ENGINEERS’ REPORT , 
 
 FOR SUPPLYING THE 
 
 CITY OF ROCHESTER 
 
 WITH 
 
 WATER 
 
 FROM 
 
 VARIOUS SOURCES, 
 
 MADE TO THE 
 
 BY 
 
 STUART & MARSH, 
 
 CIVIL ENGINEERS. 
 
 NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1st, 1853. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 BAKER, GODWIN & CO., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, 
 
 CORNER NASSAU AND SPRUCE STREETS. 
 
 1853. 
 
W W\ 
 
 
 St q e. 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 Sources of pure water, from which the City of Ro¬ 
 chester can be abundantly supplied, are either so dis¬ 
 tant as to render the works required to convey it, by the 
 force of gravity, to the tops of the highest houses in the 
 City, quite expensive, or else so low as to involve a large 
 and constant expense to elevate it to the necessary height 
 for proper distribution. At various times Hemlock, IIo- 
 neoye, and Canadice lakes, and their outlets, Caledonia 
 Springs, Allen’s Creek, the Genesee River, and Lake On¬ 
 tario, have each been suggested as a source from which 
 a supply, both suitable in quality and ample in quantity, 
 could be drawn, for the present and future wants of your 
 flourishing and beautiful city. 
 
 It is proposed to show in this Report some consider¬ 
 ations and facts as to the feasibility of adopting some one 
 or more of these sources of supply for your present and 
 future wants, the urgent demand for immediate action, 
 and to examine the mode by which this great desidera¬ 
 tum may be best attained. 
 
 The long residence of the undersigned in your city in 
 past years, and professional engagements in connection with 
 
4 
 
 the State Works, have afforded ns very many opportuni¬ 
 ties to become acquainted with localities in the city and 
 surrounding country, and an intimate knowledge of the 
 character and extent of the lakes, rivers, and other water 
 courses that so plentifully abound in Western New York. 
 It is quite fortunate that this is so, otherwise it would 
 not have been possible for us to have presented the re¬ 
 sults embodied in this hurried Report, within the six weeks’ 
 time allowed, in which to make the surveys of the sev¬ 
 eral proposed routes, and prepare the maps, plans, and 
 report for the consideration of the Company. 
 
 Remembering, as citizens, the lamentable deficiency, 
 both in the quality and quantity of water for family and 
 other necessary uses, we have entered upon this interest¬ 
 ing investigation, deeply sensible of the important duties 
 devolving upon us, and only anxious so to illustrate it as 
 to secure the united and vigorous action of your intelli¬ 
 gent citizens and energetic City Councils, in carrying out 
 a plan that will give your city, for all future time, an am¬ 
 ple supply of pure and wholesome water. 
 
 SOURCE OF SUPPLY. 
 
 With much truth has it been said, that u the varied 
 practical purposes of domestic life to which puke water is 
 alone applicable, and the intimate connection of many of 
 these purposes with the health, life, and well-being of hu¬ 
 manity, at once attest the high importance of an abun - 
 
dance and excellence of this vital liquid, for every congre¬ 
 gation or community of human beings. The means, there¬ 
 fore, of obtaining, treating, and economizing it, are among 
 the most important objects of human art. The works of 
 the engineer must be regulated by considerations of the 
 available methods of securing ample water supply and 
 efficient drainage ; and these considerations will present 
 themselves with that imperative character which they de¬ 
 rive from the public will, and which cannot be counter¬ 
 vailed by any scruples of private economy, or any oppo¬ 
 sition of corporate prejudice. 
 
 u All water at our command for practical use, is more 
 or less impure. Thus, rain-water contains ammonia, and 
 sea-water a variety of salts; whilst the water from lakes 
 rivers, springs, and wells, contains various kinds of impur¬ 
 ities, and these impurities are dispelled only by a com¬ 
 pound process, or rather a series of processes, by which 
 such matters as are mechanically suspended in the water 
 are allowed to subside, or are arrested by filtering media, 
 and the chemical impurities are absorbed and withdrawn 
 
 jl. 
 
 by suitable agents.” As all the earthy, animal, and vege¬ 
 table matters with which water becomes charged, are ex¬ 
 tracted from the soil through which or the surfaces over 
 which it passes, it follows that the nature of these mat¬ 
 ters depends upon the constituents of the soil which is 
 percolated, the amount of them will be in proportion to 
 the time during which the water is maintained in commu¬ 
 nication with the soil, modified, of course, by the degree in 
 which they may be adapted for mutual action. “ Thus,” 
 remarks Professor Silliman, u the geological character of a 
 country will in a great measure determine the character 
 of the stream flowing through it. It must be remembered 
 
6 
 
 that water is one of the most powerful solvents known to 
 chemists ; and that it cannot fall npon the surface of the 
 earth without becoming impregnated, to some extent, with 
 the soluble matters of the rocks and soils over which it 
 runs. A careful analysis of the waters of a given region 
 may enable an acute chemist to judge with considerable 
 certainty of the mineral nature of the country, from what 
 he finds in its waters. In a limestone region, we look 
 principally for lime and magnesia in the natural waters, 
 and liave little reason to expect the presence of many 
 other ingredients which are found in the various minerals 
 of a primitive country. The waters of a limestone region 
 are generally hard , or at least, not so soft as those of a 
 granite region. The quality of hardness is one of great 
 importance to be known, and is owing usually, and I be¬ 
 lieve I may say always, to the presence of soluble salts 
 of lime and magnesia in the water. Soap forms an insol¬ 
 uble lime compound—lime-soap—in hard waters, which fills 
 the water with a white, curdy precipitate, harsh to the touch, 
 and a serious impediment to the use of the water for 
 many domestic purposes. Perhaps no single character is 
 of more importance to be known than that of the hard¬ 
 ness or the reverse of a natural water.” 
 
 Rochester being located on a high table of carbonifer¬ 
 ous, lime-rock formation, there are but few springs, and 
 those are highly charged with the mineral through which 
 they pass. The finding, therefore, of any considerable sup¬ 
 ply of soft water is impossible; as those excellent springs 
 having their sources in primitive mountains, cannot find 
 their way to a high table of secondary rock. 
 
 The well-water now used to supply mostly the city, is 
 
7 
 
 
 not only hard, with a few unimportant exceptions, but 
 also very impure and unfit for domestic use, as will appear 
 from an examination of the analysis, given below, of sev¬ 
 eral wells taken from different localities in the town. 
 
 The Table also shows the amount of solid matter in 
 one gallon of water , from the various sources mentioned, 
 from wells, lakes, and rivers, at home and abroad. 
 
 Grs, Solid Matter. 
 
 LONDON . . 
 
 \ Thames River, 
 
 | New “ 
 
 28.000 
 
 19.200 
 
 PARIS . . . 
 
 Artesian Well, 
 
 9.860 
 
 i 
 
 NEW YORK . 
 
 • 
 
 t Croton, 
 
 ■j Manhattan, Well, 
 
 ( Avg. several City Wells, 
 
 6.998 
 
 125.000 
 
 58.000 
 
 ALBANY . . ’ 
 
 f Lydius St. Well, 
 j Old State House, 
 
 \ At Exchange, 
 
 | Capitol Park, . 
 
 {_ Hudson River, 
 
 19.240 
 
 36.000 
 
 64.680 
 
 65.52(1 
 
 6.320 
 
 TROY . . . 
 
 Mohawk “ 
 
 7.880 
 
 BROOKLYN . Avg. Long Island Ponds, . 
 
 f Corner Gold & Nassau Streets, . 
 High <fc Jay “ 
 
 Fulton & Washington St., 
 Douglas & Smith St., 
 
 | Opposite Mansion House, Hicks St., 
 Union St. near Columbia, . 
 
 do Well Water 
 
 r i 
 
 << 
 
 u 
 
 2.367 
 
 38.400 
 
 58.640 
 
 46.440 
 
 76.960 
 
 43.200 
 
 11.760 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 f Coclii tuate Lake, 
 
 I Well, Beacon Hill, 
 j “ Tremont Street, 
 [_ “ At Longacre, . 
 
 1.850 
 
 50.055 
 
 26.600 
 
 56.800 
 
 BRIDGEPORT, Ct Pequomock River, 
 
 0.992 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. Schuylkill 
 
 4.260 
 
 f Well, North Fitzhugh Street, 
 
 “ South do “ 
 
 “ North Washington, 
 
 “ 3d Ward House, Cornhill, 
 
 “ East Avenue, near Gibbs St. 
 
 ROCHESTER . 
 
 26.000 
 
 16.740 
 
 34.110 
 
 41.000 
 
 32.160 
 
8 
 
 As early as 1838, the then Mayor of Rochester urged 
 upon the Common Council the necessity of supplying the 
 city with pure water, and recommended the pumping of it 
 from the river into reservoirs, and filtering it before distri¬ 
 bution to the inhabitants. / 
 
 He also, in his report, alludes to the supply from wells, 
 and says, “ How much of the sickness and disease of our 
 city arises from its filth, and impurity of its water, it is 
 impossible to tell; but when we reflect that within its 
 narrow compass near 21,000 individuals are inclosed, and 
 that their only water is that which they draw from the 
 common level beneath their feet, we are at once inclined 
 to believe that very much of our disease has its cause 
 here. An abundance of good water promotes health, not 
 only by its domestic use, but by contributing to the gen¬ 
 eral cleanliness of the city, by purifying the atmosphere, 
 cleansing the streets, yards, and sewers, and washing off* 
 and conveying to the river and lake the dirt and filth 
 necessarily attending a crowded population.” 
 
 If this was a true picture fifteen years ago, how much 
 more truthful now, with a population double in numbers, 
 and your sources of supply necessarily much more impure, 
 as well-water must degenerate as the inhabitants become 
 more dense, and the impurities are collected on or under 
 the surface, and unavoidably penetrate into these wells, 
 and gradually drain and drip to the bottom. This is the 
 case in every rapidly-growing city, as is evidenced by 
 every-day observation, and the experience of all the large 
 towns in this country and Europe. The table already gi¬ 
 ven shows this very conclusively, and the opinion of many 
 eminent physicians confirms it. 
 
