REPORT 
 
 ON THE INTRODUCTION OF A 
 
 SUPPLY OF PURE WATER 
 
 INTO THE 
 
 CITY OF ROCHESTER, 
 
 MADE TO THE 
 
 MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL, 
 
 SEPTEMBER, 1860. 
 
 BY DANIEL MAKSH, 
 
 CIVIL ENGINEEK* 
 
 \ 
 
 ROCHESTER : 
 
 STEAM PRESS OF C. D. TRACY <fe CO., EVENING EXPRESS OFFICE. 
 
 1860. 
 
^ 5 %. L 
 M $5 /b 
 
 Jb ^6 Honorable 
 
 The Mayor and Common Council 
 
 Of the City of Rochester : 
 
 Gentlemen : — In compliance with a Eesolution of your 
 Honorable Board, passed March 20, 1860, 1 have made a Survey 
 and Estimate of a system of Water Works for the City, and 
 herewith respectfully submit for your consideration, a Eeport of 
 the proposed plan, with estimates of cost, and a map of the 
 contemplated route. 
 
 DANIEL MAESH. 
 
 Eochester, N. Y., August, 1860. 
 
 

 
 
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 in 2017 with funding from 
 
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 https://archive.org/details/reportonintroducOOmars 
 
REPORT, 
 
 On the Introduction of a/n abundcmt Supply of pure and whole- 
 some Water into the City of Rochester. 
 
 Many considerations might be presented to show the import- 
 ance of furnishing this city, from some one of the numerous 
 sources situated beyond its limits, with an adequate supply of 
 that element so essential to the business, safety, health and com- 
 fort of its population. Yet the necessity of obtaining this great 
 and desirable boon for our citizens, is now perhaps so generally 
 conceded, that it will not be expedient in this place to dwell upon 
 the many obvious and imperative reasons why this enterprise 
 should be undertaken, and we may proceed at once to state some 
 of the leading characteristics of the Water Works in other cities, 
 and also some of the particular local facilities and disadvantages 
 attending the accomplishment of a similar work for Rochester. 
 
 The following Circular Letter has been recently addressed to 
 the Presidents or Superintendents of all the Water Companies, 
 or Water Boards in the country, and very satisfactory answers 
 have been returned, either by definite replies to the interrogato- 
 ries in the circular, or by sending their printed annual reports* 
 
6 
 
 To the President and Directors of the Water Works Company 
 
 or the Superintendent of Water Works , m 
 
 The construction, at an early day, of a system of Water Works, 
 for this city, being in contemplation by our citizens, any infor- 
 mation on the subject which you may be able to afford us, will 
 be duly and thankfully appreciated. 
 
 Allow us to request, at your earliest convenience, answers to 
 the inquiries embraced in the accompanying abstract. 
 
 Please fill the blanks, so far as practicable, and return the 
 sheet, addressed to “Daniel Marsh, Engineer, Rochester, Monroe 
 County, N. Y.” 
 
 Will you also favor us with copies of your printed Water 
 Kates, Bills, Regulations, &c., and of your latest Reports ? 
 
 S. W. D. MOORE, 
 
 Mayor of Rochester. 
 C. J. HAYDEN, 
 
 President Rochester Water Works Company. 
 II. D. SCRANTOM, 
 
 Mayor of Rochester. 
 DANIEL MARSH, 
 
 Engi/nee 
 
 Please fill up the blanks opposite the following items of inf or* 
 mation , relative to Water Works , in 
 
 When was the construction commenced ? 
 
 When was the construction completed % 
 
 What was the original cost ? 
 
 What was the estimated cost ? 
 
 What is the extent of main pipe ? 
 
 What is the extent of distributing pipe ? 
 
 What is the size of main pipe ? 
 
 What is the size of smallest street pipe ? 
 
 Of what material is the pipe composed ? 
 
 What the extent of cast iron pipe ? 
 
 Do. 
 
 wrought iron pipe 
 
 Do. 
 
 lead pipe ? 
 
 Do. 
 
 wood pipe ? 
 
 Comparative merits of each ? 
 
7 
 
 What is the daily supply of water furnished ? 
 
 Source whence the water is obtained ? 
 
 , Is the water introduced by Water Power? 
 
 Steam Power ? 
 or Gravity? 
 
 What is the population of your place ? 
 
 Assessed valuation of Keal Estate ? 
 
 What are your annual expenses ? 
 f What is your annual income ? 
 i Vertical head of water over the street pipe ? 
 
 Efficiency of Fire Hydrants ? 
 
 Are Eire Engines needed and used ? 
 
 Extent of recent losses by fire ? 
 
 Comparative rates of Insurance before and since completion 
 of Works? 
 
 Comparative frequency of Fires since completion of Works? 
 
 Do you use any lead service pipe ? 
 
 With what effect upon the health of water-takers ? ' 
 
 In the progress of this survey, the expediency of embracing a 
 large storing Keservoir, in the plan of Water Works for Koch- 
 ester, became an important question. Such reservoirs have 
 recently been constructed in several instances, and by retaining 
 the surplus water of that period of the year when there is abund- 
 ance, in store, to be distributed during the period of drought and 
 deficiency, afford a plentiful supply from sources which do not 
 during the dry season alone, furnish half the required quantity. 
 For the last few years there has been frequent complaint of the 
 quality of the water drawn in summer from the reservoirs at some 
 of the most important Water Works in the country; it was 
 believed therefore, that the most sure and satisfactory course, 
 was to ascertain by personal observation and inquiry as to the 
 success attending the experiment of large Keservoirs. 
 
 To obtain this information, the necessary tour and examina- 
 tion were made late in June last. 
 
8 
 
 It may facilitate the inquiry as to the feasibility and expedi- 
 ency of any plan of works which may be proposed for our 
 consideration, to give some account of the successful efforts of 
 other cities in obtaining a supply of water, and to present the 
 whole subject of Water Works for Rochester, in the following 
 order : 
 
 Principal Water Works in other cities. 
 
 General Table of Analysis. 
 
 Tabular Statement of Water Statistics. 
 
 Different Modes of conveying W ater into Cities. 
 
 Quantity of Water required. 
 
 Distributing Reservoirs. 
 
 Sources of Supply for Rochester. 
 
 Quality of these Waters. 
 
 Storing and Subsiding Reservoirs. 
 
 Conductors of Water. 
 
 System of Distribution for Rochester. 
 
 Estimates of Cost. 
 
 Probable Income. 
 
 Principal Water Works in Other Cities. 
 
 Philadelphia . — The first works of much importance which 
 were constructed in this country to supply the inhabitants of a 
 populous district with water from beyond the inhabited territory, 
 were commenced in this city about 1799. At an early day, 
 Benjamin Franklin publicly called attention to the fact that the 
 ravages of contagious disease, and particularly the Yellow Fever, 
 which had but recently visited the city, were doubtless greatly 
 increased by the limited and impure supply of water, and he 
 
9 
 
 pointed out the necessity and practicability of procuring an 
 abundant supply from beyond the city. He provided in his will 
 to aid in bringing the water of the Wissahiekon Creek into the 
 town. In 1797, this suggestion was discussed in the City Coun- 
 cil, and ip 1801, the Center Square Works, were completed, and 
 began supplying the city, by means of steam power, with water 
 from the Schuylkill River. These works, which cost the City 
 about $657,000, are now entirely out of use. 
 
 Of the works which were constructed at Fairmount, those 
 which raised the water from the Schuylkill by steam power, were 
 completed in 1815, and those which make use of water power 
 for that purpose, were completed in 1823. The latter only are 
 in use at the present time. These works consist of 8 Breast 
 Wheels, and one Turbine, which with suitable pumping machi- 
 nery, are together capable of elevating 721,219 gallons of water 
 per hour, into four combined reservoirs, which are situated on 
 adjacent elevated ground 96 feet above the Schuylkill. The 
 whole capacity of the Fairmount Reservoirs is 46,413,867 gal- 
 lons. These works are to be enlarged this season by the addition 
 of two Turbine Wheels. 
 
 The Schuylkill Works were erected in 1844, and consist of 
 4 steam engines and pumps, and 10 boilers. The water is raised 
 115 feet into a Reservoir, which wdll contain 9,800,000 gallons. 
 All the pumps are connected with one stand pipe, 137 feet high. 
 
 The Delaware Works are on the Delaware River. They have 
 2 engines and 2 Reservoirs capable of containing 9,284,000 gal- 
 lons. The quality of the water taken from the Delaware River, 
 is not so satisfactory, as that of the Schuylkill. The Water 
 Department have recommended to the City Council the abandon- 
 ment of the Delaware Works, and the procuring of the supply 
 
 of water for the entire City, from the Schuylkill River. 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 The Twenty-Fourth Ward Works are on the West side of the 
 Schuylkill River. Two Cornish engines force the water 2,000 
 feet into a stand pipe 230 feet above the River. The distribu- 
 tion is made directly from street mains connected with the stand 
 pipe, without a Distributing Reservoir. 
 
 The total cost, the annual income and expenses, and other 
 interesting statistics of these works, as well as of all others from 
 which returns could be obtained, will be stated in a table to be 
 annexed to these descriptions. 
 
 New York . — The Croton Water Works, which are the most 
 extensive and costly in this country, were completed and first 
 supplied the city with the water of Croton River, in 1812. By 
 a dam 40 feet high, across the stream, a Reservoir or Lake, of 
 400 acres is formed, capable of containing 400,000,000 gallons 
 of water. 
 
 From this source, the water is conducted through an aqueduct 
 of stone, lined with brick, a distance of 38 miles, to a Receiving 
 Reservoir in the City, of 31 acres, and thence by iron pipe, to 
 the Distributing Reservoir of 4 acres, at Fortieth Street. The 
 water is conveyed across Harlem River in iron pipe, about 1377 
 feet long, depressed about 11 feet below the grade line of the 
 Aqueduct, and supported on a high bridge, consisting of 15 
 arches. This work is 150 feet high above the foundations, and 
 21 feet wide upon the top. The actual supply of water for the 
 City of Hew York, and the capacity of the -works was limited 
 at the High Bridge, to 30,000,000 gallons per day, by the size 
 of the main pipe at this place — there being two pipes of 3 feet 
 diameter each.* A new pipe of boiler iron, of 7 feet diameter, 
 is to be laid across the Bridge this season. Across the Manhat- 
 tan Yalley, the water is conveyed in pipe,- at a depression in the 
 lowest part below the grade of the aqueduct, of 102 feet* 
 
 *See Note B. 
 
11 
 
 From the Distributing Beservoir at Fortieth Street, the water 
 is conveyed through the city by 263 miles of cast iron pipe, of 
 various sizes. The whole extent of Beservoirs in New York, is 
 35 acres, and their capacity, 170,000,000 gallons. To these, it 
 is proposed to add a Beservoir of large extent, near the new 
 Park, the construction of which is already considerably advanced. 
 
 It is generally understood that the original estimated cost of 
 this work was $7,000,000, that when the water was introduced 
 into the city, in 1842, the expenditure amounted to from $13 to 
 $14,000,000. The cost of the whole work, exclusive of the pipes, 
 in the city, below the Distributing Beservoir, was $9,000,000. 
 The late President of the Board, Nicholas Dean, stated publicly 
 in 1853, that the total cost at that time amounted to $21,000,000, 
 and at an interview recently with the Chief Engineer, I was 
 informed that the total cost at the present time amounted to 
 $23,000,000. 
 
 Boston . — This city obtains its* supply from Long Pond, or 
 Cochituate Lake, from which it is conducted in a brick conduit, 
 15 miles long, to Brookline Beservoir, situated about 5 miles 
 westerly from Boston. This Beservoir is about 22 acres in extent, 
 and will contain 89,909,000 gallons. Thence the water is conveyed 
 by iron pipe, to Beservoirs on Beacon ILill, and also upon elevated 
 ground in both East and South Boston. The capacity of these 
 works to furnish water to the City, was much increased during 
 the last season, by laying down an additional and large-sized 
 main from the Brookline Beservoir to Boston. The Beservoir 
 on Beacon Hill is a substantial and beautiful structure of granite, 
 supported by massive stone arches — those in East and South 
 Boston consist of earth embankments. The total capacity of 
 these Beservoirs is 15,779,030 gallons. Cochituate Lake has an 
 area of 660 acres, and can supply more than 30,000,000 gallons 
 
12 
 
 per day, for the year. Two compensating Eeservoirs have been 
 constructed, to restore to the outlet of this Lake a quantity of 
 water equivalent to the original flow from the Lake, for the pur- 
 pose of maintaining the rights of the owners of hydraulic power 
 below. In respect to the quality of the water introduced, and 
 to the economy with which this supply is made, these Works may 
 compare very favorably with those of any other large city in the 
 country. The comparative quality of the water, and cost to water 
 takers, are exhibited in the table of general analysis, and in that 
 of cost of Water Works. Two evils attend these advantages, — 
 that of the corrosion of the water pipes on their interior surface, 
 and that of the unpleasant smell and unwholesome character of 
 the water supplied during a short period of the last two or three 
 years. For the first, no effectual remedy has been found, but for 
 the last, I have little doubt, from personal examination, and from 
 the opinions and tests of our most experienced chemists, that an 
 
 effectual remedy will be found. 
 
 % 
 
 Pittsburg — Is supplied with water from the Allegany Eiver 
 by steam power. There are two Distributing Eeservoirs, one at 
 an elevation of 160 feet above the Eiver,. and the other of 396. 
 To the first Eeservoir, the water is raised by two engines, and to 
 the upper Eeservoir the water is raised from the lower one by 
 two engines also. The pumping main between the Eeservoirs is 
 used as a distributing main, the water being served directly to 
 the inhabitants by the force of the pumps, which is believed to 
 have an unfavorable effect upon the water, and causes much com- 
 plaint. The Eeservoirs are formed of earth embankments lined 
 with brick. The cost of these works was £700,000 in 1853, and 
 those of Allegany City cost $331,442. This suburb, like Pitts- 
 burg itself, obtains its supply from the Allegany Eiver by two 
 steam engines, which force the water 206 feet to the Eeservoir. 
 
13 
 
 Brooklyn — lias just completed an extensive system of Water 
 Works, and is receiving a supply of the purest water from a 
 series of springs and small streams on the south shore of Lono- 
 .sland. A storing Beservoir has been formed at a very consid- 
 erable expense, by removing from the natural basins in which 
 hose streams originate all perishable material and deposit which 
 vouid bejmfavorable to the purity of the w r ater, and from such 
 •eservoirs the water is conducted in a conduit of brick to the 
 jump well. From this point the water is forced through a large 
 nain three-fifths of a mile to a Beservoir, elevated 170 feet above 
 ;ide. This pumping engine is a double acting cylinder engine, 
 •ind one of the [largest in the world, capable of raising to the 
 Reservoir, 10,000,000 gallons of water in 24 hours. A duplicate 
 >f this engine is soon to be added to the works. 
 
 The Bidgewood Beservoir covers a surface of 32 acres, and is 
 capable of containing 17 0,000,000 gallons. It is the largest arti- 
 lcial Beservoir, and constructed on the best site for such a work 
 n the United States. From this receptacle, which is distant 
 ibout 6 miles from the City Hall in Brooklyn, the water is con- 
 veyed by about 170 miles, of pipe, of various sizes throughout 
 the city, except a small territory around the sides of Prospect 
 Hill. A small engine is to be erected ? to raise water from the 
 nains, near the hill to a reservoir on its summit, from which any 
 'part of the city can be supplied. 
 
 1 Within 20 miles from the City Hall in Brooklyn, 40,000,000 
 gallons of water per day can be collected on the south side of the 
 island, and within 23 miles on the north more than 20,000,000 
 gallons. This city can not, therefore, be without a bountiful 'sup- 
 ply of the purest water, until her population shall exceed one 
 'million. 
 
 Albany — obtains its supply of water from Patroon’s Creek, 
 
14 
 
 upon which two reservoirs have been constructed; the largest and 
 most' distant being called Rensselaer Lake, and the other Water- 
 vliet Lake. From Kensselaer Lake the water is conveyed bj - a 
 brick acqueduct, 4 miles long, to the Distributing Reservoir (Bleek- 
 er Reservoir,) and then to all the city above Pearl Street, by cast 
 iron pipes. Those portions below this street, are supplied directly 
 from the Watervliet or Tivoli Reservoir — the higher and the 
 lower service being thus disconnected, except at times when a 
 greater than the ordinary head is] required to extinguish fires, 
 and then the whole head from Bleeker Reservoir is put on 
 to the pipe on the lower streets. The Watervliet Reservoir 
 consists of two parts, a subsiding and a distributing reservoir, so 
 arranged that the water of the Creek, when very turbid, is passed 
 through waste gates, and not again received into the reservoirs 
 until restored to its usual purity. The extent of all these reser- 
 voirs is above 60 acres, and their capacity 230,000,000 gallons. 
 
