' ^tf ■ - M L To the Directors of the New-York Wat^R Works Company, by their Engineer; To supply the city of New-York with good and wholesome water, is an undertaking of great pub- lic importance, and has been a subject of discus- sion for many years. Although much has been written, yet nothing el- fectual has heretofore been done towards accom- plishing this important and desirable object. The delay maybe attributed to a want of confi- dence in the success of the enterprise. Works of a similar kind have generally been accomplish- ed by the capital and enterprise of public spirit- ed individuals, aided by acts of incorporation. The distribution of the water, which has hereto- fore been the most complicated and difficult part of the work, has by recent improvements, been rendered easy and simple, so that there can be no longer any doubts as to the practical result. Having heretofore been employed by the city to explore the adjacent country, with a view of ascer- taining if a sufficient supply of good water, for do- mestic consumption, could be obtained, my atten- tion at that time was directed to the Bronx, Byram, Saw-Mill, and Croton Rivers, also Rye Ponds. Although the examination did not extend as far A into the country as was desirable, yet they were sufficient for the information then required. I examined and re ported several routes and plans for conveying the water of the Bronx to this city, some of which depended on raising it to a sufficient elevation l>y tide power at Harlaem ri- ver; but any connexion with machinery is objec- tionable, when it can be avoided. Therefore I have carefully surveyed the country, and extend- ed the examinations hum Rye Pond, to Byram Pond, Wampus Pond, and the adjacent country, and particularly examined Bronx, Saw-Mill, By- ram, Cross and Croton Rivers, Tisco, Peach, and Long Ponds, and a number of small streams con- nected with them. The long drought of the past season has been favourable for guaging the streams and ascertaining the quantity of water that may be depended upon during similar seasons. The country has been examined with a view to connect Cross River (being a part of the Croton) with the Bronx, and also to connect the main Cro- ton with the Bronx. But the intervening ground is found to be too high and rocky, to accomplish this object. Saw-mill IjUver can be easily turned into the Bronx through a Ravine, near Union Church, bui on guaging the stream, it was found to be so re- duced in consequence of the drought that no reli- ance can be placed on it for any part of the sup- ply. My examinations have resulted in a full convic- tion that a successful plan can be adopted by the company, which is to take the waters of Bronx River, the main source of which is Rye Pond. The water is of a superior quality, and is fit for 3 all domestic purposes. It is the opinion of many that the Bronx is wholly inadequate to supply the City at those seasons, when the greatest consump- tion will be required. This question may be con- sidered as put fairly at rest ; for by the repeated trials, made during the driest part of the last sea- son, near the point proposed to take the water from the river, the minimum quantity or flow was found to be 4,302,720 gallons every 24 hours. The supply can be increased by lowering the outlet of Rye Pond 4 feet, and raising the pond 6 feet above its present level, by making a dam across the outlet. The banks are very favourable, the rocks ap- proach near to each other, and almost form a na- tural dam. The shores of the pond are also favourable, be- ing principally rocky. Very little injury would be done to the land on the borders of the pond, the owners of which have no objection to its use; and have already entered into contracts to grant to the company the right of so doing. By this ar- rangement an accession of 10 feet on the surface of the pond will be at command, and may be con- sidered as a part of the permanent supply, with- out interfering with the natural flow of the pond. The accession of water to the pond will amount to about 775,500,000 gallons on the 10 feet depth of its surface thus acquired. Connected with this a dam may be constructed to cross the outlet of Little Rye Pond, into which Great Rye Pond discharges itself, and raised to a level with the upper pond, which will give an ad- ditional quantity of about 89,000,000 of gallons. Surplus water may be drawn from these ponds. 4 which will furnish a daily supply of 4,7' W,000 gal- lons, supposing a drought to continue six months in a year. No allowance is necessary to be made for leak- age, or evaporation. By adding the natural flow of the Bronx to the quantity which can be procured from the ponds, in the manner above proposed, there will be a daily supply at all seasons of the year of 9,100,000 gallons. If we allow twenty gallons for the consumption of each person daily, we shall have a supply for a population of 150,000 inhabitants; the allowance of twenty gallons will be ample to cover the quan- tity that may be required for factories and other purposes. From the above it appears, that the Bronx, with- out the aid of reservoirs, will furnish a supply for a population of 2 1 5,000 ; and by the