i£x iCtbrtfi SEYMOUR DURST To the President and Directors of the Long Island Water Works Company : Gentlemen — In making a preliminary report to you in the month of September last, with reference to the construction of Water Works for Williams- burgh; I was confined, by your directions, to the sources in the imme- diate vicinity of that city— to a supply necessary for a population of one hundred thousand souls — and to the laying of only ten miles of the forty miles of pipe necessary for the distribution of that quantity. In that report, I stated, that I had " not described the second line of survey in the vicinity of the Atlantic coast, because the late rains have prevented us from completing the survey, and obtaining satisfactory guagings of the discharge of all the streams." " Upon the completion of the examinations for future purposes, on the South side of the Island, I shall have the honor to present you with another communication, in regard to a supply of water, for Williamsburgh and its vicinity." Realizing the objections that might be urged against the use of vertical pipes, to obtain the hydrostatic pressure required, where a site sufficiently elevated for distributing reservoirs could be obtained, (and such a site could not be found upon the line of water sources on the North side of the Island, except at an inconvenient distance,) I determined to ascertain if this objection could not be removed, by using the ridge near Cypress Hill, in connection with the copious streams of the South side of the Island. Our examinations were entirely successful, and the surveys on the South side of the Island have been completed, by the location of a line from the distributing reservoir near Cypress Hill to Simonsdh's pond, on the west branch of the Hook creek, for the supply of 0,000,000 gallons: and thence to Willis' pond, on the East Meadow brook, about fcweafcy-tliree wiles from the City Hall Brooklyn,, for 30,000,000 of gallons. An experimental line was also continued about eight miles to Jones* and Massapequa ponds, whence an additional supply of 1,000,000 gallons may be obtained, if it should be required, by connecting Massapequa with Jones' pond, and raising their waters a few feet ; to obtain the height ne- cessary to discharge that supply into Willis' dam. There is a large territory in your vicinity, embracing the flourishing villages of Grreenpoint, Ravens wood and Astoria, with a rapidly increasing population ; which will, in a few years, require a large supply of water for domestic use, for the extinguishment of fires, and for other purposes. And as the City of Brooklyn itself may be induced to receive water from your Company at reasonable rates, from the fact that one line of Water Works for the supply of all would cost less than two, I have estimated for the construction of a work, which I deem necessary to enable you to supply 30,000,000 of gallons of water daily; only recommending your Company to construct it for the present as far as Simonson's pond, for the daily supply of 9,000,000 of gallons. The large population which has for a few years past rapidly accumula- ted in the Cities of Brooklyn and Williamsburgh, and in their vicinity, has had no other supply of water for either domestic or general use, than such as could be furnished from the cisterns and wells constructed by indi- vidual effort, or corporate authority ; the supply thus obtained being en- tirely inadequate to the present, and much less to the prospective wants of these cities and their adjacent towns. The importance of furnishing every large community with an abundance of pure and wholesome water; as well for its beneficial effects, on the health and comfort of the residents, as for its safeguard to property; scarcely needs argument. In the case of the cities above-named, the absence of such a supply has made practical demonstration of the consequent evils, not only in the insecurity of property from fire and the high rates of insurance ; but in the unwholesome character of the water generally used, and its effects on the health and comfort of the citizens. The interest which the subject of water supplies has acquired throughout the country, as well as in those districts most in need of this relief, has made it an object of general attention; and to the engineer it presents a wide range of experimental research, involving some of the most interesting laws of nature. 