 Some twenty years ago, several of the most able and 
 
9 
 
 experienced physicians of Boston were called upon for 
 their opinions relative to the injurious effects the use of the 
 well-water of that city had upon the health of its inhabit¬ 
 ants ; and, as their conclusions were quite unanimous, and 
 aroused the citizens to the necessity of supplying themselves 
 with better water, a few extracts from their able Report 
 may not be inappropriate here. 
 
 Dr. Warren says, “I can state as a result to be relied 
 on, that the water commonly used from our city wells , is 
 apt to produce and to maintain disorders of the stomach 
 and digestive organs, and that there are cases of these af¬ 
 fections which cannot be removed so Ions: as its use is con- 
 tinned.” 
 
 “ In several cases of obstinate and long-standing affec¬ 
 tions of the stomach and bowels, I have directed the patients 
 to use soft water, instead of hard wellr water, and have 
 been satisfied that the change has produced a very favor¬ 
 able effect.”— Dr. Hayward. 
 
 “ I believe the water from the wells is in a great degree 
 unwholesome, predisposing some to calculous and others to 
 bilious disorders. The ram-water is not fit for use. The 
 soot and other impurities on the roofs thicken it, and the 
 leaves dye it in such a way that it will hardly do to wash 
 with. I have been a resident in Boston more than a third 
 of a century, and the population has tripled during that 
 time. The water has very much deteriorated within that 
 time. A spring very soft, and affording much water, at 
 the upper part of Old Temple street, has become hard , and 
 the water much diminished. The public well in Scott’s 
 Court, that thirty years ago produced excellent water, is 
 
10 
 
 t 
 
 unfit for use. The same may be said of other public wells.” 
 -— Dr. Shurtleff. 
 
 u I am not possessed of any proof that the inhabitants 
 have actually sickened from bad water; still it is my firm 
 belief, that the supply of water is deficient both in quality 
 and quantity. Let the people have a full supply, as pure 
 as furnished by the mountain stream—provided such water 
 can be found and conveyed to the city, within its convenient 
 means—with the addition of pure air; and all is done that 
 men can do, to prevent epidemic disease . Putting aside 
 human life and human comfort, one sweeping epidemic may 
 injure the property of the city to a greater amount than the 
 entire cost of an aqueduct to supply the city with pure wa¬ 
 ter.”— Dr. ShattucJc. 
 
 Having seen what the present sources of supply are, we 
 turn our attention to those for the future , and find the 
 quality of the waters proposed to be according to the fol¬ 
 lowing careful analysis made from specimens selected this 
 month from the localities named :— 
 
 SOLID CONTENTS IN ONE GALLON OF WATER. 
 
 Li 
 
 M 
 
 Li 
 
 Li 
 
 U 
 
 1. 
 
 From foot of Hemlock Lake, .... 
 
 1 330 
 
 -L*l 00 
 
 grains 
 
 2. 
 
 a 
 
 “ Honeoye “ .... 
 
 4. 
 
 u 
 
 3. 
 
 u 
 
 Lake Ontario (the day after a severe storm,) 
 
 
 
 
 
 1000 feet from shore, and west of piers, 
 
 4 160 
 ’•100 
 
 tt 
 
 4. 
 
 it 
 
 Lake Ontario, in front of piers on the same 
 
 
 
 
 
 day as above, and half a mile out in lake, 
 
 10. 
 
 <4 
 
 5. 
 
 ll 
 
 Honeoye Outlet, 1 mile south of Honeoye 
 
 
 
 
 
 Falls, ...... 
 
 43 1 0 
 
 4.HTF 
 
 tt 
 
 6. 
 
 XL 
 
 Honeoye Outlet at West Rush (with lime), 
 
 00 
 
 tt 
 
 7. 
 
 tt 
 
 Genesee River, at Wolcott’s Dam, 
 
 1 1 -21- 
 
 A • l 0 o 
 
 tt 
 
11 
 
 From the above it appears that No. 1, is very pure and 
 the water is soft, as also that of No. 2 and No. 5. 
 
 The day immediately following a severe storm and rain 
 was taken, as the most suitable, to procure the water from 
 Lake Ontario, as it would be at that period the most affected 
 by the Genesee Biver. This river does not at once mingle 
 with the lake waters, but flows directly out from the piers, 
 or, according to the direction of the wind, either to the east¬ 
 ward or westward, while the prevailing direction of the 
 current is to the east. 
 
 During a storm, and for one or more days after it, the 
 waters of this lake, for the distance of half a mile from 
 the shore, are quite turbid, but soon become transparent 
 and pure. This or similar water is used or is contemplated 
 for use, at Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Oswego, and Mon¬ 
 treal, and in each instance by artificial elevation. From 
 this source, an abundant supply of pure and wholesome 
 water would be undoubted for all time. 
 
 No. 6, from the ILoneoye Outlet at West Bush, con¬ 
 tains nearly one-third more solid contents than that from 
 the same outlet several miles farther up the stream (near 
 Smithtown), and is, in addition, strongly impregnated with 
 lime , having passed over lime rock in its descent from the 
 Honeoye Falls, and also taken in the streams of the inter¬ 
 mediate country, which are not only much harder than 
 those of the Hemlock and Honeoye lakes, but also more 
 impregnated with the wash of the several villages border¬ 
 ing the outlet below the Falls, and the neighboring coun¬ 
 try, and are, consequently, more liable to impurities from 
 rains and floods than the waters nearer the fountain head 
 or lake reservoirs. 
 
12 
 
 The last number (seven), from the Genesee River at the 
 dam near Mount Hope, is of course the most objectionable in 
 its quality, especially on account of its being strongly impreg¬ 
 nated with lime, by its own natural flow over a limestone 
 formation for some distance, and by the tributary streams in 
 the vicinity of the city. At seasons of floods much sediment 
 is contained in its waters, which renders it unfit for domestic 
 use, without allowing it to settle in a large receiving reservoir, 
 and then filtering it thoroughly before distribution. By a 
 judicious arrangement of these reservoirs, and proper care in 
 their management, its impurities could be arrested, and the 
 water rendered fit for service, as is done at Philadelphia, and 
 other cities where the supply is ?: obtained from rivers. 
 
 The cluster of small lakes known as the Hemlock, Honeoye,. 
 and the Canadice Lakes, are situated in the counties of Onta¬ 
 rio and Livingston, from twenty-six to twenty-eight miles from 
 Rochester, and discharge their waters into the Genesee River 
 (through Iloneoye Creek), about fifteen miles south of that 
 city. 
 
 From surveys and examinations made of these lakes by 
 the undersigned in 1818, for the State of Hew York, it was 
 ascertained that they cover an area of 3,846 acres, and receive 
 the drainage of 67,673 acres, as follows : 
 
 Hemlock Lake, area 1,566 acres; drains 24,513 acres. 
 
 Honeoye “ “ 1,730 “ “ 33,430 “ 
 
 Canadice “ “ 550 “ “ 9,730 “ 
 
 The estimated quantity of water that annually falls into these 
 lakes, assumed as twelve inches, or one-third the averaged 
 quantity of rain for a series of years in this State, as reported 
 by the Regents of the University, is as follows : 
 
13 
 
 Hemlock Lake, 1,067,*786,280 cubic feet. 
 
 Iloneoye “ 1,456,210,800 “ “ 
 
 Canadice “ 423,838,800 “ 
 
 Total 2,947,835,880 
 
 It is unnecessary to pursue this investigation further to 
 show the vast quantity of water in store in these lakes, from 
 which to draw a full supply for the city; we will, therefore, 
 pass on to inquire into the quality of the water, and the means 
 best adapted to furnish the required quantity by the force of 
 gravity alone, at such an elevation as to reach the tops of the 
 most elevated buildings in Rochester. 
 
 HEMLOCK LAKE 
 
 Is six and one-fourth miles long, and has an average breadth 
 of one hundred and twenty-six rods. The shores are bold, 
 giving generally about eight feet of water at four rods out, 
 
 and the hills on either side of it rise from the water’s edge 
 
 ¥ 
 
 by steep acclivities, and attain an elevation of over two hun¬ 
 dred feet. A swamp occupies the valley at the head of the 
 lake, containing an area of nearly one hundred acres. Im¬ 
 mediately south of this small swamp the valley rises rapidly. 
 The soundings at the foot and along the sides of the lake 
 indicate sand, gravel, and clay. At the foot there is a 
 sand beach extending about twenty rods. The level of the 
 water is usually 354 feet above the Erie canal, in Rochester. 
 
 CANADICE LAKE, 
 
 Situated midway between Hemlock and Honeoye lakes, re¬ 
 ceives the drainage of a much more limited area, and is the 
 
14 
 
 smallest of the three, being only about three miles in length, 
 with an average breadth of eighty-eight rods. The inlet is 
 small, the lake being copiously fed by springs; and the hills 
 on its sides are steep and high. It is also the most elevated, 
 being not less than one hundred feet above Hemlock, and 
 considerably higher than the Honeoye lake. A swamp of 
 about one hundred acres in extent lies at the head of the 
 lake, the surface of which is generally about on a level 
 with it. 
 
 HONEOYE LAKE. 
 
 This lake is over four miles long, and averages about two 
 hundred rods wide. It is by far the most shallow of the two— 
 the greatest depth of water not over thirty feet. The hills on 
 either side are less abrupt than those bordering the Hemlock 
 and Canadice lakes. The inlet is small, and flows through a 
 swamp of seven hundred acres, which occupies the valley at 
 the head of the lake, nearly on a level with the water. The 
 earth generally along the shores is sand, gravel, and blue 
 clay, the last is found in the bed of the lake. Its level above 
 the canal in Rochester is 259 feet. 
 