 At the Bleeker Reservoir the water is drawn from near the 
 surface, or the bottom of the Reservoir, as the quality of the 
 water may at either point be most suitable for distribution. 
 
 Hartford — is supplied from the Connecticut River by steam 
 power. The Reservoir is 118 feet above the surface of the river, 
 and is formed of earth embankments raised to considerable 
 height, with the inner slopes lined. These works have the usual 
 arrangement of supply-pipe, pump well, and pumping engine. — 
 The latter is of a novel character, being a double acting force 
 pump, and imparting a uniform and continuous movement to 
 the column of water from the pump to the Reservoir. No stand 
 pipe is required, and it is 'claimed that this engine performs a very 
 high rate of duty, being 50,000,000 pounds of water raised one 
 foot high with 100 pounds of coal. It is in contemplation to 
 introduce an additional supply of water by gravity, to be dis- 
 tributed from a higher elevation than the present reservoir. 
 
15 
 
 j Jersey City — is furnished with water from the Passaic River, 
 . by steam power, the works having been completed in 1859, at a 
 post of $1,118,790. The supply of the City was commenced with 
 , single Cornish engine, acting without a stand pipe — this usual 
 appendage of the Cornish engine has been erected the past sea- 
 son with a good result, and it is proposed to duplicate the engine 
 and pump. The water is conveyed 2,300 feet in pipe to the 
 
 .I 
 
 Receiving Reservoir, 157 feet above the River, and thence across 
 ;he Hackensack marshes to the Distributing Reservoir on Ber- 
 
 i . 
 
 ^en Hill, about 6 miles distant. The Reservoir will contain 
 
 30.000. 000 gallons. The difference of level between these reser- 
 voirs is 25 feet, and the iron main 20 icches in diameter, delivers 
 
 2.000. 000 gallons on Bergen Hill, in 21 hours. 
 
 ; Buffalo , Cleveland , Detroit and Chicago — are all sirpplied 
 with water from the Lakes, or from the Rivers into which their 
 waters are discharged. _ In all these places the works are quite 
 similar, the water being brought by an inlet pipe of considerable 
 length, to the pump well, and thence forced directly by one or 
 more large engines to a reservoir situated on the highest ground 
 which could be found in the vicinity of those places, except that 
 in Chicago no such elevation could be found ; and its place is 
 supplied by an elevated tank. In Cleveland, such elevation is 
 attained by an artificial embankment, at an expense of $80,000. 
 At Buffalo, the water is conveyed from the River to the pump 
 well, by a tunnel excavated through the rock under the Erie 
 ,0anal. The Reservoirs at both Buffalo and Detroit are of too 
 little elevation for the purposes of a good distribution. Constant 
 'pumping, at great expense, will always attend the supply of 
 ^hese cities with water, but it could be obtained in no better way. 
 The water of these Lakes appears from frequent analysis to con- 
 tain very little foreign matter, except during the prevalance of a 
 
16 
 
 storm, when the water pumped to the Reservoir, and thence 
 distributed to the inhabitants of those cities, is turbid and un- 
 pleasant. 
 
 Cincinnati , St. Lous, Louisville and New Orleans — obtain 
 water from the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, by steam power. 
 At Cincinnati and St. Louis the works are old, and inadequate 
 to the full supply of those flourishing cities. From the want ot 
 sufficient capacity in the Reservoir at Cincinnati, the water is 
 pumped from the River, and distributed to the people on the 
 same day, causing serious complaint of the quality of the water 
 whenever the river is low. The works at Louisville are now in 
 the course of construction. 
 
 At Troy , Utica , Syracuse , Cohoes and Geneva , N. Y., and 
 Springfield, Mass., Water Works which furnish those places 
 more or less liberally, have been some time in operation. 
 
 Baltimore, Richmond and Savannah are provided with Water 
 W orks ; and at Washington, D. C., works on a liberal scale are 
 in progress, designed to supply to the Capital, the water of the 
 Potomac River. 
 
 Recently, Rocldand, Me.; Cambridge, Plymouth and Pitts- 
 field, Mass.; Bridgeport and New Britain, Conn.; Malone , 
 Watertown and Saratoga Springs, FT. Y.; Paterson, Newark, 
 Trenton and Elizabeth, FT. J.; Scranton and LLarrisburgh, Pa., 
 have constructed Water Works of a liberal character, capable 
 of supplying those places very fully. Statistical information 
 relative to them may be found in the subjoined table. 
 
 At Toronto, Montreal and Quebec, in Canada, important 
 works have been constructed for the supply of those cities. 
 
17 
 
 Table showing the quality of the Water used for the Supply of 
 Various Cities , both in this country and in Europe. 
 
 City Supplied. 
 
 Source of Supply; or, name of Water! 
 Works. 
 
 Pe: sons making or reporting 
 the Analyses. 
 
 No. grains pr. 
 gallon. 
 
 London 
 
 Thames. 
 
 Professor Brand. 
 
 28. 
 
 6 6 
 
 New River. 
 
 “ 
 
 19.20 
 
 66 
 
 Average of total supply. 
 
 H. P. M. Burkinbine. 
 
 21.46 
 
 66 
 
 Well St. Paul’s Church Yard, 
 
 Wm. J. McAlpine. 
 
 75.00 
 
 “ 
 
 “ Lambeth (shallow.) 
 
 66 
 
 100.10 
 
 Paris, 
 
 River Seine. 
 
 Baldwin & Stevenson. 
 
 12.74 
 
 “ 
 
 Artesian Well. 
 
 Wm. J. McAlpine. 
 
 9.86 
 
 Lyons, 
 
 River Rhone. 
 
 Lake Geneva. 
 
 Baldwin & Stevenson. 
 66 
 
 12.88 
 
 10.64 
 
 New York,... 
 
 Manhattan Well. 
 
 F. B. Tower. 
 
 125.00 
 
 66 
 
 Average of several wells. 
 
 “ 
 
 58.00 
 
 66 
 
 Croton River at Dam. 
 
 66 
 
 4.99 
 
 66 
 
 Croton. 
 
 B. Silliman. 
 
 10.93 
 
 “ 
 
 66 
 
 B. Silliman, Jr. 
 
 6,66 
 
 6.10 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 Schuylkill River. 
 
 6 6 
 
 Booth and Garnett. 
 
 66 
 
 Baye. 
 
 4.42 
 
 66 
 
 66 
 
 B. Silliman. 
 
 5.50 
 
 “ 
 
 “ 
 
 F. B Tower. 
 
 4.08 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Cochituate Lake, 
 do. 
 
 do. 62 feet deep 
 
 do. 
 
 Well Beacon Hill. 
 
 Average three wells. 
 
 Average of Croton Analyses. 
 “ Schuylkill “ 
 
 •“ Cochituate “ 
 
 Wm. J. McAlpine. 
 
 H. P. M. Burkinbine. 
 Wm. J. McAlpine. 
 
 Dr. Jackson. 
 
 66 
 
 6 6 
 
 1.85 
 
 3.37 
 
 3.57 
 
 5.00 
 
 50.00 
 
 44.46 
 
 7.26 
 
 5.02 
 
 3.45 
 
 Brooklyn,... 
 
 66 
 
 Average several wells. 
 
 J. R. Chilton. 
 
 45.40 
 
 Long Island streams. 
 
 66 
 
 2.48 
 
 66 
 
 do. do. do. 2nd sample. 
 
 66 
 
 2.367 
 
 Albany, 
 
 Hudson River. 
 
 Dr. Emmons. 
 
 7.24 
 
 66 
 
 66 66 
 
 “ 
 
 6.32 
 
 6 6 
 
 Rensselaer Lake. 
 
 66 
 
 4.72 
 
 66 
 
 Well Capital Park. 
 
 66 
 
 65.52 
 
 66 
 
 Average several wells. 
 
 66 
 
 48.69 
 
 Cambridge, .. 
 
 Fresh Pond. 
 
 Baldwin & Stevenson. 
 
 6.32 
 
 Jersey City,.. 
 
 Passaic River. 
 
 66 
 
 7.44 
 
 Troy, 
 
 Mohawk River. 
 
 66 
 
 7.88 
 
 Served by Water Works. 
 
 
 6.29 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 Connecticut River. 
 
 M. C. Weld. 
 
 2.618 
 
 Cincinnati ... 
 
 Ohio River. 
 
 J. M. Locke. 
 
 6.73 
 
 Detroit 
 
 Supply from River. 
 
 Prof. Douglass. 
 
 5.72 
 
 66 
 
 Wells. 
 
 “ 
 
 116.46 
 
 Indianapolis, 
 
 Wells. 
 
 D. Marsh. 
 
 60.00 
 
 Montreal,... . 
 
 Ottawa and St. Lawrence. 
 
 T. C. Keifer. 
 
 7.04 
 
 Quebec, 
 
 St. Charles River. 
 
 H. P. M. Burkinbine. 
 
 8.10 
 
 Hamilton, ... 
 
 Grand River. 
 
 Sam’l. McElroy. 
 
 12.66 
 
 66 
 
 Burlington Bay. 
 
 <« 
 
 8.44 
 
 Elmira, 
 
 Carr’s Creek. 
 
 ID. Marsh. 
 
 4.00 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 Table showing the Cost , the Annual Receipts and 
 the principal Water Works 
 
 City Supplied. 
 
 Cost of Works. 
 
 Daily Supply. 
 Gallons. 
 
 Ext’nt of pipe, 
 miles. 
 
 Power used. 
 Water and steam. 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 
 $ 3,900,000 
 
 19,638,442 
 
 306£ 
 
 
 New York, 
 
 23,000,000 
 
 30, 000, 000 -j- 
 
 263 
 
 Gravity. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 5,574,323 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 130 
 
 do. 
 
 Pittsburg, 
 
 700,000 
 
 4,075,755 
 
 26f 
 
 Steam. 
 
 Brooklyn, 
 
 4,800,000 
 
 10,000,000 
 
 170 
 
 do. 
 
 Albany, 
 
 1,074,790 
 
 2, 500, 000 t - 
 
 46 
 
 Gravity. 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 427,587 
 
 785,338 
 
 26 
 
 Steam. 
 
 Jersey City, 
 
 973,326 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 28* 
 
 do. 
 
 Buffalo, 
 
 530,000 
 
 3,000,000 
 
 32 
 
 do. 
 
 Cleveland, 
 
 550,000 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 22 
 
 do. 
 
 Detroit, 
 
 829,925 
 
 2,142,774 
 
 61 
 
 do. 
 
 Chicago, 
 
 1,014,146 
 
 3,000,000 
 
 72J 
 
 do. 
 
 Cincinnati, 
 
 1,359,500 
 
 4,618,567 
 
 76 
 
 do 
 
 New Orleans, 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 6,000,000 
 
 55 
 
 do. 
 
 Troy, 
 
 205,000 
 
 
 
 Gravity. 
 
 Utica, 
 
 75,000 . 
 
 800,000 
 
 10 
 
 do. 
 
 Rockland, 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 20 
 
 do. 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 300,000 
 
 400,000 
 
 16 
 
 Steam. 
 
 Plymouth, 
 
 82,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 11 
 
 Gravity. 
 
 Bridgeport, 
 
 115,000 
 
 400,000 
 
 15 
 
 do. 
 
 New Britain, 
 
 50,000 
 
 300,000 
 
 10 
 
 do. 
 
 Malone, 
 
 12.000 
 
 30,000 
 
 5* 
 
 do. 
 
 Watertown, 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 9 
 
 water power. 
 
 Elizabethtown, 
 
 109,628 
 
 500,000 
 
 7 
 
 Steam. 
 
 Trenton, 
 
 117,000 
 
 
 ioj 
 
 water power. 
 
 Scranton, 
 
 100,000 
 
 75,000 
 
 H 
 
 Steam 
 
 Washington, 
 
 5,000,000 + 
 
 67,000,000 
 
 
 Gravity. 
 
 Rochester, 
 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 50 
 
 do. 
 
 See note B. 
 
19 
 
 Expenses, the Capacity, and other characteristics of 
 in the United States. 
 
 Annual expenses. 
 
 Annual Re- 
 ceipts. 
 
 Reservoir 
 above str’s. 
 
 No of Fire 
 hydrants. 
 
 Capacity of Re-1 Number of 
 servoir. gall’s. | Takers 
 
 Rate per 
 headjg’is 
 
 Date of 
 cons'n. 
 
 $79,389 
 
 $551,180 
 
 94-1 15ft. 
 
 2,680 
 
 655,000,000 
 
 64,125 
 
 50 
 
 1853 
 
 62,257 
 
 809,219 
 
 80-100 
 
 
 600,000,000 
 
 
 70 
 
 1842 
 
 29,088 
 
 316,290 
 
 10-125 
 
 1,363 
 
 106,000,000 
 
 23,276 
 
 72 
 
 1848 
 
 26,000 
 
 63,000 
 
 160 
 
 
 
 
 40 
 
 1829 
 
 
 
 17a 
 
 
 240,000,000 
 
 
 40 
 
 1860 
 
 8,000 
 
 80,517 
 
 100-140 
 
 251 
 
 230,000,000 
 
 4,600 
 
 36-4- 
 
 1852 
 
 7,771 
 
 26,000 
 
 30-110 
 
 138 
 
 8,000,000 
 
 3,933 
 
 40 
 
 1856 
 
 20,000 
 
 65,000 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 
 40 
 
 1854 
 
 19,000 
 
 50,000 
 
 88 
 
 
 13,000,000 
 
 
 36 
 
 1852 
 
 8,623 
 
 13,980 
 
 40-160 
 
 132 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 20-4- 
 
 1856 
 
 15,586 
 
 57,192 
 
 17-73 
 
 238 
 
 5,237,000 
 
 6,794 
 
 30 
 
 1853 
 
 35,372 
 
 102,709 
 
 50-90 
 
 283 
 
 493,000 
 
 8,231 
 
 23-4- 
 
 1854 
 
 51,303 
 
 184,837 
 
 10-100 
 
 
 5,000,000 
 
 
 40 
 
 1859 
 
 26,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 1838 
 
 5,000 
 
 21,941 
 
 70 
 
 
 
 
 
 1834 
 
 1,300 
 
 9,000 
 
 140 
 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 1849 
 
 1,500 j 
 
 5,000 
 
 80 
 
 
 
 
 
 1852 
 
 3,500 
 
 12,000 
 
 60 
 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 1858 
 
 500 
 
 3,700 
 
 95 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 1856 
 
 2,000 
 
 7,000 
 
 115 
 
 20 
 
 200,000,000 
 
 
 40 
 
 1853 
 
 
 
 175 
 
 16 
 
 400,000,000 
 
 
 
 1859 
 
 250 
 
 1,500 
 
 145 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 1857 
 
 1,500 
 
 3,300 
 
 150-240 
 
 636 
 
 5,000,000 
 
 360 
 
 
 1853 
 
 1,600 
 
 
 30-60 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 50-4- 
 
 1858 
 
 
 | 
 
 30-100 
 
 
 
 
 
 1856 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 1858 
 
 
 1 
 
 145 
 
 70-130 
 
 200 
 
 60,000,000 
 
 ' 5,500 
 
 '40 
 
 186 
 
20 
 
 Table showing the Elevation of the points named above Lake 
 Ontario , or above the Erie Canal in Rochester. 
 
 LOCALITIES. j 
 
 Distance from 1 
 tochester-Miles. 
 
 ibove Lake Ontario. — 
 Number of feet. 
 
 Top of Lower Falls, 
 
 2 
 
 98 
 
 Head of Buell Avenue, 
 
 2 
 
 208 
 
 Lake Yiew, 
 
 
 279 
 
 Erie Canal in Rochester, 
 
 
 260 
 
 Above the Erie Canal in Rochester. 
 
 
 
 Summit of Spring Street, 
 
 
 18 
 
 “ Plymouth Avenue, 
 
 
 19 
 
 “ St. Paul Street, 
 
 
 24 
 
 “ Court Street, 
 
 
 26 
 
 “ Gibbs and Main Streets, 
 
 
 30 
 
 East Avenue, 
 
 
 28 
 
 “ Buffalo and Genesee Streets, 
 
 
 24 
 
 Washington Square, 
 
 
 26 
 
 Brown “ 
 
 
 
 Franklin “ 
 
 
 26 
 
 Fourth and South part of Fifth and Sixth 
 
 
 
 Wards, 
 
 
 25 
 
 Seventh Ward, 
 
 
 2-20 
 
 Twelfth “ 
 
 
 2-30 
 
 Eighth “ 
 
 
 10-30 
 
 Third “ 
 
 
 0-20 
 
 Second and North part of First, 
 
 
 Below 
 
 Ninth Ward, .' 
 
 
 U 
 
 North part of Fifth and Sixth Wards, 
 
 
 < < 
 
 Genesee River at Main Street, 
 
 
 28 below 
 
 “ “ Clarissa Street, 
 
 
 5 “ 
 
 Allen’s Creek at Scottsville, 
 
 12 
 
 22J 
 
 Conesus outlet at Avon, 
 
 21 
 
 40 
 
 Honeoye Falls, 
 
 16 
 
 145 
 
 Honeoye outlet at Smithtown, 
 
 17 
 
 204 
 
 Honeoye and Hemlock outlets at Junction,... 
 