5 The purposes to which a proper supply of water is available in a dtf, are, for Domestic use, Manufactures, Extinction of Fires, Public Baths, Public Fountains, Street Cleansing, and Sewerage. These are all important to the sanitary regulations of every community, though not all absolutely neeessary. Individual efforts may provide to a limited extent for some of these uses; but the supply can never be other- wise than limited, and will but partially meet the requirements of a large population. The various sources of supply, available in a general or limited form, for a city, may be derived from Rain Water, or Surface Drainage, Wells, PiVers and Lakes, Springs and Brooks. In point of purity, so far as chemical tests are used, the rain water has the preference ; although besides atmospheric air ; carbonic acid, and small portions of ammoniacal salts, are found in the purest varieties; perfectly pure water being only obtained by distillation. In many cities of the Union, before the introduction of an adequate sup- ply, under the controlling action of a fixed head; large cisterns were pro- vided to collect the surface drainage of the streets, for use in case of fire, arranged with overflow pipes, by which the surplus received into the upper cistern was discharged into those below it. Cisterns also were provided to each house, the water in many cases being filtered for drinking and cook- ing purposes by permanent filters, through which the water thus needed was pumped. It is found, however, in practice, that the impurities with which rains water becomes impregnated in its descent through the atmosphere of a city, (especially in the vicinity of factories,) and those which are carried from the roofs of the buildings into the cisterns, rapidly accumulate, and render the filter inoperative; and that frequent cleansing of the whole cistern is ne- cessary, on this account. G It is evident that the filters generally used for these cisterns are only of service in arresting the mechanical impurities of the water, and must soon be charged with a deposite which chokes up the porous openings, while any chemical arrangeni3nt would as evidently need constant renewal. It is also evident that the quantity of the supply must depend on the storing capacity of the cistern, and the abundance or scarcity of rain; the quiescent state of the water depriving it to some extent of its proper sup- ply of oxygen, and in other respects affecting its use. While therefore, a limited supply may be realized from rain-water thus collected, the system is liable to many objections, and inadequate to other uses than those above named. A second source of supply is found, generally by individual effort, in wells sunk to the flow line of various strata saturated with water; which fill them to a height, proportional to the heads, from which the subterrane- an sources are supplied. In villages and districts sparsely settled, this is the most common me- thod of supply; but where a compact population is found, and the wells derive their supply from the water percolating through the upper strata, they are impure and unwholesome; containing in some cities from 60 to 125 grains of impurities per gallon. This objection exists to some extent against many of the wells used in Brooklyn and Williamsburgh, and in some cases, where they are sunk so as to receive their supply from " the Main Spring" of the Island, the water from which beyond the limits of these cities is remarkably pure in quality and abundant in quantity. The (Character of this main source of supply which pervades the whole bed of the Island is thus briefly sketched in my Report of September last, upon the surveys made of the sources of water on the north side of Long Is- land : "I can safely say that I have never known springs to maintain such a constant supply of water as those of Long Island, near its shores. They are very numerous and discharge themselves copiously at the heads of the bays and indentations of the coast, at a little above the level of tide- water at each end of the Island; and from that level to twenty feet above high tide at the central part of the Island, near Hempstead Plains, and other sandy wastes of less extent. I have made diligent enquiry of those who are experienced in well dig- ging, in different parts of the Island, and the information obtained has confirmed me in the belief that the highest level of the hidden sources of water on Long Island, generally known by its citizens, as " the Main Spring," is under these extensive plains of sand. I have also observed that but little of\the rain which falls upon these plains, flows from them in brooks or streams, while but little remains upon the surface to be carried away by evaporation. Nearly all that falls sinks gradually to the depths below, percolating through strata of sand and gravel, occasionally interrupted by beds of clay and hard pan, (which the