan of increas- ing "the quantity of water'' on elevated ground by side cutting, is to be found. I am inclined to think the theory is original with the projectors, and for which they might with the greatest safety obtain a patent. It will be borne in mind that the Bleecker-street well is four hundred and forty-two feet deep, about ten blocks in a southerly direction from this, and throws up with a seven inch bore, 1 20,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. Now if these "horizontal" ex- cavations had been perpendicular, as common sense would have dictated, the well would have been three hundred and seventy- three feet deep, and would in all probability have afforded large supplies. By the deep cuttings on the Harlem Rail-Road, some of the supplies of these " horizontal excavations " have been cut off, which otherwise would not have occurred. And we are imform- p. 369, that after excavating them, the water "proved hard," and appeared strongly impregnated with some mineral substance, which unfitted it for drink or culinar> purposes;" a circumstance which frequently occurs in the upper stratas of the rock, but seldom in deep perforations; The Commissioners further say, that they were assured by several members of the Corporation that before excavating the horizontal openings, "the water was as pure and soft as that which descends from the clouds." Some invisible influence must have directed this "experiment." I am unwilling to allow a plea of ignorance to be e'ntered in this case, I consider the intelligence of the parties concerned of too high an order even to attempt its introduction. I ask my fellow citizens whether here, coupled as it is with all that has been before stated, there is not prima facia evi- dence of a studious attempt, to keep in obscurity the practicabili- ty of procuring internal supplies of water ; and as the expense of these excavations is added into the gross amount of cost of supplies for the city, whether it was not intended to produce a twofold effect. I have known such cuts to have been made on the declivity of hills, to meet springs at greater elevations, that 23 have their outlets at the base. Water, I know, may be forced in an ascendant direction by machinery ; but I cannot believe that there is any affinity between a deep spring and an excavation on a greater altitude in a rock that could possibly disturb its gravity. I will ask the indulgence of my fellow citizens, while I meet one more of the astounding objections of the Commissioners. In p. 371, doc. 36, They say, " the great space of rock which has been penetrated in excavating the Thirteenth-street well, compared with that of Bleecker-street, and the disparity in the quantity of water furnished by the former, when compared with the latter, shows conclusively that the same success which has resulted from the Coring at Bleecker-street, cannot be expected to follow every similar operation, otherwise the supply at Thir- teenth-street ought to have been immeasurably greater, instead of so much less than that at Bleecker-street." I hardly know whether to apply the term logic or sophistry to the foregoing reasoning. If the former, my feeble senses do not comprehend it. If the latter, I fear I shall be charged with treating the authors uncourteously. I conceive it better, therefore, to give my understanding of the inference drawn, and leave to others to determine the point at issue. The position laid down, is, that the probability of obtaining supplies of water, depends on " the great space of rock which has been penetrated," without any regard to the depth of the perforation, and as the Bleecker-street shaft, 442 feet deep, contains only " 1,154 gallons," and the Thirteenth-street well, one hundred and thirteen feet deep, contains "175,110 gallons," the result should have been in the opinion of the Commissioners, that the supply ought to " have been immeasurably greater," and because it was "so muchless," similar results to that at Bleecker-st might "not be expected to follow every similar operation." It turns out however, that the perforation of Mr. Disbrow, since the date of their reports, commencing at the bottom of Thirteenth-street well, and only two and a half inch bore, and one hundred feet deep, nearly doubled the supply, although very little was added to the space. By the same parity of reasoning. I must conclude that the deep cutting in the rock at Murray Hill, for the Harlem Rail-Road, ** should have produced immeasurably greater " quantities than at the Thirteenth-street well, and have afford- 24 ed a sufficient supply for the whole city, the proportion of ex- cavation to supply, being about the same as above specified. In sober earnest, I consider this objection of such a character as to place the Commissioners in no enviable position, for can- did and fair conduct in laying the important subject committed to their investigation before the public, and affords conclusive testimony to my mind, that the knowledge they possess of the complete success of the experiment of the Manhattan Compa- ny at Bleecker-street, in testing the practicability of procuring internal supplies, both as to quantity and quality, must be fritter- ed away by piecemeal, or the citizens will never submit to the hazard, or to the enormous expense of introducing the waters of theCroton. Actual expense of procuring an internal supply of Water, compared with the estimate of the Water Commissioners. I shall now examine the calculations and estimates of procur- ing water on the Island. I shall take the actual expense of the Thirteenth-street well, as set down in Col. Clinton's report, p. 198, doc. 61, which he says he received from Mr. Wenman, and which amounts to $42,233. It appears that the Water Commissioners have made an addition to this of 815,739, in their report. I have made enquiries, but could hear of no ad- ditional works between the dates of their reports. The per- foration by Mr. Disbrow was made after the date of the Water Commissioner's report. Eleven lots of ground on what the work stands, $12,250 Tank $4,200, building for tank, $5,041 } Foundation of building and wc 11, 1,377} 15,033 Foundation and tank including arching, 4,415 ) Excavating well and passages, 9,000 Steam Engine and fixtures, 5,250 Building over Steam Engine, 700 842,233. This appears to be the expense of the well, including the 25 horizontal shafts. No additions were afterwards made until the date of the Water Commissioners report. How they should have increased the cost 815,739, they can best explain. Taking this as the basis, they introduce the fol- lowing estimate on fourteen Wards, deducting the twelfth from the calculation. They further say, " that it will require three such wells as that on Bleecker-street to supply" each Ward, for- ty-two in all, with three Steam Engines in constant operation." And that " in a financial view, taking the Corporation well as a data, it will appear that the annual expense to the City by the project of deep boring for water, will be much greater than for bringing it from a distant source." In Col. Clinton's report from the same authority, Mr. Wen- man set down also in items, the " annual expense of keeping the above works in repair and in operation, p. 199, amounts to only 83,165. In the improved edition, also in items, the Wa- ter Commissioners place it at 85,569,90,. an improvement in es- timation of 82,404,90. They go on to state, that "forty-two wells, including the land, engine, reservoir, &c. will amount to $2,518,825 The interest on this sum annually at five per cent, will amount to 125,941,00 The annual expense of working an engine of 12 horse power night and day, is estimated as follows : Forty- two bushels of coal per day, at twenty one cents, for three hundred and sixty-five days, 3,219,30 Two Engineers and two Assistants at six dollars per day, 2,119,00 Oil, Tallow,