 22} 
 
 l 284 
 
 Site of Reservoir near “ “ 
 
 23“ 
 
 1 295 
 
 Outlet Richmond Mills, 
 
 235- 
 
 326 
 
 Hemlock Lake, 
 
 28° 
 
 388 
 
 Honeoye Lake, 
 
 28 
 
 290 
 
 Canadice Lake, 
 
 28 
 
 500 
 
 W^ads worth’s hill, Eighth W^ard, 
 
 LV' ‘ 
 
 50 
 
 Ridge west of Mount Hope, 
 
 2“ 
 
 . 60 
 
 Ho. east “ “ 
 
 
 113 
 
 Hill in east part of Henrietta, 
 
 6 
 
 125 
 
 Mendon Ponds, 
 
 8 
 
 131 
 
21 
 
 Modes of Conveying Water into Cities. 
 
 Residing in a city which is surrounded by streams and bodies 
 of water, any one of which cou-ld be made to flow through our 
 streets by means of steam or waterpower, and very few of which 
 can be made to flow into the city by gravity, the comparative 
 expense of these different modes of introducing the required 
 supply of water becomes to our citizens a very interesting and 
 pertinent inquiry. 
 
 Whenever the source from which a community can be ade- 
 quately supplied, is sufficiently elevated and near to the district 
 requiring the service, such conduit as will permit the water to 
 flow into the Distributing Reservoir by the force of its own grav- 
 ity, being simple and economical, and least of all modes liable 
 to casualities or failure, is doubtless preferable to all other modes. 
 Even when the source is more distant, and the cost of the addi- 
 tional length of conduit required* would amount to a sum whose 
 interest would pay the expense of a supply by pumping, the 
 regulai ity and greater certainty of the supply by gravity, should 
 give to this mode the preference. • 
 
 Whenever a resort to pumping becomes necessary, water power 
 if available, is the most economical agent. 
 
 In the Tabular Statement already referred to, the comparative 
 original cost of the works from which returns have been obtained, 
 and also the annual receipts and expenses in each case, are 
 given with a view to exhibit the merits of the different systems 
 of Water Works already constructed in this country, and the 
 compartive economy of obtaining supplies by either steam power, 
 water power, or gravity. 
 
 In a subsequent part of this Report some statements are given 
 showing the comparative cost of Water supplies, when obtained 
 by either of the modes referred to. 
 
22 
 
 Quantity of Water Required. 
 
 In the early history of the efforts in this country to obtain 
 water supplies for cities, 25 to 30 gallons per clay for each person 
 of the district to be supplied, was considered an ample rate to 
 meet all the demands whatever for water. But more recently 
 the experience of some of our principal cities, indicates the wis- 
 dom and necessity of providing for a higher rate of consump- 
 tion. During the last year, the distribution from the Water 
 Works in Boston, was at the rate of 72 gallons per day ; from the 
 Croton Works stated to be 70 gallons, and at Philadelphia from 
 all the works, it was at the rate of over 50 gallons per person, of 
 the entire population of those places. In the foregoing Tabular 
 Statement, the rate of consumption in other cities is given. 
 
 Although 40 gallons per day, for each person in a popula- 
 tion of 50,000, would perhaps be considered a reasonable 
 allowance for this city, at the present time, yet it would be un- 
 wise to construct a system of works at great expense, to be 
 dependent upon a source which could not furnish, if it should 
 hereafter be needed, at least as much as 60 gallons per day, each, 
 for a population of 100,000. The rate first above named would 
 give 2,000,000 gallons, and the last 6,000,000 per day, for the city. 
 
 Distributing Reservoir. 
 
 A Reservoir of a capacity sufficient to contain a supply oi 
 water for several days, and situated at an elevation which will 
 carry the water by the force of gravity alone, to every part oi 
 the district to be supplied, is now considered indispensible tc 
 the successful operation of a system of Water Works. The sub 
 stitutes for this mode of distribution, which have been resorted 
 to in a few instances, are two ; a distribution from a stand pipe 
 and a distribution from the pumping or supply main. Botl 
 plans are very objectionable, as they subject the service of wate] 
 
23 
 
 to the citizens, to all the casualities and irregularities ol the 
 pumping machinery ; and probably in all cases increase the 
 expense of pumping the requisite supply. At the 24th Ward 
 works in Philadelphia, the supply costs more than three times as 
 much per 1,000,000 gallons as that from the Schuylkill woiks, 
 
 ' where there is a liberal extent of Distributing Reservoir. Doubt- 
 less this excess of cost is attributable in part to the greater eleva- 
 tion of the district to be supplied by the 24th Ward Works. 
 Both these plans are also found in practice to be objectionable, 
 on account of the quality of the water when served directly to 
 the water takers from the pipes, without previous exposure in 
 open space, to the atmosphere. 
 
 Whenever a Distributing Reservoir is so small that it will not 
 contain more than one day’s demand, as is the case at Cincinnati, 
 the benefits of circulation and exposure in the air and sun, after 
 passing through the pumping or supply main are lost. It is also 
 claimed that too great extent in a Distributing Reservoir is a 
 fault, since the daily supply must be drawn from a body of water 
 which has lain for weeks in a quiescent state. The just medium 
 in the size of such Reservoir would be that which would supply 
 the district dependent upon it during the time required for any 
 necessary repairs of machinery or conduits, and which, together 
 with a Receiving Reservoir near at hand, will contain a supply 
 for two or three weeks. 
 
 For whatever purpose a Reservoir may be designed, it should 
 have a depth sufficient to prevent the growth of aquatic plants 
 and also to avoid the the influence of elevated temperature upon 
 organic matter at the bottom of the Reservoir. 
 
 Along the range of hills east of Mount Hope Cemetery , sevei al 
 sites may be found for the economical construction of a Distribu- 
 ting Reservoir. A water surface of about 3 acres, and a capa- 
 
24 
 
 city of 30,000,000 gallons may be obtained here without difficulty, 
 and any additional extent of Beservoir auxiliary to this, may be 
 located about 4 miles further south. For the purpose of accu- 
 rately comparing the several plans which will be described in 
 detail, in a subsequent part of this Report, the summit of the 
 ridge directly east of South Avenue has been assumed as a suit- 
 able site for such Reservoir. 
 
 Sources of Supply for Rochester . 
 
 Among the sources from which this city may be abundantly 
 supplied with water, and which have from time to time been pro- 
 posed to be used for that purpose, the most prominent and 
 important ones are : 
 
 The Genesee River. 
 
 Lake Ontario. 
 
 Irondequoit Creek. 
 
 Black Creek. 
 
 Little Black Creek, or the Basin in which it rises. 
 
 Caledonia Spring. 
 
 The Mendon Ponds. 
 
 Honeoye Outlet, at West Rush. 
 
 L>o. do. do. Smithtown. 
 
 Conesus Lake. 
 
 Hemlock Lake. 
 
 Of these bodies and streams of water, the most obvious and 
 important characteristics may be stated as follows : 
 
 The Genesee River, which flows through the centre of the city, 
 with a volume of water, one-fiftieth part of which at lowest water, 
 would be more than sufficient to supply the city, would furnish 
 the most simple and cheap mode of meeting this great want of our 
 population, were it not objectionable on account of the quality 
 of the water. Besides it's proverbial hardness, the water of this 
 
25 
 
 river is frequently rendered turbid and unfit for use, by the effects 
 of floods in the River. At such times the fine mould from the 
 alluvial formation of the valley above, is borne along, mechani- 
 cally suspended in such quantities, that it does not wholly sub- 
 side until the waters of the river are intimately mingled with 
 those of Lake Ontario. 
 
 By means of subsiding or filtering Reservoirs, this impurity 
 might probably be removed. The quality termed hardness, is 
 principally owing to the presence of lime too intimately combined 
 to be separated by filtration, and is derived princially from the 
 tributaries which flow into the River upon the west side, below 
 Mount Morris, and although not invariable in its proportion to 
 the whole quantity of water in the River, it is a serious objection 
 to the use of this, as a source of supply for Rochester, unless 
 Reservoirs were to be constructed of such capacity, that resort 
 to the River itself could be dispensed with, except at times of 
 high water. When the volume of the River is increased many 
 fold by recent rains, the aipount of lime-bearing water, in the 
 whole quantity, remains almost invariable, and thereby the de- 
 gree of hardness is greatly diminished. There can be little doubt 
 that the water of this river may be rendered as good as that which 
 is now supplied to many cities in this country, and much better 
 than that which is furnished to several cities of Europe. The 
 unoccupied water power at the Rapids affords a convenient and 
 economical means of elevating the water tothe proposed Distri- 
 buting Reservoir. 
 
 Lake Ontario presents the purest and most copious supply of 
 water in the vicinity of Rochester. The distance of this Lake 
 from any suitable site for a Distributing Reservoir, and the eleva- 
 tion to which the water must be raised by either steam or water 
 
 power, although very serious objections to this plan of supplying 
 4 
 
26 
 
 the city, would not be deemed insurmountable, if the water of the 
 Lake could at all times be obtained in the purity which -it pre- 
 sents at a distance from the shore, and out of the range of 
 admixture with the waters of the Genesee River. A supply from 
 this source would be subject, like that distributed to Cleveland 
 and Chicago, and perhaps in somewhat less degree, to Buffalo 
 and Detroit, to become turbid and unpleasant at the time of 
 every storm on the Lake, and if taken from the Lake within the 
 distance of from 1 to 3 miles from the mouth of the Genesee 
 River, it would at times be deteriorated in quality, by the pres- 
 ence of the River water, which may always be traced to' a con- 
 siderable distance in a direction with the prevalent wind. 
 
 By either steam power to be located at the Lake shore, or 
 w^ater power at the Lower Falls, on the River, a sufficient quan- 
 tity of water may with certainty and success, be elevated to the 
 Distributing Reservoir, and thence conveyed through the city by 
 gravity. 
 
 From Black Creek, in the town of Chili, at a point about 5 
 miles south-west of the Distributing Reservoir — from the Iron- 
 dequoit Creek in Penfield, at a point where the stream in its 
 winding course approaches within 4 h miles of the Reservoir, and 
 from the Honeoye outlet at West Rush, about 14 miles from the 
 Reservoir, the requisite quantity of water could, at the lowest 
 stages in these streams, be obtained to supply the city. In each 
 case pumping machinery would be required. For a supply from 
 Black Creek, the most economical plan would be to conduct the 
 W'ater from the Creek to the Rapids in either a pipe or a conduit of 
 brick, and from that point to elevate the supply by water power to 
 the Reservoir. From the Irondequoit, the supply could be 
 elevated by steam or water power, to be located near the Creek, 
 through pipe directly to the Reservoir. From the outlet at Rush, 
 
\ 
 
 27 
 
 an open channel would convey the water to the Rapids, and thence 
 by water power it could be elevated to the Reservoir. 
 
 Rear the village of Caledonia, about 19 miles from Rochester, 
 there is found a copious and beautiful spring, discharging from 
 2 to 4,000,000 gallons of transparent water each day. This water 
 might be conveyed in pipe to this city, but on account of the 
 distance not at an elevation sufficient for its distribution by 
 gravity. 
 
 Both the quality of the water from all the sources just named, 
 and the cost of the works which would be required to convey the 
 w T ater to a suitable Distributing Reservoir, together with the con- 
 tinual expense of pumping are considerations which render 
 these sources of supply for Rochester, objectionable, compared 
 with the outlet of Hemlock Lake, at Smithtown. 
 
 In the -west part of the town of Mend on are several ponds of 
 considerable size, and of sufficient elevation for their waters to 
 be conducted in pipe, by the force of gravity to the Distributing 
 Reservoir — but the quantity of water flowing from them is quite 
 insufficient to supply the city, being only about 500,000 gallons 
 per day. 
 
 These Ronds, and the valley in which they are situated, are 
 important only as they are located on a feasable route for pipe, 
 or other conduit from Hemlock Lake, or its outlet to the city, and 
 may become the site of a large Storing Reservoir for the waters 
 of this Lake. 
 
 In a communication to the late Mayor of Rochester, the Hon. 
 Elisha Johnson suggested Little Black Creek, or the extended 
 Basin embracing the head waters of this Creek, together with 
 those of the Oak Orchard, Sandy, and Black Creeks, as a source 
 from which Rochester could be fully supplied with water. Such 
 proportion of the annual rain fall upon this area of water shed 
 
28 
 
 (to which Mr. J ohnson assigns an extent of 10 to 15 square miles) 
 as could be collected in a Storing Reservoir would be much more 
 than sufficient to supply this city with water ; but the distance 
 and the want of elevation of such Reservoir, above the district to 
 be supplied, precludes the hope that the water could be con- 
 veyed to the city, and distributed by gravity. 
 
 The plan already proposed for the introduction and elevation 
 to the Distributing Reservoir of the waters of Black Creek, would 
 be equally applicable to those which might be collected on Mr. 
 Johnson’s plan. The natural flow of this creek at low water, 
 as will be seen by reference to the following table of analysis, is 
 somewhat objectionable ; yet those to be collected from the an- 
 nual fall of rain and snow, would be soft and pure. Essentially 
 upon this plan, Albany and several other places, have been 
 recently supplied with water. The Collecting and Storing Reser- 
 voir, which is the important feature of this plan, should be con- 
 structed of such extent and depth as to avoid the unfavorable 
 effects upon the water which at the present time seem to be justly 
 attributed at some of the most important Water Works in the 
 country, to vegetable growth, or to the influence of high tempera- 
 ture upon organic and perishable deposits in the bottom of 
 shallow reservoirs. 
 
 From some one of the small Lakes situated south of Rochester, 
 in the counties of Ontario and Livingston, this city may obtain 
 an abundant supply of pure and soft water, which may be retained 
 and stored in natural reservoirs, and from thence conveyed to 
 the city, and distributed to its population by its own gravity. 
 Only one question can arise as to the practicability or the expe- 
 diency of this plan, and that is the one of cost. Since these Lakes 
 possess some advantages over any other sources for a water 
 supply to Rochester, it may be well to describe them fully. 
 
29 
 
 They occupy, respectively, extended valleys, nearly parallel with 
 that of the Genesee River, and are nearly surrounded by ranges 
 of hills of very considerable elevation, forming around each lake 
 an extensive water shed. Situated geologioally above the lime- 
 stone formation, and being fed by springs, and by the annual 
 rain fall over a territory whose soil is but slightly, if at all im- 
 pregnated with lime, they constitute the only source from which 
 this City can be furnished with water comparing in quality w T ith 
 that supplied to the cities of Boston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia. 
 
 Honeoye is the most eastern of these Lakes, and gives name to 
 the outlet by which its own waters, together with those of Cana- 
 dice and Hemlock Lakes are discharged into the Genesee River 
 in the town of Rush. 
 
 Canadice Lake is the next in order proceeding westward, and 
 is the smallest, and also the most elevated of the series. 
 
 Hemlock is still more westerly, the largest, and the most 
 important one of the three, having generally bold shores and 
 considerable depth of water. The surface of this Lake is el evated 
 388 feet above the Erie Canal in Rochester, and that of its outlet 
 at Smithtown, 14 miles from the city, has an elevation of 204 
 feet above the Canal. Conesus is the largest and the most wes- 
 terly of these lakes, discharging its waters into the river near 
 Avon Springs, about 21 miles from Rochester. 
 
 Of all these lakes, although their waters are of nearly equal 
 purity, the preference should doubtless be given to Hemlock, 
 Lake, or to this lake combined with one or both of those situated 
 east of it, for the reason that the amount of water it would furnish 
 at the lowest stage is more than equal to that of any other lake, 
 and is double that of Conesus Lake, while the outlet of the latter 
 at its nearest appoach to this city, which is at Avon, is only 40 
 feet higher than the Erie Canal. 
 
30 
 
 When the Erie Canal was completed from Brockport, to the 
 Genesee River, and before it was finished through the mountain 
 ridge at Lockport, the Canal Commissioners converted these 
 lakes into reservoirs, to supply the Canal east and west of Roch- 
 ester. Dams were erected across the outlets of all the lakes and 
 their surfaces were raised about 2 feet, forming reservoirs capable 
 of supplying the Canal for 85 days. From real or apprehended 
 injury to the health of the residents, near the lakes, which was 
 attributed to the overflow of the low^or swampy lands, on their 
 borders the people wefe induced to remove the dams, and restore 
 the lakes to their original condition. 
 
 Again, in 1848 and 1849, the Canal authorities proposed to 
 form reservoirs on these lakes to aid in supplying the Erie Canal 
 east of Rochester, and surveys were made, and plans adopted for 
 the necessary works to put the scheme into operation. The plan 
 at this time adopted, was to draw down the lakes below the 
 usual level, by means of deepened channels. By this plan sunken 
 and overflowed lands would be reclaimed, and it is believed that 
 none would object to its being carried out, provided the flow of 
 water from the Lakes were so controlled as not to injure the Mills 
 at the foot of the Lakes. All mills situated below these would 
 be benefitted by the arrangement. 
 