sections of wells in that vicinity show are not continuous) and running again on their surface in currents more or less retarded, to openings in those strata, where the streams discharge themselves again into the sand and gravel beneath; until " the Main Spring," which is always found in a stratum of sand, thus receives nearly all the water that falls upon the plains, about 10(fcfeet above its level. The annual average depth of rain, snow (melted) and dew, which falls in England and Wales, has been determined to be about thirty-six inches. It is computed by Dr. Dalton and others, who have given much atten- tion to the subject, that about two-thirds of this amount escapes in rivers, streams, surface springs, and by evaporation, leaving about one-third to find its way to the great source of fresh water, known to exist under that Island. The average depth of water which has been known to fall on Long Island is about thirty-six inches, and the extent of its surface is about 1,800 square miles ; one half of which may be said to consist of a very porous sandy soil, which absorbs about two-thirds of the water that falls, upon it. The remainder of the surface of Long Island has its brooks and streams ; but it may be said with safety, that only a small portion of the Island is of such formation, as to retain the rain and melted snow upon its. surface, in ponds, lakes, or running brooks ; to lose itself directly in the air or the ocean. It is reasonable to assert that at least one half of the w T ater which falls upon the wmole Island, is absorbed by the soil. Thus we have 5,280 by 5,280 feet by 1800 square miles = 50,181,120,- 000 square feet of surface, into Hfeet, or 66,998,160,000 cubic feet of wa- ter, which filters through strata of sand and gravel, slowly but surely, to- wards " the Miin Spring," undiminished by drainage or evaporation, until it reaches the numerous springs and indentations near the coast, which mark and distinguish the topography of Long Island. The vast supply of pure water furnished by clusters of springs to the ponds of Long Island, which very frequently have no other source ; and the fact that these ponds sometimes derive their water from one spring alone, were the interesting phenomena, that induced me to make these few re- marks, explanatoiy of the causes which should give us confidence in the great source of water, or " the Main Spring" of Long Island." It has been proposed to construct Artesian Wells, but they would not, in my opinion, be successful ; for the reason that the channels of communi- cation from the high grounds on the main shore are cut off by the deep re- cesses of the surrounding bays; and also, that if this were not the case, the 8 dip of the strata so far as I have observed it, is not favorable to such a project. While careful examinations have satisfied me that for domestic nse and manufactures, and in some cases for the extinction of fires, a supply from wells might meet the wants of a small community, the system cannot be complete in its operation, and involves the loss of other benefits, of great .consequence to a city. The third source of supply which has been used for cities, and furnishes water in sufficient quantities for all purposes, is found in thejGElivers or Lakes on or near which they may be located. In this country, as well as those of Europe, this has been a favorite re- sort. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and many other cities of the United States, are using the rivers or lakes on which they are situated, under circumstances peculiarly advantageous as to economy, and purity of supply. Rivers are great physical arteries provided by nature for the benefit of the land and the air, and of those who live on the one and breathe the other. The effects of the gentle and unceasing process of evaporation from large streams and lakes upon the surrounding atmosphere, the conse- quent formations of dew, rain and snow, and their prominent uses to the vegetable and animal kingdoms, are all daily yielding to man their price- less benefits, while he finds .abundant occupation in the pursuits of naviga- tion and commerce. As sources of supply, rivers are of great value. One of the most effective methods of cleansing water from the mechanical im- purities it may contain, is that of subsidence, or deposit, and in this respect every large stream is a natural self-depurating reservoir. Gently flowing along its appointed course, and depositing by slow and sure process the matter over which gravity exercises control, its continued motion presents it to. the action of the atmosphere, while it is carried to the foot of every city along its banks, with a never-failing offering of one of the most neces- sary elements of life. It rarely happens that the character of the bed over which it flows af- fects the water to an injurious extent, as in limestone countries ; the action of the atmosphere doing much to counteract the "hardness" produced by the lime, with which the stream may be more or less impregnated. In the case of Brooklyn and adjacent cities, however, the supply from such a source is out of the question, on account of the saltness of the East and North rivers, under the ebb and flow of the tides. 