15 
 
 PLANS AND COST OF SUPPLY. 
 
 • 
 
 From the foregoing it appears that a bountiful sup¬ 
 ply of pure and wholesome water is within your reach, 
 from several sources, if the necessary cost to convey it to 
 suitable reservoirs and distribute it, is not beyond a pru¬ 
 dent expenditure, having reference to the present size and 
 future growth of your city. 
 
 This brings us naturally to inquire what quantity of 
 water is probably demanded for your present population 
 and what additional amount will it be prudent to estimate 
 and provide for, within a reasonable future? 
 
 The experience of the principal cities of the United 
 States furnishes considerable data for an approximate 
 estimate of the quantity of supply required at present; and 
 this has been assumed at 40 gallons per day to each water 
 taker, the probable number at present being 25,000, in¬ 
 creasing to 50,000 twelve years hence. Under this assump¬ 
 tion the estimates for the several plans have been based 
 on a present supply of 1,000,000 gallons, providing for an 
 extension to 2,000,000 gallons. The estimates for the sev¬ 
 eral plans presented are limited to the last amount, with 
 the exception of the plan of supply from the outlet south 
 of Lloneoye Falls, which is delivered by the force of grav¬ 
 ity, and has sufficient head and quantity to allow an in¬ 
 crease to 2,500,000 gallons without material increase of 
 cost except for distribution. 
 
 By reference to the accompanying maps it will be seen 
 that five several lines have been surveyed and estimated 
 upon : two from Lake Ontario,' one from the Genesee Biver, 
 one from LLoneoye outlet, at West Kush, and one from the 
 
* 
 
 16 
 
 outlet south of IToneoye Falls. These, with the exception 
 of the last, involve the use of pumping machinery; the 
 elevation of the city above the lake, and the elevation 
 of the distributing reservoir above the general level of the 
 city, precluding any supply by gravity, except from this 
 source, as will be further seen by reference to the follow¬ 
 ing table of elevations :— 
 
 
 Distance 
 
 Above 
 
 Above 
 
 LOCALITIES. 
 
 from 
 
 Rochester. 
 
 Ontario. 
 
 Erie Canal. 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Lower Falls, . 
 
 2 
 
 98.00 
 
 
 Head of Buell avenue, .... 
 
 . 2 
 
 208.00 
 
 
 Lake View, . 
 
 2 
 
 279.00 
 
 
 Erie Canal in Rochester, 
 
 • 
 
 260.00 
 
 
 Highest street in “ . ... 
 
 • 
 
 290.00 
 
 
 Summit, Spring street, .... 
 
 • 
 
 
 18.00 
 
 “ Washington street. 
 
 • 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 “ Sophia “ .... 
 
 • 
 
 
 19.00 
 
 “ St. Paul “ ... 
 
 • 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 “ Court “ .... 
 
 • 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 “ Gibbs and Main, 
 
 • 
 
 
 80.00 
 
 ‘‘ East avenue, .... 
 
 • 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 Most of Fourth and Sixth Wards, . , 
 
 • 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 Third Ward, .. 
 
 • 
 
 
 0 to 20 
 
 Seventh “ .. 
 
 • 
 
 
 6 to 20 
 
 Eighth “.. . 
 
 
 
 10 to 30 
 
 Second and parts of First and Ninth Wards, 
 
 • 
 
 
 Below 
 
 Genesee River Rapids, .... 
 
 . 2 
 
 
 0.00 
 
 Allen’s Creek, Scottsville, 
 
 12 
 
 
 22.50 
 
 Conesus Outlet, Avra, .... 
 
 . 21 
 
 
 40.00 
 
 Honeoye Falls, ..... 
 
 16 
 
 
 145.00 
 
 “ Outlet, Smithtown, 
 
 . 17 
 
 
 194.00 
 
 “ Lake, . 
 
 28 
 
 
 259.00 
 
 Hemlock Lake, ... ... 
 
 . 26 
 
 
 354.00 
 
 Wadsworth Hill, . . . . 
 
 2 
 
 
 50.00 
 
 Ridge west of Mount Hope, .... 
 
 . 2 
 
 
 60.00 
 
 “ east of “ “ ... 
 
 2 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 Hill in east part of Henrietta, 
 
 . 6 
 
 
 125.00 
 
17 
 
 The system of supply from the sources above named, 
 have been arranged as follows: 
 
 No. 1.—DIRECT LINE FROM LAKE ONTARIO. 
 
 This plan contemplates taking the water from Lake On¬ 
 tario, west of the piers of the Genesee River, where a steam 
 engine will be located, forcing the water to a second en¬ 
 gine, situated midway to the Distributing Reservoir, the 
 entire lift being 360 feet, and the distance 8 miles. 
 
 The aggregate cost of this supply for the present, for 
 machinery, distribution, &c., will be— 
 
 Using Ball’s pipe, .$584,560 00 
 
 “ Cast-iron pipe,. 661,960 00 
 
 Capital equivalent to annual expense, . . 155,133 00 
 
 Aggregate cost for 2,000,000 gallons’ supply : 
 
 Using Ball’s Pipe, .$657,260 00 
 
 Using Iron pipe,. 768,160 00 
 
 Capital equivalent to annual expenses, . . 311,770 00 
 
 No. 2. -CARTHAGE FALLS. 
 
 This plan contemplates taking the water from Lake Ontario, 
 
 and leading it by a supply main to a well at Carthage Falls, 
 
 whence it will be forced by a water-pressure engine to a tower 
 
 from which a main will be laid to the distributing reservoir; 
 
 the length of the supply main being 6J miles, and that to the 
 
 reservoir from the tower 4 miles. 
 
 9 
 
 md 
 
18 
 
 Aggregate cost for present supply:— 
 
 Machinery, Distribution, tfcc. .... $582,780 OO 
 
 Using iron pipe, . . . . . 659,680 00 
 
 Capital equivalent to annual expense, . . . 73,000 00 
 
 V ' . 
 
 Aggregate cost for 2,000,000 gallons supply :— 
 
 Machinery, Distribution, &c. .... $650,480 00 
 
 Using iron pipe, ...... 761,380 00 
 
 Capital equivalent to annual expense, . . . 73,000 00 
 
 No. 3.-—GENESEE RIVER. 
 
 This plan contemplates taking the water of the Genesee 
 River at Wolcott’s Dam, and forcing it by steam or water 
 power to the distributing reservoir, distant one mile, the lift 
 being 100 feet, and the available fall 6 - 3 - feet. 
 
 Aggregate cost for present supply:— 
 
 Machinery, <fec., steam power, • . 
 Machinery, <fcc., water power, 
 Using iron pipe, steam power, . 
 
 “ “ “ water power, 
 
 Capital, steam power, 
 
 “ water “ 
 
 Aggregate cost for 2,000,000 
 
 Machinery, tfcc., steam power, 
 
 “ water power, 
 
 Using iron pipe, steam “ 
 
 “ “ water “ 
 
 Capital, steam “ 
 
 “ water “ 
 
 $243,980 00 
 263,780 00 
 320,880 00 
 340,680 00 
 85,166 00 
 66,916 00 
 
 gallons supply:— 
 
 . . . $314,680 00 
 
 335,480 00 
 
 . . 425,580 00 
 
 ,446,380 00 
 
 . . . 161,208 00 
 
 91,250 00 
 
19 
 
 No. 4.— HONEOYE outlet; west rush. 
 
 This plan contemplates taking the water of the Honeoye 
 Outlet, from the Mill Pond at West Push, and conducting 
 it by an open canal along the banks of the outlet and the 
 Genesee Piver to Wolcott’s Dam, a distance of thirteen and 
 one-half miles, whence it will be elevated by steam or water 
 power to the distributing reservoir, as per plan No. 3. 
 
 Aggregate cost for present supply:— 
 
 Canal, Machinery, <fcc., Steam Power, 
 
 $373,980 00 
 
 ii ii 
 
 Water “ .... 
 
 393,780 00 
 
 Using Iron Pipe, 
 
 Steam “ ... 
 
 450,880 00 
 
 a a 
 
 Water “ .... 
 
 470,680 00 
 
 Capital, 
 
 Steam “ ... 
 
 85,166 00 
 
 a 
 
 Water “ .... 
 
 • 
 
 66,916 00 
 
 Aggregate cost for 2 
 
 ,000,000 gallons supply 
 
 
 Canal, Machinery, <tc., 
 
 Steam Power, 
 
 $444,680 00 
 
 a u 
 
 Water “ .... 
 
 464,400 00 
 
 Using Iron Pipe, 
 
 Steam “ ... 
 
 555,580 00 
 
 a a 
 
 Water “ .... 
 
 575,380 00 
 
 Capital, 
 
 Steam “ ... 
 
 161,208 00 
 
 ii 
 
 Water “ .... 
 
 91,250 00 
 
 No. 5.— honeoye outlet, south of honeoye falls. 
 
 By this plan, the water of this Outlet is taken at Smith- 
 town, a point much nearer its sources and of much greater 
 elevation than any other plan, being 200 ft. above the Erie 
 Canal at Pochester. The water is much purer in quality 
 than at any lower point, as will be seen by the analyses 
 made. 
 
20 
 
 It is proposed to construct an Open Canal for a distance 
 of 8 miles, the intervening distance of miles, to the 
 Receiving and Distributing Reservoirs, being of pipe. Pro¬ 
 vision is also made for a Receiving or Storing Reservoir, 
 not common to any other plan, in which the surplus waters 
 of the Outlet may be collected, so as to be available in the 
 dry seasons, without injuring the supply of the mills on 
 the Outlet. This Reservoir can be conveniently built in the 
 town of Henrietta, four miles from the Distributing Reservoir, 
 and will have a capacity equivalent to a supply of four 
 months. 
 