 In this way the State proposed to draw from the 4 Lakes, 9,100 
 cubic feet of water per minute, for 120 days, which is equal to 
 twice the present annual supply to the City of Boston, and equal 
 to the whole quantity which the Croton works have for many 
 years supplied to the City of New York * The estimated cost ot 
 the works for Hemlock Lake was $16,000, and the quantity of 
 water to be drawn by the plan from this Lake, was equal to 
 6,000,000 gallons per day, for one year. 
 
 From either Honeoye or Conesus Lake, an adequate supply of 
 
 *See Note .B. 
 
31 
 
 water could be obtained, but Hemlock Lake is to be preferred 
 on account of its greater elevation, and more capacious discharge 
 of water. 
 
 During 6 or 8 months in each year, the quantity of water 
 | flowing from this Lake is much beyond the wants of this City. 
 By means of a dam and discharge gate, it is proposed to retain 
 . a portion of the surplus waters of the winter and spring in the 
 Lake, until the dry period begins, and then by a draught regulated 
 to meet the wants of Rochester, added to the amount of the usual 
 
 ! 
 
 flow in the outlet, to supply the city, without injury to the 
 hydraulic privileges situated on the outlet. 
 
 The following Table contains an abstract of experimets made 
 on the Chenango Canal, to determine the proportion of the falling 
 water which could be collected into Reservoirs. 
 
 Eaton Brook Valley. 
 
 Rain Guage. Falling water over 
 Dates. Inches. an area of 6.000 
 
 ecres.— Cubic Ft. 
 
 June, 1835, to June, 1836, 34.52 852,091,680 
 
 Ain’t of water pas- 
 sing sluice from 
 same source. — 
 Cubic Feet. 
 
 641,199,456 
 
 Madison Brook Valley. 
 
 June, 1835, to June, 1836, 35.68 777,110,400 363,483,072 
 
 These experiments show that from 46 to 75 per cent, of the 
 water falling annually upon any extent of water shed, may be 
 collected into a Reservoir, or into a lake situated in the valley 
 surrounded by a corresponding area of water shed. Similar 
 experiments have been made in other parts of this State, at Bos- 
 ton, and in England, with results varying according to the locality, 
 but all very favorable. 
 
 “The area of the drainage basin of Lake Cochituate, is given as 
 11,400 acres, and during the past 9 years the average rain fall 
 upon this area has been 48 inches per annum, while the quantity 
 of water yielded by the Lake, has, during the same time been 
 nearly 53 per cent, of the rain fall.” 
 
32 
 
 In the Reports of the Regents of the University, the average 
 annual rain fall for the whole State, taking a mean of 4 years, is 
 35 £ inches : 40 per cent of this depth over an area of 27,554 
 acres, which is the area of the rain shed of Hemlock Lake, will 
 give an amount sufficient to furnish a daily discharge from this 
 Lake of 28,000,000 gallons for the whole year. 
 
 The outlet of Canadice unites with that of Hemlock Lake very 
 near the foot of the latter, and might, at a small cost, be extended 
 to the Lake itself, and thus considerably increase the volume of 
 water flowing from it. 
 
 The following table will show the character of these Lakes and 
 their capacity to furnish water for this city. 
 
 Table showing the Extent and Capacity of the Lakes, thev, Depth , 
 Drainage and other Characteristics . 
 
 
 Honeoye. j 
 
 Canadice . 1 
 
 Hemlock. 
 
 BConesus. 
 
 Length miles, 
 
 41-5 
 
 3 1-10| 
 
 6 7-10 
 
 7 4-5 
 
 Width “ 
 
 5. 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 o 1 
 
 6-10 
 
 
 Depth — feet 
 
 10 to 25 
 
 50-80! 
 
 45-80 
 
 35-70 
 
 Area — acres 
 
 1727 
 
 648 
 
 1828 
 
 3,330 
 
 Drainage, “ 
 
 36,100 
 
 8,883 
 
 27,554 
 
 39,980 
 
 Swamp at head of Lake. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Acres 
 
 715 
 
 45 
 
 100 
 
 0 
 
 Distance from Rochester, 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
 26 
 
 29 
 
 Minimum discharge in 
 
 
 
 
 
 cubic feet per minute, 
 
 300 
 
 200 
 
 300 
 
 150 
 
 Same in gallons per day, 
 
 3,240,000 
 
 2,160,000 
 
 3,240,000 
 
 1,620,000 
 
 No. of gallons in 1 foot 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 depth at surface 
 
 560,290,500 
 
 1178,378,200 
 
 j 505,731,600 
 
 1,078,926,750 
 
 Equal to gall’s pr. day, 1 
 
 1,535,042 
 
 : 488,707 
 
 1,385,566 
 
 2,945,963 
 
 Add minimum flow... j 
 
 3,250,000 
 
 2,160,000 
 
 3,240,000 
 
 1,620,000 
 
 Total daily discharge of 
 
 
 
 
 
 each Lake, 
 
 1 4,775,042 
 
 2,648,707 
 
 4,625,566 
 
 4,575,963 
 
 In the above table, the quantity of water which may be fur- 
 nished from Hemlock Lake, by making a draught upon the same, 
 as upon a reservoir one foot deep, is shown to be for the whole 
 
 year, as stated in gallons per day, 1,385,566 
 
 Do. of Canadice Lake, 1 h feet deep, - - - - 733,060 
 
 This for 4 months only, would be, 
 
 2,118,626 
 - 6,355,878 
 
33 
 
 Should Hemlock Lake be drawn down 2 feet, and Canadice, 3 
 feet, the quantity would be 4,237,252 gallons per day, for the 
 year, and 12,711,756 gallons for 4 months. 
 
 For the remaining part of the year, the natural discharge of 
 these two lakes would be ample both for the wants of Rochester, 
 and for the mills situated upon the outlet. 
 
 The citizens of Rochester need not therefore entertain any fear 
 should one or more of these lakes be adopted as the principal 
 
 Reservoir for the city, that there will be any deficiency in the 
 supply. 
 
 Although the surface of Hemlock Lake is so much elevated 
 above Rochester, this beautiful sheet of water lies in a deep val- 
 ley or depression between the hills, whose slopes generally rise 
 either directly frpm the water’s edge, or from a narrow beach 
 without intervening flats or swamps, except at the head of the 
 Lake. Canadice is quite similar to Hemlock Lake, both in 
 appearance, and in the quality of the water. 
 
 For the first 5 miles, the outlet of Hemlock Lake passes through 
 a narrow and somewhat winding valley, the water channel being 
 still more circuitous, and descending about 104 feet in the dis- 
 tance of 5 3-5 miles, to the Honeye Flats, where the junction is 
 made with the outlet of Honeoye Lake. From this point to the 
 village -called Smithtown, situated near the north-west corner of 
 the town of Bloomfield, the descent in the outlet is moderate, 
 but its course is very circuitous, often changing from side to side 
 of a valley, varying in width from one-tenth to one-half of a mile. 
 Should the water of these Lakes be taken to supply Rochester, 
 whatever mode may be adopted to convey it to this point, the 
 general course of the outlet can not be departed from for any 
 considerable portion of the distance, which is about 14 miles. 
 
 From Smithtowm either of three routes may be followed, — the 
 first proceeds westerly to a point about three-fourths of a mile 
 
34 
 
 west of the village at Honeoye Falls, and thence in a course 
 quite direct, to the site of the Distributing Keservoir. The course 
 of the second route is northerly, through the valley in which the 
 Mendon Ponds are situated, and thence as directly as the inter- 
 vening surface will permit, to the Keservoir. The third route is 
 very direct to the Keservoir, and intermediate between the others, 
 passing near and just east of Honeoye Falls, and of the village 
 of East Henrietta. Of these routes, the last is the shortest one, 
 and is preferable to the others, unless the plan of a large Storing 
 Keservoir should be adopted. 
 
 Much of the water power formed along this outlet by the des- 
 cent of 388 feet, in its course to the Genesee Kiver, is occupied 
 by valuable flouring mills and other hydraulic machinery, to 
 which the use of the water of a stream, which is sometimes 
 reduced below what is required to propel two or three runs of 
 stone, is very important. Such mills and machinery are found 
 at Hemlock Lake Village, at Frost’s Hollow, at Factory Hollow, 
 Smithtown, Honeoye Falls, Sibley ville, and at East and West 
 Kush. This property has greatly declined in value within a few 
 • years, but is still of such importance that it would be inexpedient 
 to divert the water of the Lakes, to the injury of the Mills. 
 
 All the hydraulic power on this outlet may be benefited, or 
 at least left uninjured by forming Keservoirs either on the outlet, 
 or on the Lake itself, of an extent sufficient to retain from the 
 surplus water of the winter and spring, an ample store to supply 
 the city during the period of low water. Several sites were 
 observed during the survey, of a favorable character for the 
 economical construction of such a work. In the Mendon Ponds 
 a Keservoir of 100 to 150 acres in extent could be formed, and 
 also near, and either east or west of Honeoye Falls, favorable 
 ground for such a Keservoir occurs ; but the most natural and 
 
35 
 
 favorable site is found about 5 miles below the Lake, where an old 
 meadow of 45 acres in extent is embraced within an ancient cir- 
 cuit of the outlet, surrounded by clayey banks, 25 feet high, 
 except on the narrow neck across which a new channel has been 
 cut, diverting the stream from its former course. But the cheap- 
 est and best plan for a Storing Reservoir is to form it, as has 
 been already intimated, upon the Lake itself. 
 
 From nearly all the sources which have been described, sam- 
 ples of water have been obtained, and the amount of solid matter 
 per gallon in each specimen ascertained by evaporating the 
 water and weighing the dry residuum. The same test has been 
 applied to the water of various wells in the city, and also from 
 some of the most approved filters. The results are stated in the 
 following table. 
 
 1 . 
 
 2 . 
 
 3. 
 
 4. 
 
 5. 
 
 6 . 
 
 7. 
 
 8 . 
 
 9. 
 
 10 . 
 
 11 . 
 
 12 . 
 
 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 15. 
 
 16. 
 
 17. 
 
 18. 
 19. 
 
 Source or Locality. Grai Ser°Sn“ atter 
 
 Lake Ontario, mouth of Genesee, w. of piers, - - - 4.16 
 Do. “ in front of piers, h mile out in j , A AA 
 
 the Lake, f 
 
 Do. do. north-east of piers and beyond the ) ^ 
 
 stream discharged from Genesee river, j 
 
 Genesee River at Rapids, 11.21 
 
 Do. “ at high water, April, 1860, - - - 6.40 
 
 Do. “ at low water, June, 1860, - - - - 9.60 
 
 Do. “ at high water, August, 1860, - - - - 7.46 
 
 Do. “ at a higher stage of water sub- ) 
 
 sequent to the above, - > 5.60 
 
 August, I860, - - - - j 
 
 Do. “ high water subsiding, 4.53 
 
 Irondequoit Creek, Penfield, 24.68 
 
 Black Creek, Chili, 72.80 
 
 Little Black Creek, Chili, 9.40 
 
 Tonawonda Creek, Batavia, 12.57 
 
 Caledonia Spring, 44.80 
 
 Mendon Ponds, 8.00 
 
 Honeoye outlet, West Rush, 6.13 
 
 Do. do. Smithtown, (1853,) taken at ) 
 a moderate rise of water, f 
 
 Do. do. at low water, 2.40 
 
 Honeoye Lake, - - - 4.00 
 
36 
 
 20. Hemlock Lake, - - - 1.33 
 
 21. Erie Canal at Rochester, July, 1860, 8.00 
 
 22. ' Acid spring, £ mile west of Rochester, - - - - 19.20 
 
 23. Well, North Eitzhugh Street, 26.00 
 
 24. Do. South “ “ 16.74 
 
 25. Do. North Washington Street, ------- 34.11 
 
 26. Do. Third Ward Tavern, Cornhill, 41.00 
 
 27. Do. East Avenue, near Gibbs Street, 32.16 
 
 28. Do. South Avenue, - 20.54 
 
 29. Average of Wells in Rochester, - - - - - -28.33 
 
 30- Cistern Water, soon after rain, - - 6.40 
 
 31. Rain water taken in an open vessel, ----- 1.00 
 
 32. Filtered rain water, - - - - - 14.10 
 
 33. “ “ “ second sample, 6.40 
 
 34. Rain water from a cistern, - - - 2.16 
 
 35. Do. “ from same cistern filtered, 4.33 
 
 36. Filtered rain water, - - - - 1.92 
 
 37. Do. “ “ 8.97 
 
 38. Black Creek, second sample, 74.00 
 
 Storing and Subsiding Reservoirs. 
 
 In either of the plans which propose to elevate water to the 
 Distributing Reservoir by a stationary power at the Rapids, an 
 extensive Storing and Subsiding Reservoir is an essential feature. 
 If taken during the time of low water, both the water of the Gene- 
 see River and of Little Black Creek are objectionable. But 
 should the water of the River be taken at the time of a rise, or if 
 taken from a retiring flood tide, it is better than that of the Cro- 
 ton or Schuylkill ; moreover, water collected essentially on the 
 plan proposed by Mr. Johnson from the water shed of Little 
 Black and other creeks, would, without doubt, be found to be 
 equally pure. For the River plan, subsiding and filtering would 
 be requisite, and for both plans an extent of reservoir sufficient 
 to supply the city for 100 days would be required. 
 
 It is admitted that the history of such reservoirs has been for 
 the last few years rather unfavorable to such a project, but it is 
 believed that the difficulties encountered at Boston, New York, 
 Albany, New Britain and Cincinnati, are capable of satisfactory 
 
37 
 
 explanation, and can be remedied." It is shown by the reports 
 of these various Water Boards and Companies, that in every 
 instance where complaint has been made of the quality of the 
 water drawn from such Reservoirs, that the effect may be traced 
 to the presence of perishable matter in the bottom of Reservoirs 
 or Ponds, or to the production in shallow water and sunken mea- 
 dows, of minute vegetable organisms, and to the fermentation of 
 living, vegetable products recently immersed in water. From 
 the opinions of Professors Horsford, Silliman, Torry, Chilton and 
 Craselli, these effects are not considered to be lasting, or to im- 
 impart any unwholesome quality to the w~ater, and it is to be in- 
 ferred from their reports, that these unpleasant effects would be 
 avoided by forming reservoirs of greater depth and with their 
 inner surfaces wholly free from vegetable deposits and perishable 
 matter. 
 
 Extensive storage of water is an important element in the 
 means of supplying some of our largest cities. The daily supply 
 of Yew York is greater than the minimum flow T of the Croton, 
 and will soon be greater than the medium flow, and the annual 
 consumption of Boston is steadily approximating to the total 
 capacity of its Lake and Reservoirs. 
 
 The daily supply, the storage, and the ratio of the storage and 
 supply of some of the leading systems, are given in the following 
 
 table. 
 
 LOCALITIES. 
 
 Daily Supply. 
 
 1 Capacity of Reservoir 
 
 jNumber of daj r s 
 | supply 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 
 19,638,442 
 
 66,000,000 
 
 3& 
 
 New York, - - - - 
 
 30,000,000 
 
 770,000,000 
 
 2.6 
 
 Boston, - - - - 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 106,000,000 
 
 7 
 
 Do. with the Lake, 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 798,000,000 
 
 53* 
 
 Brooklyn, - - - - 
 
 10,000,000 
 
 240,000,000 
 
 24 
 
 Jersey City, - - - 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 55,334,000 
 
 27 
 
 Cincinnati, - - - - 
 
 4,618,587 
 
 5,000,000 | 
 
 i + ! 
 
 Albany, - - - - 
 
 2,500,000 
 
 230,000,000 ! 
 
 92 
 
 Hartford, - - - - 
 
 785,000 
 
 8,000,000 
 
 10 
 
 Bridgeport, - - - 
 
 400,000 
 
 200,000,000 
 
 365.+ 
 
 Hew Britain, - - - 
 
 360,000 
 
 400,000,000 [ 
 
 365*+ 
 
38 
 
 Conductors of Water. 
 
 Aqueducts of masonry were the earliest artificial conductors of 
 water for the supply of towns and cities. These were often con- 
 structed at great expense, forming a channel of a uniform 
 declivity, for a considerable volume of water over intervening 
 elevations and valleys. In crossing valleys, the earliest mode 
 was to support the high structures upon arches. At a later period 
 pipes of lead, in the form of an inverted syphon, were used to 
 conduct the w T ater across the valley, from the end of the aque 
 duct on the one side, to the continuation of it on the other. Pipes 
 of lead, and of earthen or stone ware, were used to convey and 
 distribute the water from the aqueduct, and at a later period 
 pipes of wood were extensively used for the same purpose, both 
 in Europe and in this country. Cast iron was substituted for j 
 wood and laid in London, in 1810, and in Philadelphia in 1820. ! 
 Since that time cast iron for street mains of all sizes has come 
 into very general use. Street pipe for the conveyance of water i 
 has been made of stone, and recently of glass, and of hydraulic 
 cement. 
 