9 Having been satisfied that the population of the western side of Long- Island must be supplied from other sources than these enumerated, the next system, or that of springs and brooks invites attention, and furnishes a satisfactory result. Nature has made provision for the necessities of this case, in the arrangement of the Island, by which large springs supplying ponds for milling and manufacturing purposes, are formed along the north- ern and southern shores, which derive their supply from " the Main Zp-ing" heretofore mentioned, and are remarkably constant in their flow through- out the year ; whilst the purity and quality of the water, filtered through strata of sand and gravel, and delivered to us from that great subterra- nean reservoir, is seldom, if ever, surpassed. Between Brooklyn and Hempstead harbor, on the Xorth side of the Island, there are thirteen of these ponds ; and within a similar distance on the Southern shore there are eighteen ponds, deriving their principal sources by subterranean communication. In consequence, however, of the location of the Xorthern line of ponds, communication between them, by any connected line, to Brooklyn and ad- jacent cities cannot be readily made, for the reason that they are separa- ted by bold spurs of the main ridge, which involves the construction of a line of conduit either very circuitous, or very expensive. "While the northern slope thus projects abruptly, in prormnent points, on the shore line, on the southern side the fall is generally a gentle slope to the coast, and the ponds are much better adapted as to location and rela- tive height for the purpose in view. Besides, their aggregate supply as far East as the Massapequa pond only, in the driest season, is not much less than forty millions of gallons per day, as may be seen by the following statements of the guagings made of the quantities discharged in the latter part of September and the month of October, 1852, and which may be re- lied upon, as not for from the minimum, discharge of the several ponds named: — Daily Discharge. Baiseley's pond, Jamaica creek . . . 5.400.000 galls. Xostrand's pond 1.500.000 " Siinonson's pond, West Branch Hook creek . 3.600.000 " P. Cornwell's pond, East do . . . 3.000.000 " L. Cornwell's pond, Parsonage creek . . 9.300.000 " Pine's pond, Pine creek 2.200.000 " Willis' pond, East Meadow creek . . . ^.000.000 " Jones' pond 3.000.000 " Massapequa Pond 5.000.000 " . 40.000.000 galls. 10 The plan and estimates herewith submitted, are based upon a supply of nine millions of gallons for present use, providing for an extension to a daily supply of thirty millions, when that amount shall be required, at some future period. Thus, if the very liberal allowance of 50 gallons per day be made for the population of your cities, you have, beyond all question, under your charter, a supply for GOO, 000 souls, without going farther than Willis' pond. The following analysis, stated in decimals, has been made of the waters of some of your principal ponds, by our distinguished chemist, Dr. James II. Chilton, shewing the amount of impurities contained, viz.: — Grains of Impurities per gallon. Baiseley's pond, Jamaica creek . . . . 2.120 Simonson's pond, West Branch of Hook creek . . 2.000 L. Cornwall's Pond, Parsonage creek . . . 2.800 Willis' pond, East Meadow creek . . . . 2.000 Massapequa pond 2.880 The following analysis of some of the waters of the city #f Brooklyn, from the several wells named, also made by Dr. James R. Chilton, is here inserted, to show the great difference in the purity of the waters of the Long Island Water Works Company and the well waters now used in that City :- Grains of Impurities per gallon. Water from well, corner of Gold and Nassau sts., 5th ward 38.400 " High and Jay 2d " 58.640 " " " Fulton and Washington, 4th " 46.440 " " opposite Mansion House in Hicks, 3d " 43.200 " " Union street near Columbia, 6th " 11.160 " corner of Douglas and Smith 10th " 16.960 GENERAL PLAN. From the Engine House, which will be situated near the line of the Long Island Rail Road and of the