 Aggregate cost for present supply of 1,000,000 gallons:— 
 
 Canal, Pipes, Reservoirs, Distribution, <fcc., . . $415,945 00 
 
 Using Iron Pipe,. 492,845 00 
 
 Aggregate cost for 2,000,000 gallons supply :— 
 
 Canal, Pipes, Reservoirs, <fcc.,.$483,645 00 
 
 Using Iron Pipe,. 594,595 00 
 
 This Plan of supply we recommend to your adoption 
 without hesitation. 
 
 In addition to the superior quality of the water, it is 
 available without the intervention of forcing machinery and 
 its annual expense, while its supply may be increased, without 
 material cost, far beyond the maximum of the present esti¬ 
 mates. 
 
 By an additional cost of $36,000 for Ball & Co.’s pipe, 
 or of $51,000 for cast-iron pipe, to the several estimates for 
 the present supply, 11 additional miles of distribution may be 
 laid, making 25 miles in all. 
 
21 
 
 PUMPING MACHINERY. 
 
 The calculations for the machinery proposed for the several 
 systems of supply where the use of machinery is required, 
 have been based on a capacity for supplying at least 2,000,000 
 gallons per clay; the formula for friction being that of Hawks- 
 ley's : 
 
 wbere 
 
 q=quantity in gallons per second, 
 l=lengtli of main in inches, 
 d=diameter “ “ 
 
 The results thus obtained are somewhat in excess, and 
 liberal additions have been made to the forcing power, to 
 provide against contingencies. There are several advantages 
 to be derived from the increased size of the engines, beyond 
 the actual present requirements ; as the steam, in the case of 
 the Cornish engines, may be expanded to a greater degree, 
 and the ratio of expansion altered as a greater average pres¬ 
 sure is required to do the work. The remarkable success of 
 the Cornish engines is doubtless owing to their use of the 
 principle of expansion to so large an extent. The difference 
 in cost between a large and small cylinder is comparatively 
 trifling ; and by providing, at the outset, a cylinder large 
 enough for reasonable prospective use, it is much more conve¬ 
 nient and cheap to make the necessary additions of boiler 
 power as circumstances may require; and it is also fully 
 established by theory and practice that large condensers (in 
 condensing engines) are the most effective. With this view, 
 we have preferred to recommend the adoption of engines with 
 large cylinders and appurtenances, by the use of which eco¬ 
 nomy may be consulted at present, with great capacity when 
 
22 
 
 the increase of population requires successive increase of 
 power. 
 
 For the system of supply from Lake Ontario, where the 
 head of the Carthage Falls can be made available, we propose 
 to use an engine which, although novel in this country, has 
 proved of great service in the mining districts of Europe, hav¬ 
 ing been more or less used since 1731. 
 
 By introducing the supply from a convenient head of water 
 into a cylinder properly arranged, one or more pumps may be 
 worked by a reciprocating, rectilinear motion. The arrange¬ 
 ment of the several parts may be changed at will. We pro¬ 
 pose, however, in this case, to use a direct-acting machine, 
 with a cylinder and pump horizontal, having a common-center 
 line of motion, somewhat similar to Belidor’s engine. It will 
 be necessary to provide for an independent valve motion by 
 an auxiliary engine under the same head; but the arrange¬ 
 ment of the several parts is quite simple, and the work will 
 be performed with very little attention, and with econom¬ 
 ical results. 
 
 PUMPING MACHINERY FOR DIRECT LINE FROM LAKE ONTARIO 
 
 TO DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR. 
 
 On this line, two Cornish engines will be required, one 
 stationed at the lake, and the other midway to the reser¬ 
 voir, at a distance of four miles. 
 
 r • 
 
 Duty, c£c. 
 
 Lift of each engine,.180 ft. 
 
 Number of gallons per day,. 2,000,000 
 
 “ “ feet-lbs. per minute, ... . 2,000,000 
 
 Friction of machinery,. 400,000 
 
 “ “ main,. 930,600 
 
 Total duty of engine, 
 
 . 3,330,600 ft-lbs. 
 
23 
 
 Horse-power of engine, about . 
 
 Stroke of piston and plunger. 
 
 Number of strokes (single) per minute, 
 
 Diameter of cylinder,. 
 
 “ “ plunger,. 
 
 “ “ pump,. 
 
 Equivalent lift,.. 
 
 “ quantity (per minute) 
 
 Boiler pressure (per square inch) 
 
 Cut-off, “Sickles’Adjustable,” 
 
 Consumption of coal, at present, per day, 
 
 “ “ (raising 2,000,000 gals.) per day, 
 
 100 
 
 , 12 ft. 
 
 14 
 
 . 50 inches. 
 
 18 “ 
 
 . 24 “ 
 
 300 ft. 
 
 . 237 cub. ft. 
 20 lbs. 
 
 . 2.50 tons. 
 5.25 “ 
 
 WATER-PRESSURE ENGINE.—CARTHAGE FALLS. 
 
 Direct-acting, the cylinder and pump having a common- 
 center line of motion. 
 
 Duty , <&c. 
 
 Number of gallons per day, .... 2,000,000 
 
 Lift, 380 ft. 
 
 Force Tube, 30 in. diameter, length . . . 450 “ 
 
 Number of “ feet-lbs.” per minute, . . . .4,222,180 
 
 Friction of machinery, 422,218 
 
 “ Force tube, 198,000 
 
 Total duty, 
 
 Horse-power, about .... 
 
 Stroke of cylinder and pump, 
 
 Number of double strokes per minute, 
 
 Diameter of cylinder,. 
 
 “ pump, . . . • . 
 
 Available pressure in cylinder, per square inch, 
 
 4,842,398 ft-lbs. 
 147 
 10 ft. 
 
 12 
 
 44 inches. 
 22 “ 
 
 43.64 lbs. 
 
24 
 
 Pumping machinery at u Wolcott’s ” Dam. At this point 
 the power of the water-fall, or a Cornish engine, may be 
 used for forcing the water from the Genesee Piver to the 
 distributing reservoir, distant one mile, the lift being 100 
 feet. 
 
 STEAM ENGINE. 
 
 Duty, 6fc. 
 
 Number of gallons per day, . . . . 2,000,000 
 
 “ “ ft-lbs. per minute, . . . . 1,111,110 
 
 Friction of machinery,. 333,333 
 
 “ “ Main (30 inches diameter), . . 233,640 
 
 Total duty of engine, . . . 1,688,083 ft-lbs. 
 
 Horse power of engine, about.52 
 
 Stroke of piston and plunger, .6 ft. 
 
 Number of strokes (single) per minute, ... 14 
 
 Diameter of cylinder,.48 inches. 
 
 “ “ plunger, 24 “ 
 
 “ “ pump, 30 “ 
 
 Equivalent lift, ..152 ft. 
 
 “ quantity per minute, . . . . . 237 cub. ft. 
 
 Boiler pressure per square inch, .... 20 lbs. 
 
 Cut-off, “Sickles’ adjustable,” 
 
 Consumption of coal, at present, per day, . . .Id tons. 
 
 “ “ (raising 2,000,000 gals, per day), . 2| “ 
 
 Note. The expression “feet-lbs.” used above, is taken from Weisbach, and 
 signifies the number of pounds raised one foot per minute. 
 
 f 
 
25 
 
 WATER WHEEL. 
 
 For the present supply at “Wolcott’s” Dam, the avail¬ 
 able fall being 6J feet, there will be required, 
 
 One breast-wheel, diameter, 
 
 length, 
 
 One double-acting pump, stroke, 
 Number of strokes per minute, 
 Diameter of pump, 
 
 16 feet. 
 
 15 “ 
 
 6 “ 
 
 10 
 
 22 inches. 
 
 For a supply of 2,000,000 gallons per day, two wheels 
 and pumps of the above size, will be required. 
 
 Following are estimates of cost for the several systems 
 of supply: 
 
 ESTIMATES. 
 
 PLAN ONE. 
 
 Direct Line.—Steam Power . 
 
 
 1,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 2,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 Engine Houses, Ac., complete, 
 
 $35,000 00 
 
 $35,000 00 
 
 Machinery and appurtenances, 
 
 . 392,560 00 
 
 397,560 00 
 
 Eight of way, Ac., 
 
 5,000 00 
 
 5,000 00 
 
 Distributing Reservoir, . 
 
 . 29,900 00 
 
 29,900 00 
 
 Distribution (cement pipe), 
 
 107,100 00 
 
 172,800 00 
 
 Engineering, Ac., 
 
 . 15,000 00 
 
 17,000 00 
 
 
 $584,560 00 
 
 $657,260 00 
 
 Additional cost of cast-iron pipe, 
 
 . 76,900 00 
 
 110,900 00 
 
 
 $661,460 00 
 
 $768,160 00 
 
26 
 
 Daily Expenses of Steam Power. 
 
 tons coal per day, a $5,.$12 50 
 
 2 Engineers, a $2,.4 00 
 
 4 Firemen, a $1 50,. 6 00 
 
 Oil, Repairs, <fcc. . 3 00 
 
 $25 50 
 
 Capital, at 6 per cent., equal to.$155,133 00 
 
 For supply of 2,000,000 galls. 
 
 tons coal per day, a $5, . . . . . $26 25 
 
 4 Engineers, a $2, . . . . . . . 8 00 
 
 8 Firemen, a $1 50, . » . . . . 12 00 
 
 Oil, Repairs, &c., .5 00 
 
 $51 25 
 
 Capital, at 6 per cent., equal to.$311,770 00 
 
 PLAN TWO. 
 
 
 Carthage Falls .— 
 
 Water-Pressure Engine. 
 
 
 1,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 2,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 •Supply main from Lake, <&c., 
 
 . $152,000 00 
 
 $152,000 00 
 
 Engine House, &c., complete, 
 
 15,000 00 
 
 15,000 00 
 
 Machinery and appurtenances, 
 
 . 251,280 00 
 
 251,280 00 
 
 WaterPower, . 
 