 Pipes of wood are still in use in Springfield, Ct., and in Detroit. | 
 At the latter place, about 9,000 feet of this kind was laid during 
 the last season. 
 
 Within the last 12 or 15 years, a water pipe formed of sheet 
 iron and hydraulic cement, has come into use. During the pre- 
 sent season, the manufacture ot a water pipo has been commenced, 
 which is formed of a hollow cylinder of wood strengthened by 
 bands of iron, and protected by a coating of hydraulic cement. 
 Only three kinds of pipe will be introduced into the following 
 estimates, and since each kind has been claimed by its advocates 
 or opponents to have characteristic merits or defects, a brief 
 description of them may be desirable. It is obvious that pipe 
 may be made of cast iron, of any desired strength, and it may 
 
39 
 
 be made more readily perhaps, than other materials, to assume 
 any required form and dimensions ; but since this material has 
 no certain and uniform modulus of strength, it becomes necessary 
 to give to the castings an extra thickness, to compensate for the 
 deficiency. 
 
 After all the precautions of remelting the iron, and casting the 
 segments of pipe in vertical moulds, this pipe is often found to 
 be defective, and should never be laid without being subjected 
 to the test of a pressure of 300 pounds to the square inch, which 
 will generally disclose its defects. Although it can be made of 
 such thickness as to resist any uniform pressure, yet when sub- 
 i jected to irregular pressure, or rapid concussion, it often bursts. 
 But the most serious objection, perhaps, to cast iron w^ater pipe 
 is the “tendency to the absorption of the iron, and the gradual 
 formation of concretions or tubercles in the interior of the pipes, by 
 which their capacity is diminished, and the fiow of water impeded. 
 
 E. S. Chesbrough, Esq., the City Engineer of Boston, in his 
 
 report to the Cochituate Water Board, in 1852, remarks, that — 
 
 “The rapidity with which the interior surfaces of some of the 
 pipes have become covered with tubercles or rust, has excited a 
 great deal of interest, and has been the subject of much observa- 
 tion ; but the cause of such a wide difference in the growth of 
 these tubercles in different pipes, and in different places, does 
 not appear to be clearly understood. All the large pipes that 
 have been opened, have been partially or entirely covered on 
 their inner surfaces, some with detached tubercles, varying from 
 a half to two and a half inches base, with a depth or thickness in 
 the middle, of from one quarter to three quarters of an inch ; and 
 some entirely, to an average depth of half an inch, with a rough 
 coating, as if the bases of the tubercles had crowded together. 
 The smaller pipes all exhibit some action of this kind, but gener- 
 ally to a less extent, as regards thickness, than the larger ones. 
 
40 
 
 In one case, however, a four-inch pipe was found covered to a 
 thickness of about one inch. This was in that part of Myrtle 
 street, which was formerly called Zone street, where the entrance 
 
 to a service pipe was entirely stopped by rust. Wrought-iron 
 pipes fill much more rapidly than cast-iron ones ; and in several 
 
 instances, service pipes made of that metal have, during the last 
 year, become so obstructed as to be almost or quite useless. 
 
 “ The Jamaica Aqueduct pipe, which was originally 10 inches 
 in diameter, has been, in some cases, reduced to 8, by tubercles, 
 which however, are different in form from those in the Cochitu- 
 ate pipes, They appear to lap over each other in the direction 
 of the current ; this is very strikingly the case at the commence- 
 ment of the pipe, as if their form was owing in some measure to 
 the mechanical action of the current. 
 
 The following extracts are taken from the annual report of the 
 “Cochituate Water Board to the City of Boston,” for 1852, 
 to show the growing importance of this subject : 
 
 “ Among the variety of topics noticed in the report of the 
 Engineer, which are well deserving the consideration of the City 
 Council, there is one, in particular, to which we w T ould now call 
 its attention, which we consider to be eminently so. W e allude 
 to the effects which are found to be produced on the inner sur- 
 face of all the iron mains and pipes, by the action of the water. 
 The attention of the Water Board was attracted to the subject, 
 soon after its appointment ; for although the pipes had then been 
 in use less than three years, those effects are already quite obvi- 
 ous and striking, and in fact had been noticed some time previous. 
 They have since then been carefully watched, and the valuable 
 assistance of Professor Horsford has been engaged for the pur- 
 pose of ascertaining as far as is practicable, their origin, their 
 probable progress for the future, and the means which might be 
 relied upon, for the purpose of preventing, arresting, or retarding 
 
41 
 
 them, and thus obviating the consequences which were likely to 
 be the result. The two communications of Professor Horsford 
 on the subject, which we beg leave to annex to this report, have 
 described with so much minuteness and clearness the present 
 appearance and state of the interior of the mains and pipes, as 
 does also the report of the City Engineer, that it is rendered 
 entirely unnecessary for the Board to repeat the description, and 
 they would therefore refer the Council to these communications. 
 It is presumed, also, that the members of the Council are gener- 
 ally acquainted with those facts. 
 
 “ The effects to which we now allude, are the peculiar changes 
 which have been produced on the iron itself ; and they consist in: 
 
 “ 1. The absorption of the iron in certain places, and the for- 
 mation in its stead of a substance resembling plumbago. 
 
 “ 2. The gradual development of local accretions or tubercles, 
 in the interior of the pipes, by which the flow of water is impeded, 
 and their capacity diminished, so that the object for which they 
 were laid becomes imperfectly accomplished, and an apprehen- 
 sion is excited that they may be so far closed up as to be useless 
 hereafter. 
 
 The Water Board have heretofore thought that it would be in- 
 teresting and useful to lay before the Council somewhat in detail, 
 not only the present condition of the pipes ' belonging to the 
 Water Works of this city, in relation to the subject, but also the 
 result of such inquiries as they have been able to make into the 
 extent of the same evils in other places, and the efforts which 
 have been made to ascertain their nature and origin, and to pro- 
 vide a remedy for them, and the success of those efforts. 
 
 “ The first notice taken of this subject which we have seen, 
 
 appears in the transactions of the French Academy of Sciences, 
 
 for the year 1836. ( Comptes Rendus , v. 3,y?. 131.) It is a note 
 
 by Mr. Vicat on the subject of a coating to prevent the develop - 
 6 
 
42 
 
 by Mr. Vicat on the subject of a coating to prevent the develop- 
 ment of tuberculous accretions in cast-iron pipes for conducting 
 water. He states that a report printed at Grenoble, November 
 22, 1833, by order of the Municipal Council, called the attention 
 of the public to the rapid, as well as unforeseen, filling up of the 
 large cast-iron main, of the Chateau a V Ea%c l in that town. The 
 formation of numerous tubercles of hydroxide of iron, began to 
 show itself shortly after the water was let on, by a perceptible 
 though slight diminution of the discharge. The development of 
 the accretions, however, as was proved by many accurate meas- 
 urements, soon increased so much, that the supply of the Chateau , 
 which had been in 1826 about 1,400 litres (about 370 wine gal- 
 lons) a minute, was gradually reduced in 1833, to 720 litres 
 (about 190 wine gallons,) showing a loss of nearly one-half.” 
 
 44 In 1837 the subject attracted the attention of the British 
 Association oj Science ; and under its auspices a very elaborate 
 investigation of the action of air and water, whether fresh or salt, 
 clear or foul, and at various temperatures, upon cast iron, wrought 
 iron, and steel, was made by Mr. Bobert Mallet. Mr. Mallet 
 commenced in 1838, and continued until the year 1843, a very 
 complete course of experiments on the subject.” 
 
 44 The Board can merely state some of the general laws, regu- 
 lating the action of fresh water on iron pipes, which Mr. Mallet 
 considers as previously known, or established or confirmed by 
 his experiments. 
 
 He found that any part of iron , cast or wrought , corrodes when 
 exposed to the action of water holding air in combination , in one 
 or other or some combination of the following forms, viz : 1. 
 
 Uniformly , or when the whole surface of the iron is covered 
 uniformly with a coat of rust, requiring to be i craped off, and 
 leaving a smooth red surface after it. 2. Uniformly with plum - 
 
43 
 
 . 
 
 bago, where the surface, as before uniformly corroded, is found 
 | in some places covered with plumbagenous matter, leaving a 
 'piebald surface of red and black after it. 3. Locally , or only 
 rusted in some places, and free from rust in others. Locally 
 'pitted, where the surface is left as in the last case, but the metal 
 is found unequally removed to a greater or less depth. 5. Tu- 
 bercular, when the whole of the rust which has taken place at 
 every point of the specimen, has been transferred to one or more 
 particular points of its surface, and has there formed large pro- 
 jecting tubercles, leaving the rest bare.” 
 
 “The size, and perhaps the form, of iron casting, forms one 
 element in the rate of its corrosion in water. Because the thin- 
 ner castings having cooled much faster and more irregularly than 
 the thicker, are much less homogenous, and contain veins and 
 patches harder than the rest of their substance : hence the form- 
 ation of voltaic couples and accelerated corrosion. 
 
 “lie estimates that from three-tenths to four-tenths of an inch 
 in depth, of cast iron one inch thiclc, and about six-tenths of an 
 inch of wrought iron, will be destroyed in a century, in clear 
 water! 
 
 “The subsequent experiments throw no new light on the cause 
 and nature of this singular phenomenon. They show, however, 
 that the same effect is produced by the action of air and fresh 
 water ; and this is too well corroborated by our own experience.” 
 
 “The important problem of preventing the corrosive action of 
 the water, by coating the interior surface of the pipe, was a prin- 
 cipal object of Mr. Mallet’s experiments.” 
 
 “The various results of Mr. Mallet’s experiments are exhibited 
 in a full series of tables, which present to the engineer, as he 
 thinks, ‘sufficient data to enable him to predict the term of dura- 
 bility, and allow for the loss by corrosion of iron in all condi- 
 tions, when entering into his structures.’ 
 
44 : 
 
 The last information to which we shall refer on this subject, is 
 contained in a paper on Tubercles in Iron Pipes, by M. Gaudin, 
 Engineer of Bridges and Roads, published in the Annales des 
 Ponts et Chaussees, for November and December, 1851. He 
 states that the iron conduit at Cherbourg, constructed between 
 the years 1836 and 1838, of white casting, nearly lh miles long, 
 had become everywhere coated with tubercles, which in some 
 places had an elevation of from 1,575 to 1,968 inches, so that 
 the orifice of the pipe, which was when laid, about 7 inches in 
 diameter, had been reduced to less than one-third its original 
 section. The consequence of the diminution of the orifice, joined 
 to the enormous loss of head occasioned by the additional fric- 
 tion, had deprived many of the work-shops at the end of the 
 conduit of a supply, prevented the simultaneous playing of the 
 fountains, and made the supply of the grand reservoir impos- 
 sible, or very feeble. 
 
 “The tubercles were very broad at their base, and very strongly 
 adhering to the surface of the pipe, and could not be removed, 
 except by heating the pipe to a red heat, or by a forcible action 
 of an instrument. They were of a greenish brown color, and 
 testaceous structure, and on exposure to the air, assumed the 
 color of yellow ocher, a sure sign of the oxydation of part of the 
 iron which entered into their composition. Their density was 
 almost 3,362. A chemical analysis gave the following results: 
 
 “He considered it certain, that the iron in the tubercles was 
 to be attributed, exc ] usively, to an alteration winch had taken 
 place in the pipes themselves, no matter what the casting might 
 be, whether white or gray. 
 
 “In reference to the obtaining some remedy for the evil, he 
 observes, that waters the most pure and most proper for the 
 ordinary necessities of life, afford no exemption, since it appears 
 invariable, that the tubercles are in an especial manner develop- 
 
45 
 
 ed by the presence of very small quantities of sea salt, which 
 almost all waters contain. And that chemists and engineers 
 have therefore recommended the forcing of linseed oil by great 
 pressure into the metal, and also coatings of mortars and 
 hydraulic cements and bituminous coverings.” 
 
 “Undoubtedly the most important change which takes place 
 on the inner surface of the pipes, as far as relates to any imme- 
 diate results, is the production of the accretions. The formation 
 of plumbago or something like it, in the place of the iron which 
 has been absorbed, does not, indeed, protect the metal beneath 
 it, and the action continues, perhaps even with a slightly acceler- 
 ated force ; but, according to the French and English authorities, 
 its progress is so slow that many years must elapse before any 
 serious consequences from it alone, would be likely to happen. 
 It is probable that the only way to prevent this action, will be 
 found in coating the surface with some composition which will 
 shield it.” 
 
 “But with regard to the accretions, their growth has been more 
 rapid and important, so much so that our 36 inch and 30 inch 
 mains have become already, in consequence of the actual dimi- 
 nution of their area, and also of the additional friction which 
 has been occasioned, scarcely superior in capacity, to those of 
 34 and 28 inches, having a clean surface; and we have had suf- 
 ficient experience on the subject to convince us of the impolicy 
 of making use of wrought iron service pipes at all, or of cast- 
 iron ones of less than 4 inches in diameter.” 
 
 “Cambridge, Jan. 14, 1852. 
 
 “Thos. Wetmore, Esq. 
 
 “President of the Cochituate Water Board. 
 
 “Dear Sir, — In reply to your favor of the 5 th instant, in rela- 
 tion to the accretions in the Cochituate iron mains, I have to 
 
46 
 
 regret that my investigations thus far have thrown but little light 
 upon the question of most importance, to wit ; How far will 
 these accretions extend ? 
 
 “A brief statement of the present condition of the pipes will 
 show the bearing of this inquiry. 
 
 “At the two points near Dover street, where one of the main 
 iron pipes was taken up for repairs in the last autumn, there 
 were found upon the interior surface of the pipe, nodules vary- 
 ing from half an inch to three inches in diameter, at the base, 
 and having a height of from one quarter to a little more than 
 half an inch. Some of them were of a reddish, others of a dirty 
 yellow color, and those of each color invariably in a group by 
 themselves. They presented concentric structure within, and 
 rested in many cases upon slightly elevated portions of the sur- 
 face of the pipe. These elevated portions were co-extensive with 
 the inferior surface of the nodules, were of a dark brown color, 
 and crumbled at once to powder upon being scratched with a 
 knife. 
 
 “Portions of the surface of some sections of pipe were quite 
 free from accretions. In some areas, the accretions were all 
 small ; in others most were large. There seemed to be no ten- 
 dency among them to gather upon the bottom rather than upon 
 the top and sides. * * * * * 
 
 “The suggestion that the accretions might be due to the growth 
 of some kind of vegetation in which were lodged particles of 
 the ochreous matter in suspension, in small quantity,, in the 
 Cochituate water, and which gives to it its occasional faint wine 
 color, which is found on the bottom of the tunnel, and which 
 accumulates in the filters — was not sustained by microscopic 
 examination. * * * * * * 
 
 “There are reasons for believing the slight elevations of surface 
 observed immediately beneath the accretions, to be due to 
 
47 
 
 changes in the texture of the iron arising from the growth of the 
 accretion, and to an original irregularity of the casting; and 
 further for believing that the accretions are indebted for their 
 iron to the surface upon which they rest, and not at all, or but 
 very slightly, to the water which flows over them. 
 
 “I have wrought-iron pipes of 1 h inches caliber, which are 
 coated with accretions interiorly, and which in 12 months have 
 ‘ been eaten through, from within outward, by the circulation of 
 : cold Cochituate water. I have others of the same diameter, 
 which in 3 months have been 6aten through by the circulation 
 of hot Cochituate water. 
 
 “I have another pipe, 1 inch in diameter, which in 12 months 
 was so nearly closed by accretions throughout its entire length, 
 that it was removed because it ceased to serve water.” 
 
 “The solicitude lies in two directions. In the first place, the 
 accretions diminish the serving capacity. Taking the present 
 average thickness of the incrustation at § of an inch, the serv- 
 ing capacity of a pipe 36 inches in diameter is reduced by the 
 amount of an area 42 § square inches, which is equal to a cylin- 
 drical pipe 7.3 inches in diameter. If we conceive the accretion 
 to go uniformly forward at this rate of 141 square inches per 
 annum, it would become a matter of immediate grave considera- 
 tion. In the second place, the accretions are formed at the 
 expense of the iron upon which they rest. With their increased 
 thickness will come, at a remote period, diminished strength of 
 the iron. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 “I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 “E. N. HOKSFORD ” 
 
 The effect of these accretions was in one instance to diminish 
 
48 
 
 the discharge of the pipe 2o per cent A pipe 956 feet long was 
 cleared out at a cost of $138 50. 
 