Jamaica Plank Road, below the pro- posed Reservoir on Cypress Hill, the line of conduit will take the most fa- vorable route eastward to Baiseley's pond, and thence to Hook Creek West Branch, where it receives the supply of Simonson's pond, the joint discharge of both ponds amounting to 9,000,000 gallons per day; which amount may be at any time increased 1,500,000 gallons, by connecting Nostrand's pond, situated between the two, with the main Conduit, by a branch line. 1 1 When an additional supply may be required for the increasing wants of the population, a closed conduit or open canal, commencing near Simoh- son's pond, will be constructed to the vicinity of P. Cornwell's pond; thence to the vicinity of L. Cornwell's and Pine's ponds; thence to Willis' pond, which will afford an aggregate supply of more than 30,000,000 gallons; and thence to Jones' pond, Massapequa pond, and others that could be connected therewith and added to the supply of 30,000,000 gallons, fur- nished by the present plan, at some distant day. The comparatively slight grade which the open canal will require, taken in connection with its economy, and the cost otherwise involved by raising the several ponds at the eastern end of the line, and the sparseness of the population along that line, are some of the reasons recommending it to your favorable consideration. From the Engine House the water will be forced by Pumping Engines, into the Distributing Reservoir on Cypress Hill; the system of distribution commencing from this reservoir to Brooklyn, Williamsburgh, Bushwick, Green Point, Ravenswood, Astoria, &c, as they may eventually desire a supply. DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIRS. These will be located as above stated, the formation in the vicinity of Cypress Hill, being admirably adapted to the economical construction of as many Reservoirs, as may be required through all time. The Reservoir to be built in connection with the plan for the daily sup- ply of 9,000,000 of gallons, will require but a small amount of excavation, and to be puddled and lined with concrete. This Reservoir will have a surface of IT acres, a depth of 25 fe^et, and a height at the surface of wa- ter of 112 feet above high tide. As your Company have purchased 4T acres altogether, for the sites of your Reservoirs, you will not want for room to accumulate supplies of water, in order to guard against the contingency of accidents to your machinery. In the extended plan of the work I have estimated for the construction of two other Reservoirs, having an united surface of about 15 acres more. Another may still be built on the same grounds, if required at some future day, of about 6 acres, so that you can have a Reservoir surface, when de- sirable, of about 38 acres, at the height of 1T2 feet above high tide; or T9 12 feet above Brooklyn Heights, without the necessity of constructing a wall, except for about 900 feet along the line of the Cypress Hill Plank Road. ENGINE HOUSE. The Engine House is to be built of brick, and arranged so as to provide for extensions as the additional supplies are needed. The foundations and purnp-well will be built of concrete and masonry. The pumping machinery will consist at present of one Cornish Engine, with a cylinder of 11 feet stroke, and 100 inches diameter, in connection with a double-acting engine, with cylinders of 25 inches and 60 inches diameter, and 6 feet stroke, provi- ded for any case of emergency which may arise. Each engine will be ca- pable of raising 10,000,000 of gallons of water in 24 hours. CONDUITS. In deep excavation, the Conduit will be built of brick, laid in cement, the foundations being of concrete. The brick-work on the side walls and base will be twelve inches thick, and on the upper arch sixteen inches thick, the internal width being 12 feet at the flow lines, and the internal height 9 feet. The upper and lower arches are segments of circles, the versed sine of the upper being 4 feet, and that of the lower 1 foot. (See accompany- ing plan.) In embankment, the upper arch of the conduit is supported by spandrel backing in masonry, the side walls being of masonry, with a half-brick lining in cement. The back-filling over the conduit will be 4 feet high, with slopes of li to 1. The grade cf the conduit will be 4i inches per mile, and when running 5 feet deep on tnc centre line, it will discharge 30,000,000 gallons per day. As this Conduit is continued Eastward from the Receiving Reservoir at Baiseley's pond, its dimensions will be lessened to a capacity for passing 25,000,000 gallons per day, to Simonson's pond; and thence eastward again, to 21,000,000; and so the reduction