 . 10,000 00 
 
 10,000 00 
 
 Right of Way, 
 
 2,500 00 
 
 2,500 00 
 
 Distributing Reservoir, . 
 
 . 29,900 00 
 
 29,900 00 
 
 Distribution, 
 
 . 107,100 00 
 
 172,800 00 
 
 Engineering, <kc., 
 
 . 15,000 00 
 
 17,000 00 
 
 
 $582,780 00 
 
 $650,480 00 
 
 Additional cost of cast-iron pipe, 76,900 00 
 
 110,900 00 
 
 
 $659,680 00 
 
 $761,380 00 
 
27 
 
 Daily Expenses of Water-Pressure Engine. 
 
 % 
 
 Oil, Repairs, Ac., per day,.$3 00 
 
 4 Attendants,.7 00 
 
 Incidental Expenses,.2 00 
 
 $12 00 
 
 Capital, at 6 per cent., equal to.$73,000 00 
 
 PLAN THREE. 
 
 Wolcott 1 s Dam by steam power, including distribution. 
 
 1,000,000 galls, supply. 2,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 Engine House, Ac. complete,. 
 
 $12,000 00 
 
 $12,000 
 
 00 
 
 Machinery and appurtenances, 
 
 68,980 00 
 
 71,980 
 
 00 
 
 Right of way, Ac. . . . 
 
 1,000 00 
 
 1,000 
 
 00 
 
 Distributing Reservoirs, Ac. 
 
 39,900 00 
 
 39,900 
 
 00 
 
 Distribution (Cement pipe), . 
 
 107,100 00 
 
 172,800 
 
 00 
 
 Engineering, Ac. . 
 
 15,000 00 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 r—1 
 
 00 
 
 
 $243,980 00 
 
 314,680 
 
 00 
 
 Additional Cost of Cast-Iron Pipes, 
 
 76,900 00 
 
 110,900 
 
 00 
 
 . 
 
 $320„880 00 
 
 $425,580 
 
 00 
 
 Daily expenses at Wolcott' 1 s Dam.—Steam Power. 
 
 1,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 1£ Tons coal per day, a $5, 
 
 $6 75 
 
 1 Engineman, a $2, . 
 
 2 00 
 
 2 Fireman, a $1 50, . 
 
 3 00 
 
 Oil, Repairs, Ac., 
 
 2 25 
 
 
 $14 00 
 
 Capita], at 6 per cent., equal to 
 
 • • 
 
 $85,166 00 
 
28 
 
 2,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 
 2| Tons coal per day, a $5, 
 
 $13 75 
 
 2 Enginemen, a $2, 
 
 $4 00 
 
 4 Firemen, a $1 50, 
 
 6 00 
 
 Oil, Repairs, &c. 
 
 2 15 
 
 
 $26 50 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to . . $161,208 00 
 
 Wolcott?8 Dam .— Water Power . 
 
 1,000,000 galls, supply. 2,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 Pump house, drc., complete, 
 
 $16,000 00 
 
 $16,000 00 
 
 Race, Dam, &c. 
 
 10,800 00 
 
 10,800 00 
 
 Machinery and appurtenances, . 
 
 63,980 00 
 
 67,980 00 
 
 Right of way, &c. 
 
 1,000 00 
 
 1,000 00 
 
 Water power, 
 
 10,000 00 
 
 10,000 00 
 
 Distributing reservoir, 
 
 39,900 00 
 
 39,900 00 
 
 Distributions (cement pipe), . 
 
 107,100 00 
 
 172,800 00 
 
 Engineering, &c. 
 
 15,000 00 
 
 17,000 00 
 
 
 $263,780 00 
 
 335,480 00 
 
 Additional cost of cast-iron pipe, 
 
 76,900 00 
 
 110,900 00 
 
 
 $340,680 00 
 
 446,380 00 
 
 Daily Expenses at Wolcott's Dam.—Breast Wheel. 
 
 Supply , 1,000,000 gallons. 
 
 Oil, Repairs, <fec., per day, . . . $3,00 
 
 Four Attendants, . . . 6,00 
 
 Incidental Expenses, . . . 2,00 
 
 $ 11,00 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent., . . $66,916 00 
 
29 
 
 For supply of 2,000,000. 
 
 Oil, Repairs, Ac., per day, 
 
 $5,00 
 
 Four Attendants, 
 
 . . 6,00 
 
 Incidental Expenses, 
 
 4,00 
 
 
 $15,00 
 
 Capital at 6 per cent, equal to . . $91,250,00 
 
 PLAN FOUR. 
 
 Steam Power. 
 
 1,000,000 galls, supply. 2,000,000 galls, supply. 
 
 13-£ miles open canal, 
 
 $1 20,000 
 
 $120,000 
 
 Pumping Engine, House, Ac. Ac., 
 
 81,980 
 
 84,980 
 
 Distributing Reservoirs, 
 
 39,900 
 
 39,900 
 
 Distribution, .... 
 
 107,100 
 
 172.800 
 
 Engineering and Contingencies, 
 
 25,000 
 
 27,000 
 
 
 $373,980 
 
 $444,680 
 
 Additional cost, iron pipe, 
 
 • 
 
 76,900 
 
 110,900 
 
 
 $450,880 
 
 $555,580 
 
 Additional cost of water power, 
 
 19,800 
 
 19,800 
 
 
 $470,680 
 
 $565,380 
 
 The daily expenditure of 
 
 raising the water 
 
 on this plan, 
 
 will be the same as Plan Three. 
 
 
 PLAN 
 
 FIVE. 
 
 
 
 1,000,000 gals, supply. 
 
 2,000,000 gals, supply. 
 
 8 miles open canal, 
 
 $ 80,300 
 
 $ 80,300 
 
 7£ “ pipe (20 in. and 16 in.), 
 
 109,850 
 
 109,850 
 
 Receiving Reservoir, 
 
 53,795 
 
 53,795 
 
 Distributing “ . . . 
 
 39,900 
 
 39,900 
 
 Distribution, 
 
 107,100 
 
 172,800 
 
 Engineering and contingencies, 
 
 • 
 
 25,000 . 
 
 27,000 
 
 
 $415,945 
 
 $483,645 
 
 Additional cost for iron pipe, 
 
 76,900 
 
 110,900 
 
 $492,845 
 
 $594,595 
 
30 
 
 WATER PIPES. 
 
 It will have been noticed in the foregoing estimates of 
 cost, that a very large saving is proposed by the introduction 
 of “Ball’s Patent Indestructible Water Pipe,” as a substi¬ 
 tute for cast-iron pipe, being incomparably more durable 
 (as there is no rust or decay, but continually growing more 
 permanent), and far superior for cleanliness and purity. 
 
 The undersigned, having devoted much attention to the in¬ 
 vestigation of the merits of this pipe, and having visited 
 works at Jersey City, Brooklyn, and Saratoga Springs, where 
 it has been in service, under from eighty to two-hundred feet 
 pressure for several years, and having at this time charge of 
 water-works where it is now being laid, have no hesitation in 
 recommending its use for your city works, and fully concur 
 in the following testimonials from the intelligent gentlemen 
 named below. 
 
 \ 
 
 The Water Commissioners of the city of Boston, in their 
 report to the Council in 1848, state, that “pipes formed of 
 sheet-iron, coated internally with hydraulic cement , have been 
 recently introduced ; and they promise to be highly useful 
 under certain circumstances. When laid in the earth, and in 
 situations exposing them externally to moisture, they are pro¬ 
 tected by a covering of hydraulic cement, which, besides 
 preserving the iron against rust , gives an additional strength 
 to the pipe.” 
 
 For the benefit of those who have requested information 
 in regard to this excellent article, we* insert the following 
 testimonials in relation to its merits: 
 
31 
 
 New York , July 10 th, 1853. 
 
 Messrs. Ball and Stevens. 
 
 Dear Sirs :—Agreeably to your request, I take pleasure in making such 
 statements, in relation to your Hydraulic Cement Pipe, as now occur to me. 
 
 The fact that pipes were made of riveted wrought iron, coated inside and 
 outside with cement, had been known to me for some 3 T ears, but up to last May 
 my attention was not directed particularly to them. At that time, I undertook 
 to investigate the subject with reference to the adoption of a suitable material 
 for the water pipes of a large work in which I was interested. I confess I was 
 somewhat prejudiced against your method, from its seeming frailty as con¬ 
 trasted with cast iron; and for that reason, the tests applied were more severe 
 than they otherwise would have been. 
 
 On 31st May, I witnessed at the Corporation Yard in this city, in the pres¬ 
 ence of several engineers, a series of experiments on^ your pipe, as follows, the 
 data of which I extract from notes made at the time:—“ Hydraulic Cement 
 pipe, made of No. 20 Iron, 11 inches diameter, Y feet long, riveted at intervals 
 of If inches, with rivets weighing three pounds per thousand, lined half an 
 inch thick with Rosendale cement, was subjected by hydraulic pressure to four- 
 hundred pounds to the square inch, and remained under this strain for several 
 minutes without exhibiting any signs of weakness. The weight on the valve 
 •was then so placed as to bring the pressure to six-hundred pounds per square 
 inch, but just as the valve rose to blow off, the pipe burst, tearing away the 
 rivet holes:” this piece would probably have borne a static pressure of five-hun¬ 
 dred and fifty pounds per square inch, without injury. Another piece of simi¬ 
 lar dimensions, of lighter iron (No. 23.), but riveted at intervals of 1 inch 
 instead of If inches, was then put in the press, and successively subjected to 
 480, 500, 600, Y00, and 800 pounds per square inch, without sensibly affecting 
 it: the latter pressure was the limit of the capacity of the press; it was not, 
 therefore, known what the piece would have burst with. 
 