 These effects have been observed in Albany, New York and 
 Philadelphia ; also in France and England. In Brooklyn, where 
 the water supplied by the W ater W orks is about as pure as that 
 of Cochituate Lake, these results are so much deprecated as to 
 induce the Water Board to coat the pipe with a combination of 
 coal tar and linseed oil put on at a high heat. The cost is $2 50 
 per ton. The water of Hemlock Lake being of about the same 
 purity as that of Cochituate Lake, similar effects may be appre- 
 hended, if cast iron should be used here. 
 
 The water pipe formed of sheet iron and cement, is made in 
 the following manner. Boiled iron of the guage of (No. 16 to 23,) 
 as the proposed pressure may require, is riveted together in 
 lengths of about eight feet — it is lined on the inside with hydrau- 
 lic cement, and as it is laid in the pipe trenches, the sections are 
 joined together by means of a slieve of the same material which 
 overlaps the joints of the pipe, and is of a larger diameter than 
 the pipe, admitting a lining of cement between the pipe and the 
 slieve ; when thus laid and connected in the trenches, it is cov- 
 ered on the outside with cement. For elbows and connections, 
 the parts are either riveted or soldered together, and all service 
 cocks are soldered to the street pipe. This kind of pipe can be 
 made of any requisite thickness and strength, and is claimed to 
 be a lasting and good conductor of water. It has been subjected 
 to a great pressure, and when faithfully made has proved to be 
 substantial. It is, however, very liable to be imperfect, from 
 want of skill and fidelity in the construction. If laid in water, 
 in wet trenches in frost, or if subjected to concussion, it is liable 
 to fail. In a system of Water Works formed with this kind of 
 pipe in Connecticut, many of the joints made by one individual 
 
49 
 
 were faulty and leaked, while all those made by another, were 
 substantial. It has been made to stand the pressure of 240 feet 
 head of water, and it has failed under the action of a pump, 
 while the stream forced through it appeared to the eye to be per- 
 fectly uniform. Main pipe has been made in this way, of 16 
 and 20 inches diameter. This pipe has been in successful opera- 
 tion since 1836. 
 
 In constructing the water pipe formed of banded wood and 
 cement, an attempt is made to combine the best properties of 
 the different materials used in such a manner that each is to 
 supply the deficiencies of the other. The cylinder which maybe 
 cut from different kinds of wood, forms a cleanly conductor of 
 water, and is stiff and firm against any impulse or stress from 
 without. By the wrought iron bands, it is obvious that any 
 desired strength can be imparted to the pipe. The object of the 
 coating of hydraulic cement is to protect the other two materials 
 from the effects of their contact alternately with air and water. 
 The cylinders are bored by machinery which will cut large 
 diameters with the same facility as small ones, in sections of 8 
 feet in length, and joined so as to form a continued pipe by 
 thimbles inserted into grooves cut in the ends of the sections. 
 The bands are of rolled iron wound tightly from one end spirally 
 to the other end, and strongly fastened at each end. To protect 
 the bands from rust, they are coated as they are passed around 
 the pipe, wfith heated coal tar. 
 
 In March last, some experiments were made at the foundry of 
 William Kidd & Co., of this city, to ascertain the strength of 
 pipe of this kind by the application of hydraulic pressure to the 
 internal surface of the pipe. A piston of a diameter equal to 
 one square inch fitted to an orifice in the iron pipe, which con- 
 nected the pump with the pipe to be tested, and a graduated 
 
50 
 
 scale beam were used to measure the pressure per square inch. 
 The size of the pipe was 10 inches interior, and 16 inches exte- 
 rior diameter, and the length of the pieces 4 feet. The following 
 table gives the amount of pressure applied, and the heigh th of 
 a vertical column of water which will produce an equal pressure. 
 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF BANDS. 
 
 PRESSURE APPLIED. 
 
 NO. OF 
 EXPERIMENT. 
 
 
 
 
 
 WATER PRESSCRE. 
 
 
 WIDTH. 
 
 THICKNESS. 
 
 DIST. APART. 
 
 DBS PER 
 SQUARE INCH. 
 
 PRESSURE 
 
 SUSTAINED. 
 
 WOOD 
 
 CHECKED.* 
 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Inches 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1-16 
 
 4 
 
 407 
 
 940 
 
 960 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1-8 
 
 4 
 
 400 
 
 923 
 
 925 
 
 These trials were witnessed by many of our citizens. 
 
 During the enlargement of the Erie Canal, many structures 
 formed of hydraulic masonry were removed ; enclosed in the 
 walls of these works and in their foundations, were found timber, 
 plank and iron, which were unchanged in color or structure 
 from the time they were placed in the work, a period of from 
 20 to 25 years. These facts suggested originally, the combina- 
 tion which forms the sheet iron and cement pipe, and leads to 
 the expectation that the cement will also protect the materials of 
 the banded wood pipe. 
 
 System of Distribution for Rochester. 
 
 In arranging a system of distributing pipe for this city, the 
 following considerations will have a controlling influence : 
 
 That portion of the city which is the most distant from the 
 Reservoir, is also much the lowest ; a fact which will aid the 
 supply of the distant portions, and even permit the use of smaller 
 mains than would otherwise be required. 
 
 The population of the city extends over so much territory as 
 to render an extensive system of pipe necessary to supply even 
 the most densely settled streets ; yet street mains will serve a 
 
 * See Note A. 
 
51 
 
 sparse population, of somewhat smaller size than would be re- 
 quired for a more dense one. 
 
 The fourth and eighth, and parts of the third, fifth, sixth and 
 tenth Wards, are so much higher than the other portions of the 
 city, as to render separate mains from the Distributing Reser- 
 voir for the supply of the high and the low districts necessary. 
 This plan has been found indispensible at Albany and Quebec, 
 and will be expedient here. 
 
 Main pipes must be laid across the Genesee River once, and 
 across the Canals three times to supply the whole territory re- 
 quiring water. 
 
 In the schedule of street mains upon which the estimate of the 
 system of distribution is based, the sizes of the pipes have been 
 adjusted to give efficiency to the whole distribution, with such 
 economy as is imperatively demanded by the great extent of 
 the district to be supplied with w r ater. Two mains of 12 inches 
 diameter, are to be laid in South Avenue to the Erie Canal, and 
 two across the River and down Plymouth Avenue. From these 
 mains, pipes of various diameters are to extend into the different 
 streets, to be connected at all street crossings. 
 
 The estimated cost of Distributing Pipe for the city, is given 
 among the other estimates of cost. 
 
 Estimates of Cost. 
 
 General Outline of the different Plans proposed for supplying 
 Rochester with Water ; the daily amount being at the rate of 
 40 gallons for each person in a population of 50,000, and equal 
 to 2,000,000 gallons. 
 
 1st. By the first plan, it is proposed to elevate the water of 
 Lake Ontario, by Steam Power, located at the Lake Shore. A 
 supply pipe, of wood, to extend 1,000 feet into the Lake, and a 
 pumping main of cast iron, 30 inches in diameter, to extend 
 
52 
 
 thence to the Distributing Reservoir, east of Mount Hope Cem- 
 etery. 
 
 By a modification of this plan, the water of the Lake is to be 
 conducted by a 36 inch main to a pump well at the lower falls, 
 and thence elevated and forced to the Reservoir by a water 
 pressure engine. 
 
 2d. By the second plan, the water of the Genesee River is to 
 be raised by water or steam power at the Rapids, to a storing 
 and subsiding Reservoir, south of Mount Hope ridge, and thence 
 by the same power to the Distributing Reservoir. 
 
 3d. By the third plaii, the rain fall upon the sources of Little 
 Black Creek is to be collected into a Storing Reservoir in the 
 valley towards the mouth of that Creek, and conducted thence by 
 a 20 inch pipe to the pumping engine at the Rapids, and from that 
 point by either water or steam power, to the Distributing Res- 
 ervoir. 
 
 4th. By the fourth plan, the water of the Honeoye Outlet is 
 to be taken at Smithtown, and conducted by a 20 inch pipe di- 
 rectly to the Distributing Reservoir. Auxiliary to this plan 
 there is to be either a large Storing reservoir on the route of the 
 main pipe, or the Lake itself is to be made such Reservoir. 
 
 5th. By the fifth plan, the water of Hemlock Lake is to be 
 conveyed in a 16 inch pipe to the Distributing Reservoir. 
 
 On all the plans except the first one, the cost of the works has 
 been varied by introducing into the estimates the three kinds of 
 water pipe described in a preceding part of this report, only cast 
 iron pipe is used in Plan Ho. 1, and for the mains, in plan No. 
 2, for the reason that pipes of the largest diameters have not yet 
 been made of the other kinds. 
 
 The estimate of an Engine House is common to the first three 
 
53 
 
 plans, and that of the Distributing Keservoir and Distributing 
 Pipe, is common to all the plans. 
 
 Pump House 50 feet square , of Brick . 
 
 ITEMS. 
 
 
 Quanti ies 
 
 Frice. 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Brick, and laying, 
 
 M 
 
 350,000 
 
 "$12 00 
 
 4,200 
 
 Foundation, 
 
 
 400 
 
 12 00 
 
 600 
 
 Excavation, 
 
 
 1,500 
 
 20 
 
 300 
 
 Paved floor 
 
 
 1,600 
 
 25 
 
 400 
 
 Windows, 
 
 
 24 
 
 6 00 
 
 144 
 
 Doors, 
 
 
 4 
 
 20 00 
 
 80 
 
 Hoof of tin, 
 
 Foundation for engine, 
 
 Contingencies 
 
 
 40 
 
 50 00 
 
 2,000 
 
 1,800 
 
 95,24 
 
 476 
 
 $10,000 
 
 Storing Reservoir , 50 acres, 25 feet deep , capacity , 350,000,000 
 
 gallons. 
 
 ITEMS. 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 Prices. 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Excavation and embankment, C yards 
 
 165,000 
 
 20 
 
 $33,000 
 
 Puddling earth, 
 
 30,000 
 
 8 
 
 2,400 
 
 Slope wall, 
 
 Gates, screens, &c 
 
 5,000 
 
 1 50 
 
 7,500 
 
 500 
 
 Masonry, setting pipe, gates, &e., 
 
 And for contingencies, 
 
 For feltering beds, 
 
 200 
 
 8 00 
 
 1,600 
 
 45,000 
 
 1,600 
 
 46,600 
 
 i Masonry, C yards 
 
 700 
 
 3 50 
 
 2,450 
 
 Clean gravel “ 
 
 710 
 
 1 50 
 
 1,065 
 
 Cobble stone, “ 
 
 Add for contingencies, 
 
 Land for Keservoir 
 
 300 
 
 ] 
 
 75 
 
 l 
 
 I 
 
 225 
 
 50,340 
 
 660 
 
 51,000 
 
 5.800 
 
 56.800 
 
54 
 
 Distributing Reservoir: — Extent 4 acres , depth 25 feet , capacity 
 26,000,000 gallons. 
 
 ITEMS. j 
 
 Quantities. 1 
 
 Prices. 1 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Excavation and embankment, 
 
 47.000 C yardsj 
 
 $ 20 
 
 $9,400 
 
 Puddled earth 
 
 20,000 
 
 15 
 
 3,000 
 
 Slope wall, 
 
 1,000 
 
 3 00 i 
 
 3,000 
 
 Masonry, 
 
 200 
 
 10 00 | 
 
 2,000 
 
 Brick lining, 
 
 000,000 
 
 10 00 
 
 6,000 
 
 Gates 
 
 6 “ 
 
 60 00 
 
 360 
 
 Setting gates, sewers, &c., 
 
 
 
 360 
 
 Fence, sodding, graveling, 
 
 1840 feet 
 
 1 00 
 
 1.840 
 
 Keeper’s house, .... 
 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 Land for site, 
 
 5 acres 
 
 8 00 
 
 4,000 
 
 
 
 
 $30,960 
 
 Add for contingencies, 
 
 
 
 3,040 
 
 
 
 
 $34,000 
 
 Distributing Pipe , 54 mfes, Oto 
 
 ITEMS. Size 
 
 Extent — feet. 
 
 Prices. 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Street Main, 12 
 
 25,000 
 
 $2 55 
 
 $63,750 
 
 Do. “ 10 
 
 13,000 
 
 2 00 
 
 26,000 
 
 Do. “ 8 
 
 42,000 
 
 1 55 
 
 65,100 
 
 Do. “ 6 
 
 110,000 
 
 1 10 
 
 121,000 
 
 Do. “ 4 
 
 100,400 
 
 75 
 
 75,300 
 
 Branches for hydrants, 8 
 
 7,000 
 
 50 
 
 3,500 
 
 
 
 
 $354,650 
 
 Extra for rock excavation, 
 
 
 
 4,000 
 
 Do. for Canal and River crossings. 
 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 Fire hydrants, 
 
 400 
 
 26 
 
 10,400 
 
 Gates and stop cocks, 
 
 500 
 
 25 
 
 12,500 
 
 Branches, elbow, &c., • 
 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 Relaying pavements, 
 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 
 
 $392,050 
 
 Add for superintendance and conting’e 
 
 
 
 30,950 
 
 
 
 
 $423,000 
 
55 
 
 Distributing Pipe, Sheet Iron and Cement. 
 
 ITEMS. 
 
 Size; inch’> 
 
 Extent; feet. 
 
 Prices. 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Street Main, 
 
 12 
 
 25,000 
 
 $2 05 
 
 S51 _ 250 
 
 “ “ , 
 
 10 
 
 13,000 
 
 1 48 
 
 19,240 
 
 a a 
 
 8 
 
 42,000 
 
 1 21 
 
 50,820 
 
 a a 
 
 6 
 
 110,000 
 
 94 
 
 103,400 
 
 i 6 66 
 
 4 
 
 100,400 
 
 61 
 
 61,244 
 
 Branches for hydrants, 
 
 3 
 
 7,000 
 
 48 
 
 3,360 
 
 
 
 
 
 $289,314 
 
 Extra for rock excavation 
 
 
 
 
 4,000 
 
 Do. Canal and River crossings, 
 
 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 Eire hvdrants, 
 
 
 400 
 
 26 00 
 
 10,400 
 
 Gates and stop cocks, 
 
 
 500 
 
 25 00 
 
 12 500 
 
 Branches, elbows, &c 
 
 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 Relaying pavements, 
 
 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 326,714 
 
 Add for super’ce and contingenc’s 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 26,286 
 
 
 
 
 
 $353,000 
 
 Distributing Pipe banded Wood and Cement. 
 
 ITEMS. 
 
 !Size:inche 
 
 Extent: feet 
 
 Prices 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Street main, 
 
 12 
 
 25,000 
 
 $ 1 17 
 
 i $ 29,250 
 
 Do. do 
 
 10 
 
 13,000 
 
 1 00 
 
 13,000 
 
 Do. do 
 
 8 
 
 42,000 
 
 81 
 
 34,020 
 
 Do. do 
 
 6 
 
 110,000 
 
 65 
 
 71,500 
 
 Do. do 
 
 4 
 
 100,400 
 
 45 
 
 45,180 
 
 Branches for hydrants, 
 
 3 
 
 7,000 
 
 36 
 
 2,520 
 
 
 
 
 
 $195,470 
 
 Extra for rock excavation,... 
 
 
 
 
 4 000 
 
 “ canal and river crossings 
 
 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 Fire hydrants, 
 
 
 400 
 
 26 
 
 10,400 
 
 Gates, stop cocks, &c 
 
 
 500 
 
 25 
 
 12,500 
 
 Branches, elbows. &c 
 
 
 
 
 2,500 
 
 Relaying pavements, 
 
 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 232,870 
 
 Add for super’ce contingenc’s 
 
 
 
 
 12,130 
 
 
 
 
 
 $256,000 
 
56 
 
 PLAN NUMBER ONE. 
 
 FROM LAKE ONTARIO, BY STEAM POWER AT THE LAKE— DAILY 
 
 SUPPLY 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 GALLONS. 
 
 
 
 Two steam engines, 
 
 Engine house and foundation, 
 
 
 PRICES. 
 
 $40,000 
 
 AMOUNTS. 
 $80,000 
 i o i ton 
 
 Supply pipe of wood, 
 
 Pier in Lake and pump well,... 
 
 Rising main, 4 miles, 30 inch, 
 
 “ (( <« «( 
 
 
 $8,00 
 
 $11,50 
 
 9,50 
 
 1 v,UUU 
 8,000 
 6,000 
 242,880 
 200,640 
 
 Distributing Reservoir, 34 000 
 
 Distributing pipe, 54 miles, C. I., 423^000 
 
 , $1,004,520 
 
 Add tor superintendence, contingencies, and right of 
 
 wa 3b- 25,480 
 
 $1,030,000 
 
 FROM THE LAKE, BY WATER POWER AT CARTHAGE. 
 