will be continued, until its ca- pacity is lessened to the discharge of Willis' pond. We shall then still have the capacity of the arch of the conduit for the waters of Jones' and Massapequa ponds, in addition to the 30,000,000 gallons at some future day. Estimate for a present daily supply of 9,000,000 of gallons, with its engines, engine house, distributing reservoir, and system of distribution; together with |he receiving reservoir at Baiseley's pond, and the conduit from Simonson's pond to the engine house, with a capacity for passing the maximum quantity of water: — Cost of Reservoir ground, site of engine-house, ponds, and right of way $120,000 00 For eighty miles of distributing pipe, hydrants, stop-cocks, &c . . 904,748 00 Mains, stop-cocks, &c 609,571 00 Distributing reservoir, keeper's house, gate house, &c 107,074 00 Two engines, engine house, fixtures, force tube, &c 228,080 00 Conduit from engine house to receiving reservoir, at Baiseley's pond; pump, wells, &c 884,241 00 Receiving reservoir at Baiseley's pond; gates, gate house, keeper's house, &c 112,422 00 Conduit from Baiseley's pond, to Simonson's pond : Dam at Simon- son's, &c 394,274 55 $3,360,410 55 Add 6 per cent, for Engineering, and other contingencies 201,624 63 $3,562,035 18 1 1 Estimate for a supply of 30,000,000 gallons per day, embracing the sys- tem of distribution, pumping, &c, and the line of conduit and open canal to Willis' Pond:— i Cost of Reservoir ground, site of engine house, ponds and right of way $200,000 00 For one hundred and forty miles of distributing pipe, hydrants, stop cocks, &c 1.504,748 00 Mains, stop cocks, &c 1,298,934 00 Distributing reservoir, keeper's house, gate house, &c 260,882 00 Four engines, engine house, fixtures, force tube, &e 228,080 00 Conduit from engine housa to receiving reservoir, at Baiseley's pond j pump, wells, &c 884,241 00 Receiving reservoir at Baiseley's pond, gates, gate house, keeper's house, &c 121,075 00 Conduit from Baiseley's pond to Simonson's pond : Dam at Simon- son's, &c 394,274 00 Open canal, dams, gates, &c, to Willis' pond, 240,500 00 $5,132,734 00 Add 6 per cent, for Engineering and other contingencies, 307,964 00 $5,440,698 00 Estimate for a supply of 30,000,000 gallons per day, embracing the sys- tem of distribution, pumping, &c, and the line of closed conduit, from the engine house to Willis' pond: — Cost of Reservoir ground, site of engine house, ponds and right \ of way $200,000 00 For one hundred and forty miles of distributing pipe, hydrants, stop cocks, &c 1,504,748 00 Mains, stop cocks, &c 1298.934 00 Distributing reservoir, keeper's house, gate house, &c 2G0.882 00 Four engines, engine house, fixtures, force tube,&c 228,080 00 Conduit from engine house, to receiving reservoir, at Baiseley's pond, pump, wells, &c 884,241 00 Receiving reservoir at Baiseley's pond, gates, gate house, keeper's house, &c 121,075 00 Conduit from Baiseley's pond to Simonson's pond : Dam at Simon- son's, &c 394,274 00 Closed conduit, dams, gates, &c, from the engine house to Willis' pond 460,000 00 $5,352,234 00 Add G per cent, for Engineering, and other contingencies 321,134 00 $5,673,368 00 16 SUMMARY. Co -t of a present supply of 9.000,000 gallons ■ $3,502,035 18 Cost of a future supply of 30,000,000 gallons, with an open canal to Willis' pond 5,440,698 00 Cost of a future supply of 30,000,000 gallons, "with a closed conduit to Willis' pond 5,073,368 00 In the foregoing Synopsis of my Report, with the accompanying Plans and Estimates, three several features of the main plan are embraced, viz : the maximum amount required at present, the amount required when the population to be supplied readies the number of six hundred thousand, by a system of close conduit terminating in an open canal, and the cost, of a plan including a close conduit on the whole line. It has not been deemed necessary to enter into argument on the comparative merits of different mechanical means Tor raising the water, or to extend the report with des. criptions of minute details of seperate divisions of the work, not of general interest. The principal object is to show, beyond question, the large supplies which are available, the quality of the water, the general plan, and the cost. In conclusion, permit me to thank Mr. John B. Jervis and Mr. Charles B. Stuart, for their advice and counsel ; Mr. Daniel Marsh and Mr. Samuel McElroy, for their aid and services in making the surveys, guagings and estimates ; and Mr. Erastus W. Smith, for his advice in regard to the arrangement of the machinery for elevating the water to the distributing reservoirs. WARD B. BURNETT, Chief Engineer Long Island W. W. Co.