 The amount of pressure which a wrought-iron riveted pipe would sustain, 
 when made of known stock could be calculated upon data already well authen¬ 
 ticated ; but the durability of the pipe when in use, could only be determined 
 approximately by analogy or experiment. In the latter part of May last, I 
 saw at Saratoga Springs the main conduit uncovered, which has been in use 
 nearly seven years: this is made of your cement pipe. I broke from the out¬ 
 side, a portion of the cement covering, and found the iron uncorroded and in 
 appearance similar to a new stove-pipe: this pipe is 6 inches in diameter. A 
 
32 
 
 specimen from the New Jersey Marshes which had been in use for nearly the 
 same length of time, exhibited the same favorable appearance inside as well as 
 outside. 
 
 The difference in the expansion and contraction of the iron and cement, con¬ 
 sequent upon changes of temperature, is more or less likely to disconnect them, 
 if in contact; but at the depths which it is necessary to put pipes in the ground, 
 to guard them from frost, any atmospheric changes would scarcely operate— 
 which, in practice is found to be the case. 
 
 By your method of working the cement immediately after it is mixed, you 
 avoid altogether the risk of contraction in hardening. The experiments which 
 were made for me at your factory, determined this question conclusively. 
 
 As your pipe compared with cast iron is so much cheaper, and the water 
 which passes through it is less affected than that which passes through iron, I 
 have no hesitation in recommending it, where properly made and carefully laid, 
 for all purposes where main^ and street-service pipes are wanted. 
 
 EDWARD W. SERREL, 
 
 CIVIL ENGINEER. 
 
 The following is from the Water Commissioners and Trust¬ 
 ees of the village of Saratoga Springs, given in 1849, and 
 where the same pipe is at this time in use, and as good condi¬ 
 tion as at the date of this certificate. 
 
 “In answer to the numerous inquiries in relation to J. Ball & Co.’s Indb- 
 
 structible Water Pipe, composed of iron and cement, and in use in our village, 
 
 the undersigned, water commissioners, trustees, and late trustees of the village of 
 
 Saratoga Springs, take this method of saying that we have perfect confidence in 
 
 the utility, goodness, and durability of said pipe. The village of Saratoga 
 
 Springs has some 20,000 feet of this pipe, varying from 6J to 1^- inches in 
 • • 
 
 diameter, under a head of about 80 feet. It has been laid since the fall of 1846. 
 Since it was fully completed, it has cost comparatively nothing to keep it in 
 r«pair; and although some portions are exposed to the frost, it seems to stand 
 well the test, and answer all the purposes for which it was designed and con¬ 
 structed. We believe it preferable to iron pipe—is much cheaper and more 
 durable; and we would not exchange it for any other kind of pipe yet in¬ 
 vented, jf we could without any additional expense or inconvenience. The 
 water comes through clear and pure; and where we have had any occasion 
 to take any part of it up to improve or alter the grounds, it appeared to be 
 
33 
 
 just as sound and .imperishable as the moment it was laid down. This testi¬ 
 mony is entirely disinterested, and is now given to avoid the necessity of 
 answering the many calls upon us for information on this subject. We have 
 witnessed, and many of us have superintended, the laying down of the pipe 
 in this village, and watched its operations since, and are perfectly satisfied 
 that we have the best water-pipe ever presented to the public. 
 
 Saratoga Springs, Dec., 1849. 
 
 G. M. Davidson, ) 
 
 R. Putnam, >- Water Com. 
 
 N. B. Doe, ) 
 
 R. Gardner, ") 
 
 H P Hyde, U ru9tees 
 J. L. Perry, 
 
 J. D. Briggs, J 
 
 S. Chapman, 
 
 W A S.AIgT;, [Late Trustees. 
 
 William Cook, J 
 
 “I certify that I was Chief Engineer, having the construction of the above 
 work in charge, and fully concur in the foregoing statement. 
 
 “ S. R. OSTRANDER, Civil Engineer.” 
 
 Dec, 1849. 
 
 ROCKVILLE WATER WORKS. 
 
 For the information of those interested in Water Works, we make the fol¬ 
 lowing statement: 
 
 In the fall of 1847, J. Ball <fc Co., of New York, laid of their Indestructible 
 Patent Cement Pipes several miles in this village—ranging from eight tc 
 three inches calibre. The grounds are broken, through which the pipes 
 are laid: the head of water ranges from light to 140 feet, giving great effi¬ 
 ciency to our hydrants and works throughout the village. The pipes are per- 
 • > 
 fectly tight; and we unhesitatingly say that we prefer them to cast iron, and 
 
 are confident that they will be far more durable; and, from close examination 
 where they have been opened for tapping and branching, we believe them to 
 be truly “indestructible,” besides being clean and pure. 
 
 Agents .— Geo. Kellogg, Rockville Manufacturing Company; Allen Ham¬ 
 mond, New England Company. 
 
 3 
 
 J. N. STICKNEY. 
 
34 
 
 Office of the Greenwood Cemetery , April 29, 1852. 
 
 Messrs. J. Ball & Co., laid in the grounds of this institution, two years 
 since, about 800 feet of 8 inch cement pipe, conveying water, forced by a 
 steam pump, to an elevation of 110 feet. It has proved perfectly satisfactory t 
 and is in my opinion preferable, for several reasons, to the best of iron pipes. 
 Having both kinds in use, I do not hesitate from the experience thus far had, 
 to express this opinion. 
 
 J. A. PERRY, Comptroller. 
 
 In addition to the above testimonials, we can state that, having had ex¬ 
 perience and personal knowledge in regard to the excellent qualities and 
 durability of the above pipe, we have no hesitation in recommending it to 
 the public. 
 
 Starr & Alberts, 122 Nassau street. 
 
 Frederick Marquand, per H. G. M., Att’y, 
 
 Janes, Beebe & Co. 
 
 \ 
 
 • H. W. Metcalf, 63 and 65 Centre street. 
 
 Norman White, 111 Fulton street. 
 
 John J. Merritt, 76 Columbia street, Brooklyn. 
 
 Platt & Brother, 20 Maiden Lane. 
 
 Geo. Griswold, South street. 
 
 J. & J. W. Meeks, 14, 16 and 18 Yesey street. 
 
 Wm. Gale, 116 Fulton street. 
 
 J. C. Brown, Builder, 10 Dutch street. 
 
 Wm. Colgate & Co. 
 
 Thos. C. Smith. 
 
 O. R. Burnham, 17 and 19 Broadway. 
 
 G. B. Hartson, 58 and 60 Vesey street. 
 
 Wm. W. Campbell, 77 St. Mark’s Place. 
 
 Lorin Brooks, 240 Broadway. 
 
 i 
 
 Messrs. J. Ball & Co. 
 
 Gents .—Articles have appeared in the Farmer and Mechanic, from Sara¬ 
 toga and Cohoes, on the subject of your Water Pipes; I fully endorse their 
 ■opinions. Your work for my son’s Water Cure, at South Orange, embracing 
 a large amount of four and three-inch pipe, under a head of at least as great 
 as the Croton of New York, shows not only certainty and efficiency, but what 
 
35 
 
 is equally important, perfect purity, which for medical purposes is all-important, 
 and should be considered so for drinking and other uses. 
 
 Yours, SAM’L MEEKER. 
 
 Newark , Jan. 11, 1850. 
 
 In addition to the above, we certify that J. Ball & Co. have inserted pipes 
 for us, of 10 inch bore and less, since the winter of 1844, and that last spriDg 
 we had over 1,000 lbs. of lead pipe removed, and its place supplied with their 
 pipe. We fully endorse the opinions expressed in the notices above. 
 
 BEACH, BROTHERS, 
 
 1850. New York Sun Establishment. 
 
 Having, for the past three years, laid many of Messrs. J. Ball & Co.’s Patent * 
 Cement Pipes, for the Newark Aqueduct Co., I prefer them to any pipe that I 
 have used, their cost being one-third less than iron pipe, and also being free 
 from wear and rust, and can most cordially recommend them for all aqueduct 
 purposes. 
 
 SHELDON SMITH, Superintendent. 
 
 Newark , Jan. 14, 1850. 
 
 CERTIFICATE OF PROF. HORSFORD, HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 
 
 Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1853. 
 
 I have examined, somewhat in detail, the pipe manufactured by Ball & Co., 
 for conveying and distributing water. I have repeatedly attended upon their 
 manufacture, and the inspection preparatory to use. I have farther attended 
 upon the laying down of the pipes, and observed the mode of imbedding in 
 and costing with cement, the connection of sections of pipe, the piercing 
 for lateral service pipes, and, I believe, all the various processes by which 
 the pipes are fitted for use. I have witnessed their service under a pressure 
 of a hundred and twenty feet. I have examined various specimens that have 
 been in use for a period of seven } T ears; and, with one reservation, which 
 is made because I have not had opportunity to examine with sufficient care 
 this branch of the subject, I am prepared to say: 
 
 That with strict fidelity on the part of the workmen and engineer, the 
 above kind of pipe may be made and laid down so as satisfactorily to fulfill the 
 general purposes of water distribution. 
 
 Where the pipes are liable to displacement or jarring, or sudden shocks, such 
 as are produced by the water-hammer action—when a cock is suddenly closed 
 under considerable head—I am not prepared to say what will be the effect; but 
 
36 
 
 I hope, at an early day, to report upon the result of an examination of the 
 practical working of the pipes under the conditions named. 
 
 The advantages of the pipes of Ball <& Co. are, that, after a few days of use, 
 the water is transmitted entirely unchanged; the pipes do not corrode and 
 encrust so as to diminish the service capacity; the strength increases with age ; 
 and the cheapness will make it possible to introduce water into places where 
 the cost of cast-iron pipes would leave it impossible. 
 
 Signed, 
 
 E. K HORSFORD, 
 
 . Rumford Professor, Harvard University. 
 