 Supply main from Lake, 6 miles, 36 in., $15 00 
 
 Engine house, foundations, &c., 
 
 Two water-pressure engines, each $30,000 
 
 Water power, 
 
 Rising main, 2J miles, 30 in., $10,00 
 
 Supply pipe in Lake, of wood, ....1000 feet, s’ 00 
 
 $475,200 
 
 10,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 60,000 
 
 15,000 
 
 132,000 
 
 8,000 
 
 Distributing Reservoir,.. 
 Distributing pipe, C. I., 
 
 $706,200 
 
 34,000 
 
 423,000 
 
 Add for superintendence, contingencies and rio-ht of 
 way, 
 
 $1,163,200 
 
 15,800 
 
 $1,179,000 
 
57 " ' 
 
 PLAN NUMBER TWO. 
 
 GENESEE RIVER, BY "WATER POWER AT THE RAPIDS. 
 
 PRICES. AMOUNTS. 
 
 Dam, race and forebay, $ 9,500 
 
 Two central discharge wheels and pumps, ...each $35,000 70,000 
 
 Pump house and foundations, 8,000 
 
 Rising main, 1£ miles, 20 in., 6,50 51,480 
 
 Water power, 10,000 
 
 Right of way, i 1,000 
 
 $149,980 
 
 Storing and Filtering Reservoir, 56.800 
 
 Distributing Reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distributing pipe, C. I., 423,000 
 
 $663,780 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 16,220 
 
 $680,000 
 
 $ 9,500 
 8,000 
 60,000 
 61,480 
 1,000 
 
 $129,980 
 
 Reservoir and distribution, 513,800 
 
 $643,780 
 
 Superintendence and contingencies, 16,220 
 
 $660,000 
 
 SAME, WITH DISTRIBUTING PIPE OF IRON AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dam, engines, mains, &c., .’ 129,980 
 
 Reservoirs, 90,800 
 
 Distribution, 353,000 
 
 $573,780 
 
 Superintendence and contingencies, 10,220 
 
 $584,000 
 
 SAME, WITH DISTRIBUTING PIPE OF BANDED WOOD AND CEMANT. 
 
 Dam, engines, mains and reservoirs, $220,780 
 
 Distribution, 256,000 
 
 $476,780 
 
 Superintendence and contingencies, . 8,220 
 
 FROM THE RIYER, BY STEAM POWER. 
 
 Dam, race and forebay, 
 
 Pump house and foundations, 
 
 Two steam engines and pumps, each $30,000,00 
 
 Rising main, miles, 20 in., 6,50 
 
 Right of way, . 
 
 8 
 
 $485,000 
 
58 
 
 PLAN NUMBER THREE. 
 
 LITTLE BLACK CREEK AND BASIN, BY STEAM OR WATER POWER AT RAPIDS. 
 
 PRICES. AMOUNT. 
 
 Dam, race, engines, mains, &c., $149,980 
 
 Storing reservoir in Chili, 46,600 
 
 Land for reservoir 5,000 
 
 Dam and supply pipe, 20 in., 8,600 feet, 20,000 
 
 Main from reservoir to pump, 4 miles, 20 in., $5,50 116,160 
 
 Eight of way, 800 
 
 $338,540 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distributing pipe, 423,000 
 
 $795,540 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 14,460 
 
 $810,000 
 
 SAME, WITH PIPE OF IRON AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dams, reservoirs, engines, &c., $372,540 
 
 Distribution, of sheet iron and cement, 353,000 
 
 $725,540 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 13,460 
 
 * $739,000 
 
 SAME, WITH PIPE OF BANDED WOOD AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dam, reservoirs, engines, &c., $372,540 
 
 Distribution, of banded wood, &c., 256,000 
 
 $628,540 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 11,460 
 
 $640,000 
 
 SAME PLAN, WITH MAINS ALL OF BANDED WOOD AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dams, race and engines, $98,500 
 
 Kising main, 1£ miles, banded wood and cement, 2, 
 
 14 in., $1,40 22,176 
 
 Eeservoirs, v 90,800 
 
 Land for reservoir, 5,000 
 
 Supply pipe, banded wood and cement, 3600 feet, 2, 
 
 14 in.;.. $1,40 10,080 
 
 Distribution, 256,000 
 
 Main from reservoir to pump, 4 miles, $2,80 59,136 
 
 $541,692 
 
 Add fot contingencies, 10,308 
 
 $552,000 
 
59 
 
 PLAN NUMBER FOUR. 
 
 ’honeoye outlet, at smithtown, by gravity, main PIPE 20 INCHES, 
 SUPPLY 2,000,000 GALLONS — MAIN OF CAST IRON. 
 
 PRICKS. AMOUNT. 
 
 Dam, bulkhead and screens, Smithtown, $ 5,000 
 
 Dam and pier at Lake, and deepening channel, 20,000 
 
 Main pipe, 14 miles, 20 inch, at $6,50 480,480 
 
 505,480 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distributing pipe, 423,000 
 
 $962,480 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 17,520 
 
 $980,000 
 
 SAME PLAN, WITH DISTRIBUTION OF IRON AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dams, pier and main, as above, . $505,480 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distribution, of iron and cement pipe, 353,000 
 
 $892,480 
 
 Add for superintepdence and contingencies, 14,520 
 
 $907,000 
 
 SAME PLAN, WITH DISTRIBUTING PIPE OF BANDED WOOD AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dam, pier, reservoir, &c., as above, $ 59,000 
 
 Main pipe of cast iron, “ 480,480 
 
 Distribution, banded wood and cement, 256,000 
 
 $795,480 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 8,520 
 
 $804,000 
 
 SAME PLAN, WITH PIPE WHOLLY OF BANDED WOOD AND CEMENT. 
 
 Darn, pier, reservoir, &c., as above, $59,000 
 
 Main pipe of banded wood and cement, 14 miles, 2, 
 
 14 in., $1.40 206,976 
 
 Distribution, banded wood and cement, 256,000 
 
 $511,976 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 8,024 
 
 $530,000 
 
6j0 
 
 PLAN NUMBER FIVE. 
 
 SUPPLY FROM HEMLOCK LAKE, BY GRAVITY, PIPE 18 INCH, 2,000,000 
 
 GALLONS. 
 
 PRICES. AMOUNT. 
 
 Dam, pier and deepening* channel, $ 20,000 
 
 Main pipe, 14 miles, 16 in., $5,00 369,600 
 
 “ “ . “ 4,75 351,120 
 
 $740,720 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distributing pipe, 413,000 
 
 $1,187,720 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 22,280 
 
 $ 1 , 210,000 
 
 SAME PLAN, WITH PIPE OF S. IRON AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dam, pier, and deepening channel, $ 20,000 
 
 Main pipe, 14 miles, 16 in., $3,50 258,720 
 
 “ “ “ 3,20 236,544 
 
 $515,264 . 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distributing pipe, 353,000 
 
 $902,264 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 8,736 
 
 $911,000 
 
 SAME PLAN, WITH PIPE OF BANDED WOOD AND CEMENT. 
 
 Dam, pier, and deepening channel, $ 20,000 
 
 Main pipe, 14 miles, 16 in., $2,00 147,840 
 
 “ “ “ 1,60 118,272 
 
 $286,112 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 34,000 
 
 Distributing pipe,. 256,000 
 
 $576,112 
 
 Add for superintendence and contingencies, 5,888 
 
 $582,000 
 
61 
 
 Cost of Pumping Water Supplies. 
 
 LOCALITIES. 
 
 Daily Supply. 
 
 Annual Fx- 
 pensa 
 
 Cost per 
 mill’n g. 
 
 Philadelphia, aggregate, 
 
 19,638,442 g. 
 
 $50,184 
 
 $ 7 01 
 
 Fairmount, separately, 
 
 9,288,415 1 
 
 5,803 
 
 1 71 
 
 Twenty-Fourth Ward Works, separately, ... 
 
 727,277 
 
 7,762 
 
 29 23 
 
 Schuylkill, “ 
 
 7,243,114 
 
 25,104 
 
 9 49 
 
 Delaware, “ “ 
 
 2,379,635 
 
 11,515 
 
 13 26 
 
 Pittsburgh, 
 
 4,075,755 
 
 26,000 
 
 17 47 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 785,338 
 
 5,000 
 
 17 44 
 
 Jersey City, 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 13 69 
 
 Buffalo, 
 
 3,000,000 
 
 19,000 
 
 17 35 
 
 Cleveland,, 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 7,712 
 
 21 13 
 
 Detroit, 
 
 2,142,774 
 
 15,749 
 
 21 37 
 
 Chicago 
 
 3,000,000 
 
 25.011 
 
 22 88 
 
 Cincinnati 
 
 4,618,567 
 
 28,000 
 
 16 61 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 400,000 
 
 3,500 
 
 23 97 
 
 Aggregate, 
 
 30,645,183 
 
 1$176,591 
 
 
 $176,591-5-30,645,183=5,762. 
 
 Average annual expense of 1,000,000 gallons daily, $5,762. 
 “ daily “ “ “ $15 78. 
 
 The Fairmount Works are not included in the above aggre- 
 gate, because they use water power, and the Twenty-Fourth 
 Ward Works are omitted because they are very unlike the other 
 works included in the statement. The Fairmount Works are 
 the only ones using water power from which complete returns 
 have been received, and they exhibit a very favorable result as 
 to the cost of pumping by water power. 
 
 Although the cost of pumping water at the Schuylkill Works 
 is the lowest, yet it may be more safe to take the average cost of 
 pumping at all the works which use steam power, as an index of 
 the expense of a supply of water for this city, on plans No.’s 1, 
 2 and 3 ; viz : for 1,000,000 gallons daily $15,78 ; and for 
 2,000,000 gallons $31,50. 
 
62 
 
 Summary of Estimates. 
 
 DIFFERENT PLANS. 
 
 Plan No. 1 — Lake Ontario. 
 
 Steam power 
 
 Cost of engine, pipe, &c., 
 
 Daily expense of pumping, $66. 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to... 
 
 KINDS OF WATER PIPE. 
 
 Plan No , 1 — Water Power. 
 
 Cost of engine, pipe, &c., | 
 
 Daily expense, $16 50j 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to j 
 
 Plan No. 2: Gen. River water power . 
 
 Cost of engine, pipe, &c., 
 
 Daily expense $15 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to .... 
 
 Plan No. 2 — Steam 'power. 
 
 Cost of Engine, pipe, &c., 
 
 Daily expenses $31 50 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to 
 
 Plan No. 3— Little B. Creek, water p. 
 
 Cost of engine, pipe, &c I 
 
 Daily expenses $7 50i 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to j 
 
 Plan No. 4 — Honeoye Outlet. 
 
 Pipes, reservoirs, &c., I 
 
 Plan No. 5 — Hemlock Lake. j 
 Pipe, reservoirs, &c., I 
 
 Cast Iron. 
 
 Cement and Iron . 
 
 I anded w& cem’t 
 
 $1,030,000 
 
 960,000 
 
 863,000 
 
 401,500 
 
 401,500 
 
 401,500 
 
 $1,431,500 
 
 $1,361,500 
 
 $1,264,500 
 
 1,179,000 
 
 100,375 
 
 1,109,000 
 100 375 
 
 1,002,000 
 
 100,375 
 
 $1,279,375 
 
 $1,209,375 
 
 $1,102,375 
 
 680,000 
 
 584,000 
 
 485,000 
 
 91,250 
 
 91,250 
 
 91,250 
 
 $771,250 
 
 $675,250 
 
 $576,250 
 
 660,000 
 
 584,000 
 
 485,000 
 
 191,625 
 
 191,625 
 
 191,625 
 
 851,625 
 
 775,625 
 
 676,625 
 
 810,000 
 
 739,000 
 
 552,000 
 
 45,625 
 
 45,625 
 
 45,625 
 
 855,625 
 
 784,625 
 
 597,625 
 
 980,000 
 
 907,000 
 
 530,000 
 
 1,210,000 
 
 911.000 
 
 582.000 
 
 An inspection of the estimates, and the above summary will 
 show that the expense of pumping water by steam power from 
 Lake Ontario, will equal the interest at 6 per cent on $401,500, 
 a sum equal to the cost of a 20 inch main of cast iron, 11 § miles 
 long ; and that the cost of j^umjring by water power from the 
 River, will equal the interest on $91,250, a sum equal to the 
 cost of two 14 inch pipes of banded wood and cement more than 
 6 miles in length. 
 
63 
 
 For an approximation to the income which may be anticipa- 
 ted from the construction of water works, some of the most 
 experienced and competent engineers have estimated the rate of 
 one dollar for each person of the entire population of a city, as 
 sufficiently accurate. The following statement shows that the 
 receipts of the four cities where the distribution is the most com- 
 plete, (Boston, Albany, Jersey City, and Cincinnati,) amount 
 to an average rate of $1 41 for each person. Embracing in the 
 statement all the works from which full returns have been re- 
 ceived, the rate is 94 8-10 cents, as is shown below : 
 
 Table showing the Ratio of the Income of Water Works, to the 
 population of the various Cities supplied . 
 
 CITIES. 
 
 | Population. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 rate pr head 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 I 600,000 
 
 $551,180 
 
 $ 91 
 
 New York, 
 
 934,000 
 
 800,219 
 
 85 
 
 Boston, 
 
 180,000 
 
 316,290 
 
 1 75 
 
 Albany, 
 
 66.350 
 
 80,517 
 
 1 21 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 50,000 
 
 26,000 
 
 52 
 
 Jersey City, 
 
 30,000 
 
 65,000 
 
 2 16 
 
 Buffalo, 
 
 81,541 
 
 f 50,000 
 
 61 
 
 Cleveland,- 
 
 43,555 
 
 ;13,980 
 
 32 
 
 Detroit, 
 
 70,000 
 
 57,192 
 
 81 
 
 Chicago, 
 
 115,338 
 
 102,709 
 
 89 
 
 Cincinnati, 
 
 1€0,000 
 
 184,837 
 
 1 02 
 
 New Orleans, 
 
 i 160,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 87 
 
 Plymouth 
 
 4,500 
 
 3,700 
 
 82 
 
 Bridgeport, 
 
 1 10,000 
 
 7,000 
 
 70 
 
 Malone, 
 
 3,000 
 
 1,500 
 
 50 
 
 Watertown, 
 
 6,000 
 
 3,500 
 
 58 
 
 2,403,624-5-2,534,284=948. 
 
 2,534,284 
 
 2,403,624 
 
 
 Rochester’ 
 
 | 48,096 i 
 
 $45,595 
 
 948 
 
 The rate of 95 cents per person, will doubtless be considered a 
 reasonable one for this city, and with a population of 48,096, (by 
 the late census,) the amount will be $45,691. 
 
 In Philadelphia there are two private companies, which supply 
 portions of the city. One Ward is unsupplied, and in another 
 Ward water is but just introduced. 600,000 is therefore prob- 
 
64r 
 
 ably a number quite as large as that actually supplied with 
 water in this city. 
 
 The following estimate is based upon an enumeration recently 
 made, of the probable water takers in this city, within the pro- 
 posed district to be supplied. It is considerably below the 
 number actually to be found within those limits, and the rates 
 affixed to each class are also low compared with those now 
 charged in other cities. 
 
 Classification and probable number of Water takers and 
 Estimated Receipts. 
 
 CLASSIFICATION. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Ra*es. 1 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 Houses of first class, 
 
 150 
 
 $30 
 
 15 
 
 $4,500 
 
 16,500 
 
 11,400 
 
 5,600 
 
 560 
 
 Do. second class 
 
 1,100 
 
 1,900 
 
 1,400 
 
 70 
 
 Do. third class^ 
 
 6 
 
 Do. fourth class, 
 
 4 
 
 Stores, first “ 
 
 8 
 
 Do. “ “ 
 
 150 
 
 6 
 
 900 
 
 Stores of third class, shops, offices, Restau- 
 rants, and miscellaneous, 
 
 500 
 
 5 
 
 2,500 
 
 300 
 
 Hotels, first class, 
 
 6 
 
 50 
 
 Do. second class, 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 120 
 
 Do. third class inns and saloons 
 
 26 
 
 8 
 
 208 
 
 Ranks, 
 
 11 
 
 7 
 
 77 
 
 Private schools 
 
 11 
 
 8 
 
 88 
 
 University, 
 
 50 
 
 60 
 
 Public Halls 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 60 
 
 Arcades, 
 
 2 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 Poundries, 
 
 7 
 
 25 
 
 175 
 
 Manufactories, 
 
 25 
 
 12 
 
 300 
 
 Steam engines, 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 300 
 
 Rreweries, 
 
 5 
 
 30 
 
 150 
 
 Bakeries, 
 
 6 
 
 15 
 
 90 
 
 Meat markets or stalls, 
 
 40 
 
 6 
 
 240 
 
 Upper halls with offices and rooms, 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 80 
 
 Livery stables, 
 
 12 
 
 30 
 
 360 
 
 Private do 
 
 70 
 
 6 
 
 * 420 
 
 Nurseries, 
 
 3 
 
 45 
 
 75 
 
 House of refup’e, 
 
 
 60 
 
 60 
 
 Paper Mill, 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 Ofl-f 1 Works, 
 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 
 
 $45,428 
 
 Most of these systems of Water Works have been constructed, 
 and are controlled by the cities whose inhabitants they supply, 
 and there is no charge made, and no rent received on account 
 
65 
 
 of the water used by the Fire Departments, or for other public 
 purposes. Buffalo is almost the only exception. Without naming 
 the amount which it might be expected that the city would pay 
 for water for all public uses, should the works be constructed by 
 a company, it may be proper to remark that should the com- 
 pany receive from the city and county, and also from the rail- 
 roads, a compensation at the usual rate paid in other cities for 
 such purposes, it would raise the amount of anticipated income 
 considerably above that stated on page 64 
 
 The foregoing estimates of income are based upon the receipts 
 of the year 1859, while the population stated is- that of the year 
 1860. 
 
 Any extension of the system of distributing pipe which the 
 future growth of Rochester may require, can be laid at so cheap 
 a rate, compared with the whole expense required to introduce 
 and distribute water at first, that the investments in such exten- 
 sion will be sure to pay a favorable per centage on the required 
 expenditure. The whole cost of supplying 54 miles of our streets 
 with water will be something more than $10,000 per mile. After 
 this original expenditure has been made, one mile of the exten- 
 sion of street mains will cost only about $3,500. 
 
 It has been claimed that hydraulic cement produced no effect 
 on water contained in cemented cisterns, or passing through pipe 
 lined with this material. But the experiments on water obtained 
 from filters, given on page 36 of this Report, No.’s 30, 32, 33, 
 34, 35 and 37, seem to disprove this claim. These samples of 
 water were all, except No. 30, taken from filters supposed to be 
 in good order, and had been previously collected in cemented 
 cisterns. The different results in the five trials, are probably 
 due, in part, to the condition of the filters. 
 
 From these results it should perhaps be inferred that water 
 
 9 
 
66 
 
 passing through the sheet iron and cement water pipe, will 
 be, to some extent, impregnated with lime, which is one of 
 the constituents of the hydraulic cement which forms the 
 lining. This kind of water pipe can he seen and examined at 
 the Paper MilLlocated at the Lower Falls in this City. 
 
 Water pipe of handed wood and cement is now in course of 
 manufacture, and is to be laid down for a system of Water 
 Works at Elmira in this State. 
 
 Should a main pipe be laid down from this city to Smith- 
 town, in accordance with Plan No. 4, it might hereafter, with- 
 out any change, become a part of the necessary main from 
 Rochester to Hemlock Lake, according to Plan No. 5, if our 
 citizens should deem that plan preferable. The route for pipe 
 or conduit is identical between the Distributing Reservoir and 
 the outlet at Smithtown. 
 
 The construction of a permanent system of Water Works, 
 and the introduction of an abundant supply of pure water into 
 this City will benefit all its public and private interests, much 
 beyond the amount of income which may be derived from 
 water rates. So important an element of prosperity added to 
 our present advantages of position, soil and climate, will be 
 felt through almost all the relations of industry, enterprise 
 and capital, increasing to some extent the value of all kinds 
 of property. To what extent the opinions of the most judicious 
 would vary, and there are no sure data from which a reliable 
 estimate of the amount can be made. The amount of the 
 assessed valuation of real and personal estate in Rochester is 
 $11,250,157, and perhaps the real value is not less than $20,- 
 000,000. The lowest rate at which, in the judgment of the 
 least sanguine of our citizens, this amount would be increased, 
 
67 
 
 would afford a very considerable proportion if not the whole 
 amount required to construct Water Works for. the City. 
 
 From sources which are deemed entirely reliable, the amount 
 of the premiums paid in Rochester the last year for insurance, 
 is found to be not less than $130,000, and it is believed that 
 hot more than one-half the property exposed to loss by fires, 
 and which would be benefitted by a full supply of water, is 
 now insured. 
 
 The difference in the rates of insurance in Boston and 
 Charlestown, cities adjacent to each other, the one having an 
 abundant supply of water, and the other no foreign supply, as 
 ascertained from authentic sources, is nearly \ of 1 per cent. 
 The Croton Water Board, soon after the introduction of the 
 Croton water into the City of New York, stated the reduction 
 in the rates of insurance in that City, to be higher than this. 
 It is believed that the reduction of the rates in this City would 
 be at least 15 cents on $100. Our citizens will thus save at 
 least $19,500 in the amount of premiums paid annually for 
 insurance, and also be benefitted by an equal amount in the 
 protection afforded by a full supply of water and an adequate 
 number of fire hydrants to property not now insured, making 
 an aggregate of $39,000. 
 
 None can doubt that the construction of the systems of 
 Water Works in New-York, Boston and Philadelphia, were 
 wise and beneficent enterprises, which have contributed largely 
 to the subsequent development and prosperity of those Cities. 
 
 Among the various Works which have since been constructed 
 in other Cities, some have been completed at a higher cost rela- 
 tive to population and wealth than those just named, yet all 
 would come within the range of profitable and productive in- 
 vestments, if to the actual income derived from consumers, 
 
68 
 
 there should be added the results of the indirect influence of 
 Water Works, already alluded to. 
 
 Even when this enterprise is to be undertaken at the public 
 expense, the amount of the expenditure should bear a reason- 
 able proportion to the population, the business, and the aggre- 
 gate wealth of the community it is designed to benefit. 
 
 The following tabular statement exhibits the character of 
 the different systems of Water Works in the country, con- 
 sidered as provident investments, and the varied results show 
 conclusively that although the direct income, together with 
 the collateral benefits expected to result therefrom, may ren- 
 der it expedient in any instance to construct Water Works, 
 yet a private Company, relying upon water rates alone for a 
 remuneration cannot safely expend too large a capital in the 
 first cost of works. 
 
 In many of our Cities, on account either of too great origi- 
 nal cost, too low a tariff of water rates, or too contracted a 
 system of distribution, there is no present prospect that the 
 supply of water will pay even the lowest rate of interest on 
 the cost of construction ; w T hile, in other Cities, they have been 
 so constructed and managed that the receipts pay expenses, 
 an interest on the total cost, and a surplus to be applied to 
 the extension of the works. 
 
 The following table shows the relative cost of Water Works 
 to the population, and also to the assessed valuation of real 
 and personal estate in the various Cities supplied by them, 
 as well as the excess or the deficiency of the annual receipts, 
 after paying the annual expenses, and interest at 6 per cent, 
 on the cost of the Works : 
 
69 
 
 TABULAR STATEMENT. 
 
 CITIES. 
 
 •Populat’n 
 
 Valuation. 
 
 Ratio of Cost— 
 
 Deficiency 
 of Income. 
 
 Excess of 
 Income. 
 
 To Populat’n 
 
 To Valua’n 
 
 Philadelphia,... 
 
 600,000 
 
 $155,697,669 
 
 $ 6,50 
 
 $0.0250 
 
 $ 
 
 $237,791 
 
 New- York, 
 
 934,000 
 
 550,000,000 
 
 24,62 
 
 .0418 
 
 632,038 
 
 
 Boston, 
 
 180,000 
 
 263,429,000 
 
 30,96 
 
 .0210 
 
 47,257 
 
 
 Pittsburgh, 
 
 100,000 
 
 10,400,000 
 
 
 .0700 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 Brooklyn, 
 
 250,000 
 
 191,047,136 
 
 19,20 
 
 .0255 
 
 
 
 Albany, 
 
 66,350 
 
 26,072,955 
 
 16,19 
 
 .0410 
 
 
 8,030 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 50,000 
 
 23,378,338 
 
 8,55 
 
 .0180 
 
 7,426 
 
 
 Jersey City, 
 
 30,000 
 
 12,932,310 
 
 32,44 
 
 .0752 
 
 13,399 
 
 
 Buffalo, 
 
 81,540 
 
 33,229,025 
 
 6,49 
 
 .0159 
 
 800 
 
 
 Cleveland, 
 
 43,555 
 
 22,000,000 
 
 12,62 
 
 .0250 
 
 27,643 
 
 
 Detroit, 
 
 70,000 
 
 16,214,893 
 
 11,85 
 
 .0511 
 
 8,189 
 
 
 Chicago, 
 
 115,338 
 
 36,553,380 
 
 8,79 
 
 .0277 
 
 
 6,489 
 
 Cincinnati, 
 
 180,000 
 
 91,961,978 
 
 7,55 
 
 .0147 
 
 
 51,964 
 
 New-Orleans,... 
 
 160,000 
 
 
 6,25 
 
 
 
 64,000 
 
 Troy, 
 
 40,000 
 
 12,853,290 
 
 5,12 
 
 .0159 
 
 
 4,641 
 
 Utica, 
 
 25,000 
 
 4,330,991 
 
 3,00 
 
 .0173 
 
 
 3,200 
 
 Rockland, 
 
 10,000 
 
 2,723,055 
 
 5,00 
 
 .0183 
 
 
 500 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 30,000 
 
 
 10,00 
 
 
 9,500 
 
 
 Plymouth, 
 
 4,500 
 
 3,197,300 
 
 18,22 
 
 .0256 
 
 1,720 
 
 
 Bridgeport, 
 
 10,000 
 
 6,641,873 
 
 11,50 
 
 .0174 
 
 1,900 
 
 
 Malone, 
 
 3,000 
 
 696,800 
 
 4,00 
 
 .0172 
 
 
 530 
 
 Watertown, 
 
 6,000 
 
 
 8,33 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 
 New-Britain,... 
 
 6,000 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 8,33 
 
 .0250 
 
 
 
 * Official returns may vary the numbers in this column. 
 
70 
 
 By means of the Genesee Yalley Canal, and a short line of 
 Bailroad to McKean County, in Pennsylvania, the coal of that 
 region seems destined, at no distant day, to be furnished 
 cheaply and in abundance to this City, and from this point to 
 the Counties east and west of us, and to Canada. 
 
 Originally the natural emporium of the beautiful and fertile 
 Yalley of the Genesee Biver, the position, facilities and re- 
 sources of Bochester have been gradually improved and de- 
 veloped by its Canals, Bailroads, Lake, Harbor, and the exten- 
 sive hydraulic power in its midst, and should there now be 
 added to these advantages an ample supply of pure water, and 
 ultimately an abundance of cheap fuel, both so important and 
 essential to the development of steam power and many depart- 
 ments of mechanical enterprise, the industrial, manufacturing 
 and commercial prosperity of our City would be advanced be- 
 yond the present anticipations of its people. 
 
 With a climate temperate and genial in summer, and not 
 rigorous in winter, Bochester is surrounded by a country of 
 great agricultural resources, adapted to the various produc- 
 tions of the farm, the vineyard, and the orchard, and although 
 the energies of the soil may remain dormant in the embraces 
 of winter a little later than in some southerly or westerly re- 
 gions, yet the severity of a northerly latitude is tempered by 
 the proximity of our large lakes, and the rapid opening of 
 the floral season, with the certain and early maturity of the 
 varied and bountiful harvest, fills the storehouse and the mar- 
 ket-stall with a profusion, variety and excellence not sur- 
 passed in any other district of our favored land. From gen- 
 tlemen who have traveled in most parts of the United States, 
 and also in Europe, it is no uncommon remark, that they had 
 seen no market supplied with meats, fish, vegetables, cereals 
 
71 
 
 and fruits of better quality and in greater variety and abun- 
 dance than that of Rochester, and also that with a supply of 
 pure water, this City would become one of the most desirable 
 places of residence within their knowledge. 
 
 Copies of this Report will be forwarded to the officers of 
 the Water Boards with whom correspondence has been had, 
 and should any errors be found in the Report, in relation to 
 the Works with which they are connected respectively, they 
 will confer a favor by pointing them out. 
 
 In conclusion, I may be allowed to express my obligations 
 to the gentlemen connected with the various Water Works in 
 the country, who have so politely and promptly furnished the 
 information solicited from them, and especially for the per- 
 sonal attentions received in June last, which so much facili- 
 tated the investigations in which I was engaged. Among the 
 last, it may not be improper to mention the Mayor of Boston, 
 the Chief Engineers of the Water Works in Boston, New York 
 and Philadelphia, the Superintendents of Water Works at 
 Albany, Hartford, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Jersey City and Cleve- 
 land, 0., Mr. E. T. Stanley, of New Britain, the Messrs. Wells, 
 Contractors of the Brooklyn Water Works, Beach & Wood- 
 ruff, of Hartford, Ct., and Starr, of the Camden Iron Works. 
 
 DANIEL MARSH. 
 
 Note “A,” page 50. 
 
 In these experiments, the force of the pressure applied to the interior of the 
 pipe was increased until the wooden cylinders were slightly checked, permitting 
 a thin vein of water to pass out. The bands were not broken, nor was their ulti- 
 mate strength reached. 
 
 Note “B,” pages 19 and 30. 
 
 Originally two 36-inch pipes were laid across the High Bridge, which conveyed 
 about 30,000,000 gallons of water per day. Within a few years an additional one 
 has been laid, and it is now proposed to lay either two more of similar size, or 
 one of 7 feet diameter. This will doubtless convey as much water as can flow in 
 the Aqueduct. 
 
3 0112 098430611 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction 5 
 
 Circular Letter, 6 
 
 Storing Reservoirs, 7 & 36 
 
 Subjects of Investigation, 8 
 
 Water Works in Philadelphia, 8 
 
 Fa : rmo unt W orks 9 
 
 Water Works in New-York, 10 
 
 Boston 11 
 
 Pittsburgh 12 
 
 Brooklyn, 13 
 
 Albany, 13 & 14 
 
 Hartford, 14 
 
 Jersey City, 15 
 
 Buffalo, Cleveland, &c., 15 
 
 Detroit and Chicago, 15 
 
 Cincinnati, St. Louis, &c., 16 
 
 Louisville and New-Orleans, . 16 
 
 Troy, Utica, &c., 16 
 
 Rockland, Cambridge, &c., ... 16 
 
 Analysis of Water used in various Cities, 17 
 
 Statistical Table of Water Works, 18 & 19 
 
 Elevations of different localities, 20 
 
 Modes of conveying Water, 21 
 
 Gravity, Pumping, &c., 21 
 
 Cost of Pumping 21 & 61 
 
 Quantity of Water required, 22 
 
 Distributing Reservoir, 22 
 
 StandPipe, 22 & 23 
 
 Size of Reservoir 23 & 37 
 
 Site of Distributing Reservoir for Rochester, . 23 
 
 Sources of Supply for Rochester, 24 
 
 Genesee River, 24 
 
 Lake Ontario 25 
 
 Black and Irondequolt Creeks 26 
 
 Mendon Ponds, 27 
 
 Johnson’s Plan, — ? 27 
 
 Mode of Elevating the Supply, 26 & 28 
 
 Lakes South of Rochester, 28 
 
 Hemlock Lake, 29 & 33 
 
 Reservoirs for Erie Canal 30 
 
 Quantity to be drawn therefrom, 30 
 
 Experiments on Eaton and Madison Brook 
 
 Valleys 31 
 
 Proportion of Rain-fall collected in Reservoirs, 31 
 
 Drainage Basin of Cochituate Lake, 31 
 
 Anuual Rain-fall— Regents Report, 32 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Extent and Capacity of Lakes, 32 
 
 Quantity to be drawn daily, 32 k 33 
 
 Route from Hemlock Lake 33 
 
 Route from Smithtown 33 
 
 Water Power on Outlet, 34 
 
 Analysis of Water from these sources, 35 
 
 Capacity of various Reservoirs. 37 
 
 Conductors of Water 38 
 
 Lead, Earthen, Glass, Wood 38 
 
 Cast Iron, 38 & 39 
 
 Sheet Iron and Cement, 38 & 48 
 
 Banded Wood and Cement, 38 & 49 
 
 Defects of Iron Pipe, 29 
 
 Tubercles and Concretions, 39 
 
 Reports of Cochituate Water Board, 40 
 
 Report of Professor Horsford 45 
 
 Tests of strength, 49 & 50 
 
 System of Distribution for Rochester, 50 
 
 River and Canal Crossings, 51 
 
 Estimates of cost 51 
 
 Description on different Plans, 52 
 
 Estimate of Pump-House, 53 
 
 Estimate of Storing Reservoir, 53 
 
 Estimate of Distributing Reservoir 54 
 
 Distributing Pipe— Cast Iron, 54 
 
 Sheet Iron and Cement, 55 
 
 Banded Wood and Cement, 55 
 
 Estimate of Work — Plan No. 1 56 
 
 2 £7 
 
 3, 58 
 
 4 59 
 
 5, 60 
 
 Cost of pumping water supplies, 61 
 
 Summary of Estimates 62 
 
 Income of various Water Works 63 
 
 Estimated Income for Rochester 64 
 
 Filtered Water and Cement Cisterns, 65 
 
 Water Works at Elmira, 66 
 
 Indirect benefits 66 
 
 Diminished Rates of Insurance, 67 
 
 Productiveness of Waterworks 68 
 
 Tabular Statement, 69 
 
 Assessed Valuations, 69 
 
 McKean County Coal, 70 
 
 Advaiages of Rochester, 70