 The pipe manufactured by Ball & Co. is recommended 
 for your use, not only on account of its economy , and the 
 increased facilities for making the joints, taps, &c., but on 
 account of its superiority over cast-iron pipe, in causing 
 much less friction to the flow of water, which experi¬ 
 ments have fully shown to be the case, and its freedom from 
 the contingencies to which iron pipes are subject, by gradually 
 filling up with tubercles, formed principally by oxydation of 
 the pipe itself. 
 
 The importance of this question will be more fully 
 illustrated by the following extracts from various reports 
 and statements on this point. 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 observation; 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 
 
37 
 
 an inch; and some entirely, to aD 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 generally to a less extent, as 
 regards thickness, than the larger ones. 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. Wrouglit-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 ten inches in diameter, 
 has been, in some cases, reduced to eight by tubercles, which, however, are 
 different in form from those in the Cochituate pipes. They appear to lap 
 over each other in the direction of the current; this is very strikingly the case 
 at the commencement of the pipe, as if their form was owing in some measure 
 to the mechanical action of the current. 
 
 “Knowing that this subject has occupied much of your attention, that you 
 have consulted articles from various foreign journals that treat upon it, and that 
 Prof. Horsford has it under consideration, no discussion upon the cause or causes 
 of these tubercles will be attempted here.” 
 
 The following extracts are taken from the last annual 
 report of the “ Cochituate Water Board to the City Council 
 of Boston,” 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 would now call its attention, which we 
 consider to be eminently so. We allude to the effects which are found to 
 be produced on the inner surface 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 obvious and 
 striking, and in fact had been noticed some time previous. They have since 
 then been carefully watched, and the valuable assistance of Professor Hors¬ 
 ford has been engaged, for the purpose of ascertaining as far as is practica¬ 
 ble, their origin, their probable progress for the future, and the means which 
 
38 
 
 might be relied upon, for the purpose of preventing, arresting, or retard¬ 
 ing 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 those communications. It is 
 presumed, also, that the members of the Council are generally 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 formation in 
 its stead of a substance resembling plumbago. 
 
 “ 2. The gradual development of local accretions or tubercles, in the in¬ 
 terior of the pipes, by which the flow of water is impeded, and their capa¬ 
 city diminished, so that the object for which they were laid becomes im¬ 
 perfectly accomplished, and an apprehension is excited that they may be so 
 far closed up as to be useless hereafter. 
 
 “This subject has received but little scientific investigation, till within a 
 few years, notwithstanding its very obvious importance, and although the 
 evils must have existed ever since cast iron has been used for such purposes. 
 It is one, however, of no little importance to the city, as there is involved 
 in it the question of the present and future capacity of all the iron pipes 
 which have been or are to be laid, at no small expense, and of their conse¬ 
 quent adaptation to the purpose for which they are used, and also of their 
 ultimate durability. The Water Board have therefore thought that it would 
 be interesting 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 provide 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, p. 131.) It is a note by Mr. Vicat on the subject of a coating to 
 prevent the development of tuberculous accretions in cast-iron pipes for conduct¬ 
 ing water. He states that a report printed at Grenoble, November 22, 1833, 
 
39 
 
 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 d'Eau , 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 develop¬ 
 ment of the accretions, however, as was proved by many accurate measure¬ 
 ments, soon increased so much, that the supply of the Chateau, which had 
 been in 1826 about 1,400 litres (about 370 wine gallons) a minute, was grad¬ 
 ually reduced in 1833 to 720 litres (about 190 wine gallons), showing a loss 
 of nearly one half. A good deal of alarm was excited by it, and an attempt 
 was immediately made, by eminent chemists, to ascertain the cause, and rec¬ 
 oncile the phenomenon with various theories. A commission, consisting of 
 engineers and others, was also appointed, which discussed, at Grenoble, the 
 means of destroying this kind of ferruginous vegetation (as it is called in 
 the report), or of arresting its progress. In the meantime new measurements 
 indicated , that in less than Jive years the pipes would probably be so obstructed 
 that the water would cease to Jlow through them. Two members of the Com¬ 
 mission, Messrs. Guemard and Yicat, Engineers in chief, being persuaded 
 that the tubercles were formed at the expense of the castings, applied them¬ 
 selves to the discovery of some coating which would be, at the same time, 
 cheap, indestructible, and capable of preventing oxydation. After two years 
 of experiments, they considered it sufficiently proved, that hydraulic cement 
 is of all compositions combining facility of application and cheapness, that 
 which adheres the best to the casting, is the most indestructible, and pre¬ 
 vents most effectually all oxydation and consequent formation of the tu¬ 
 bercles.” 
 
 “In 1837 the subject attracted the attention of the British Association for the 
 Advancement of 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. Robert 
 Mallet. Mr. Mallet commenced in 1838, and continued until the year 1843, a 
 very complete course of experiments on the subject.” 
 
 “In his first Report, which is devoted to the consideration of the then 
 existing state of chemical knowledge of the subject at large, he remarks, that 
 notwithstanding the innumerable uses to which iron had been applied, for the 
 purpose of supplying the social wants of man, during the preceding half- 
 century, yet our information on the subject of its durability, and the causes 
 likely to impair or promote it, was scarcely more advanced than it had been 
 
40 
 
 twenty years previously; and that while the chemist was not precisely informed 
 as the changes which air and water produce on it, the engineer was without 
 data to determine what limits the corroding action sets to its durability. Nor 
 was it known with certainty, what properties should be chosen, in wrought or 
 cast iron, that its corrosion might be the least possible under given circum¬ 
 stances. Neither was our actual knowledge more advanced as to the variable 
 effects of corrosive action, on the same iron, of different waters, such as are 
 commonly met with, containing their usual mineral ingredients in solution.” 
 
 “ The investigation was, therefore, undertaken for the purpose of throwing 
 light on these topics ; and there was of course involved in it a great extent 
 of inquiry into the durability of the metal, the forces which were likely to 
 impair it, the mode in which these forces would act, what would be their 
 results, and the means of arresting their progress. 
 
 “ The Board can merely state some of the general laws, regulating 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 sort 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 
 scraped off, and leaving a smooth, red surface after it. 2. Uniformly with 
 plumbago, 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. 4. 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. Tubercular, 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 projecting 
 tubercles leaving the rest bare.” 
 
 “ Fresh water may hold so much combined air (not to speak of car* 
 bonic acid), as to act more rapidly than sea water. Carbon, as it is known, 
 exists in iron as diffused graphite in a crystalline form, and as combined 
 carbon : the dark gray and softer irons contain more of the former; the 
 lighter and harder irons more of the latter.” 
 
 “ The rate of corrosion is a decreasing one, at least when the plumbago 
 and rust first formed has been removed. When, however, this coating re¬ 
 mains untouched, the rate is much more nearly uniform, and is nearly pro- 
 
41 
 
 portional to the time of reaction, in given conditions. In some cases even 
 where the coating had been removed, an increment in the rate had taken 
 place. And it is observable that this almost uniformly occurred in those 
 specimens which had the smallest amount of corrosion at their first immer¬ 
 sion. Thus there was a tendency to a greater equality in the index of 
 corrosion in all the varieties of iron at the second than the first immersion.” 
 
 “ The size, and perhaps the form, of iron casting, forms one element in the 
 rate of its corrosion in water. Because the thinner castings having cooled much 
 faster and more irregularly than the thicker, are much less homogeneous, and 
 contain veins and patches harder than the rest of their substance: hence the 
 formation of voltaic couples and accelerated corrosion. 
 
 “He estimates that from three-tenths to four-tenths of an inch in depth, of 
 cast iron one inch thick, and about six-tenths of an inch of wrought iron, will be 
 destroyed in a century , in clear water” 
 
 “ As to the nature and origin of the peculiar change which takes place in the 
 conversion of part of the metal into an entirely different substance, but little 
 information, beyond what was already known, can be obtained from these 
 reports. It is stated in the introductory one, before the result of the experi¬ 
 ments was ascertained, as a fact first observed by Dr. Priestly, that cast iron 
 being immersed in sea water for a length of time, has its metal wholly removed, 
 and becomes changed into a substance analogous to plumbago, mixed with oxide 
 of iron, which frequently, though not invariably, possesses the property of 
 heating and inflaming spontaneously, on exposure to air; but that it is yet by no 
 means clear how it is produced, what is its precise composition, and to what is 
 owing its rise of temperature on exposure to air; that malleable iron, under 
 circumstances but little understood, is also subject to this change; and also,from 
 various statements of others, it would seem that both malleable and cast iron 
 are affected in the same way, when immersed in water holding in solution 
 alkaline or earthy salts or acids. 
 
 “ The subsequent experiments throw no new light on the cause and nature of 
 this singular phenomenon. They show, however, that the same effect is pro¬ 
 duced 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 principal 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 
 
42 
 
 enable him to predict the term of durability, and allow for the loss by corrosion 
 of iron in all conditions, when entering into his structures.’ 
 
 “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 de$ 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 1^ 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 friction, had deprived many of 
 the workshops at the end of the conduit of a supply, prevented the simultaneous 
 playing of the fountains, and made the supply of the grand reservoir impossible, 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 ochre, 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:— 
 
 “Peroxyd of iron, 96 to 98. 
 
 “ Silex and Alumine (argel) 4 to 2. 
 
 “ Chlorid of Sodium—traces. 
 
 “Sulphate of Iron—traces. 
 
 “They were, therefore, almost entirely free from (at least as far as regards 
 the iron which they contained) the elementary matters contained in the water 
 in solution— and, indeed, they were not derived from substances which it could hold 
 in solution. The water was free from color, taste or smell, and its specific 
 gravity nearly that of pure water. It showed on analysis by chemical tests, 
 
 “A very small quantity of carbonic acid. 
 
 “A small quantity of calcareous earth. 
 
 “A small quantity of sulphate of soda. 
 
 “A positive quantity of chlorid of soda. 
 
 “Little or none of the metallic salts. 
 
 “And little or no iron. 
 
43 
 
 “A more recent analysis of the water, taken before its passage through the 
 conduit, showed its density to be scarcely different from distilled water; to 
 reagents it only showed chlorids, and those, chlorids of sodium; there was 
 no trace of lime, nor sulphates, nor iron. 
 
 “ He considered it certain, that the iron in the tubercles was to be attributed, 
 exclusively, to an alteration which had taken place in the pipes themselves, no 
 matter what the casting might be, whether white or gray. And as, notwithstanding 
 this alteration, there could pot be seen in the pipe, even with a glass, after 
 it had been well rubbed, any difference between its texture and that of new 
 casting, he concludes, that the deterioration must have taken place over the 
 whole surface indiscriminately, in the same way.” 
 
 “ 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 developed 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.” 
 
 “ The foregoing statement contains a very brief analysis of the investigations 
 which have been made, in other places, of the nature, origin, and mode of 
 remedying the evils now under consideration, as far as they have come to our 
 knowledge. We annex to it the able and interesting communications of Pro¬ 
 fessor Horsford, and refer to the report of the City Engineer, to show the ex¬ 
 tent of our own experience in relation to them. It has been hoped that by 
 bringing to the notice of the Council all the facts which we have been able to 
 accumulate, and offering even an imperfect sketch of the researches hitherto 
 made on the subject, we might enlist the attention not only of those who are 
 similarly interested with ourselves, but also of men of science, and of those 
 who are engaged in the production of the metal itself, or in the great variety 
 of manufactures and constructions in which iron is employed. And that, if 
 this object could be effected, it might be the means of ascertaining hereafter some 
 mode, either of preventing the evil in its origin by improvements in the 
 castings; or, of arresting or retarding its further progress, by the intervention 
 of some preparation for covering and protecting the surface ; or, of obtaining a 
 temporary remedy by providing a mode of removing the obstructions as they 
 from time to time appear. 
 
 “Undoubtedly the most important change which takes place on the inner 
 surface of the pipes, as far as relates to any immediate results, is the production 
 
44 
 
 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 accelerated 
 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 im¬ 
 portant , so much so that our 36 inch and 30 inch mains have become already , 
 in consequence of the actual diminution 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 sufficient 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. 
 
 _ f 
 
 “ Tnos. "Wetmore, Esq. 
 
 “ President of the Cochituate Water Board. 
 
 “ Dear Sir, —In reply to your favor of the 5th instant, in relation to the 
 accretions in the Cochituate iron mains, I have to regret that my investiga¬ 
 tions thus far have thrown but little light upon the question of most import¬ 
 ance ; 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 in¬ 
 terior surface of the pipe, nodules varying from half an inch to three inches in 
 diameter , a,t 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 surface 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 accre¬ 
 tions. In some areas, the accretions were all small; in others most were 
 
45 
 
 large. There seemed to he no tendency 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 examin¬ 
 ation. ******** 
 
 “There are reasons for believing the slight elevations of surface observed 
 immediately beneath the accretions, to be due to changes in the texture of 
 the iron arising from the growth of the accretion, and not 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 1-2 inches calibre, 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 eaten through by the circulation 
 of hot Cochituate water. 
 
 “/ 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 3-8 of an inch, the serving capacity of a pipe 36 inches in 
 diameter is reduced by the amount of an area of 42 3-8 square inches, which 
 is equal to a cylindrical pipe 7.3 inches in diameter. If we conceive the 
 accretion to go uniformly forward at this rate of 14 1-8 square inches per 
 annum, it would become a matter of immediate grave consideration. 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. HORSFORD.” 
 
46 
 
 The foregoing statements have been given somewhat at 
 length because we are impressed with the importance of 
 this subject to all present or prospective plans for supplies 
 of water. Our own conclusions have been derived from 
 careful examinations of this kind of pipe, which have satis¬ 
 fied us of its value; and we would respectfully suggest to 
 you the propriety of appointing a committee to examine the 
 pipe now in use and in progress of construction in several 
 parts of the country, before any system of distribution is 
 finally adopted. 
 
 RESERVOIRS. 
 
 From the surveys made 'by the undersigned for the 
 State in 1848, it was ascertained that the flow of the Hone- 
 oye outlet did not exceed 4,000,000 gallons per day, in the 
 dry seasons. It was also found that by lowering the sur¬ 
 face of Hemlock lake 6 inches (using it as a storing Reser¬ 
 voir) a daily supply of over 2,000,000 of gallons would be 
 obtained for about five months. 
 
 It is evident either that the whole supply of the outlet 
 may be taken, by compensating the mill privileges on its 
 banks ; or the lake itself used during the dry seasons as a 
 storing Reservoir. We have, however, advised the plan of 
 a storing Reservoir at Henrietta, on account of its proxi¬ 
 mity to the distributing Reservoir, in case of accident to 
 the line of conduit, and its purifying effect on the water 
 before its immediate use. 
 
 Such a Reservoir may be constructed in Henrietta, at 
 moderate expense, several suitable locations being available. 
 
47 
 
 THE DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR 
 
 Is proposed to be located on the high grounds south of the 
 city and east of Mount Hope, covering an extent of four acres, 
 with a surface elevation of 100 feet above the Erie Canal, the 
 depth being 25 feet. If Plan Ho. 3 or 4 should be adopted, 
 an additional cost for filtering arrangement will be neces¬ 
 sary on account of the quality of the water proposed to be 
 
 used under these Plans. The quantity contained will be 
 
 # 
 
 equivalent to four weeks’ supply at present and two weeks’ 
 supply 12 years hence. 
 
 The elevation of this Reservoir has been placed at 100 feet 
 above the Canal, to provide for sufficient supply and head for 
 domestic uses, and especially for protection in oase of fire. 
 The loss of head through a connected system of mains and 
 pipes is considerable; and, as the elevations of the streets in 
 several parts of Rochester are about twenty-five feet above the 
 Canal, no system can be recommended which does not pro¬ 
 vide for every locality. Some idea of the loss of head by 
 friction in distribution pipes may be obtained from the follow¬ 
 ing extract from a report of G. R. Baldwin, Esq., Civil Engi¬ 
 neer “ on supplying the city of Quebec with pure water,” 
 made in 1848. 
 
 “At Philadelphia the water will rise from a hose attached to a fire plug in 
 the street, at the extreme point of delivery during the night, to the height of 
 about forty-five or fifty feet; during the day, when the consumption of water is 
 very great, twenty to thirty feet. Head of water in this case was probably not 
 far from one hundred feet." 
 
 . The location of this Reservoir has been adopted at the point 
 named, although involving some additional expenditure for 
 
48 
 
 V 
 
 want of a suitable location as to size and elevation, nearer the 
 Genesee River, or west of Mount Hope. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 The system of Distribution commences at the Distributing 
 Reservoir with an 18 inch main, through St. Paul street to 
 Erie Canal, and thence across the Canal and River to the 
 corner of Exchange and Troup streets. A 16 inch main will 
 be laid through Exchange to Buffalo streets, the continuation 
 in St. Paul street north being a 12 inch main. Stop¬ 
 cocks at the main branches have been included in the esti¬ 
 mates, with hydrants every two blocks. 
 
 The system of mains and pipes will provide for an eventual 
 supply of 2,500,000 gallons, of which 1,500,000 will be used 
 on the west side of the Genesee River. The first class, em¬ 
 bracing 14 miles, and 11 miles of the second class, will supply 
 the present wants of the city , the entire arrangement being 
 shown in the following statement: 
 
 Distributing 
 
 Main, 
 
 • • • 
 
 18 In. 
 
 Diameter, . 
 
 . 10,000 
 
 feet 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 • • • 
 
 16 “ 
 
 tt 
 
 • • 
 
 3/700 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 • • • 
 
 12 “ 
 
 U 
 
 • • 
 
 . 11,900 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 Pipes, 
 
 1st class, 
 
 8 “ 
 
 4 
 
 . 10,450 
 
 << 
 
 a 
 
 <( 
 
 ii 
 
 6 “ 
 
 H 
 
 . 32,580 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 << 
 
 ii 
 
 4 “ 
 
 a 
 
 . 18,100 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 <( 
 
 2d class, 
 
 8 “ 
 
 ii 
 
 . 26,300 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 6 “ 
 
 a 
 
 . 14,050 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 it 
 
 ii 
 
 4 “ 
 
 a 
 
 . 63,260 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 3d class, 
 
 8 “ 
 
 a 
 
 1,700 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 u 
 
 6 “ 
 
 a 
 
 . 16,650 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 << 
 
 4 “ 
 
 a 
 
 . 80,250 
 
 a 
 

 49 
 
 
 Summary. 
 
 18 Tn. Main, 
 
 . ■ 10,000 feet. 
 
 16 “ 
 
 8,700 “ 
 
 12 “ 
 
 11,900 “ 
 
 8 ‘‘ Pipe, 
 
 38,450 “ 
 
 6 “ 
 
 63,280 “ 
 
 ^ u u 
 
 161,610 “ 
 
 It is believed that the foregoing Report comprises the 
 principal features of all the sources of supply available in the 
 vicinity of Rochester. The time which has been occupied in 
 making the necessary instrumental examinations, and arrang¬ 
 ing the several plans of machinery, has been somewhat 
 limited, and many of the details remain in manuscript, which 
 can be more fully perfected hereafter, in case either of the 
 proposed plans is adopted. These, with any other information 
 on this subject, in our possession, are at your service. 
 
 With regard to the estimates made, it is proper for us to 
 say, that reliable and experienced parties have intimated their 
 willingness to contract for the work at the prices named, 
 investing a liberal proportion in the stock of the Company at 
 par value. 
 
 Respectfully, your obedient servants, 
 
 CHARLES B. STUART, 
 DANIEL MARSH, 
 
 Firm of Stuart, Serrell & Co., 
 
 Civil Engineers , New York. 
 
 New York, Oct. 1,1858. 
 
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