aid of reservoirs a supply may be furnished to the city for years with- out injury to the factories and mills on the Bronx. In order to guard more fully against long and severe drought, it is proposed to make a reservoir of Byram Pond, in case the same shall at any time be required, similar to Rye Pond, which can be easily done by lowering the present outlet, and erecting a permanent dam across it ; the water is soft and pure. This reservoir, with little expense, may be made to contain about 789,000,000 gallons in addition to the usual quantity in the Pond. Byram Pond is the head of Byram River; although Wampus Pond is the principal source. Byram Pond lies much high- er than Rye Pond, and a communication can be easily made between them, distant about 6 miles, principally over bottom lands. o It is proposed to cut a small Independent Canal, so as to divert the reserved waters only, thereby avoiding any interference with the water rights, mills, &c. on By ram River. Conditional contracts have been made with the owners of the land bor- dering on the Pond, for the privilege of converting it into a Reservoir. The plan finally to be adopted, for conveying the water to the city, is of considerable moment to the company, and particularly so to the community. An open canal will be least expensive, but very ob- jectionable on account of the water being liable to become turbid, during rains, and the quantity of foreign matter that would necessarily collect in it. It must pass along sidelying ground, sometimes near Farm Yards and Dwellings, and must receive the wash from the higher grounds in many places. The same objection may probably be made, by some, to the natural stream, but it does not apply in this case, for the Bronx is generally bounded by woods, or meadow lands, and the impurities brought down from the adjacent hills are deposited on the bottom lands, before reaching the stream. Another objection to an open canal, is the liabi- lity of having the supply of water interrupted by the ice during the winter; if not entirely stopped by the formation of anchor ice, which would cause the water to flow over the banks of the canal, and follow the natural channel of the stream. There are many other objections that may be made to an open canal, which have induced me to recommend a plan by which the water can be conveyed free from all obstructions or objections. The water can be taken from the Bronx at Under- bill's bridge, about 2 miles above Mr. Shaw's Cot- 8 ion Factory, and conveyed in a stone or brick tunnel, (bribing a closed canal, laid in hydraulic cement, to Harlaem river. The canal or tunnel will pass along the ravine of the Bronx about H miles ; thence westerly to the ravine of Morrissina creek, passing along (he declivity of the hills about 2 1-2 miles, to a point where the lines div ide, (as shown on the map,) one to Macomb's dam or bridge, near the termination of the eighth avenue, both offering about the same facilities. The se- lection will depend on some circumstances, to be taken into consideration hereafter. On the route to Cole's bridge, the canal will ter- minate near Mrs. Morris' about 3-4 of a mile from the bridge. The canal to Macomb's bridge will terminate on the hill near Harlaem river. The line of canal which has been marked out on the ground, and laid down on the maps, (herewith submitted) has a declivity of 18 inches in a mile — and the surface of the water, at the extremity of the canal or tunnel, will be at least 45 feet above the Park. A reservoir will be necessary at the termination of the canal, or tunnel, at which the iron pipes, for conveying the water to the city, will commence. In order to pass Harlaem river, it will be re- quisite toconstruct a permanent stone bridge, which will answer the double purpose of supporting the pipes and forming a good highway. A sufficient depth of earth should be placed on the arches, to protect the pipes against frost; this precaution will be necessary with all the pipes, which should be placed about 4 feet below the surface of the ground. In making an estimate of the expense for con- structing a brick tunnel. I procured the data for the calculation, from the work of a similar kind in the city, but thinking the estimate too large, I have been more particular on this point. By noticing the fine quality and workmanship of the bricks made at Philadelphia, I engaged Mr. Samuel Fox, to make four parcels of sample brick, (which are deposited in the office,) of different sizes, for the purpose of ascertaining the best form and size, by actual experiment. They are moulded to form an arch of 5 feet diameter, each brick is a segment of a circle, and when put together with hydraulic cement, will form a very perfect work. It will probably not exceed three years, to get the work in a state to produce a revenue. The quantity of materials to be procured, par- ticularly the cast iron pipes, must take up consi- derable time. Heavy contracts of this kind can- not be urged beyond a certain extent, without in- curring a heavy extra expense, and in all probabi- lity there will be a depreciation in the price of some of the most expensive materials ; it would, therefore, be prudent not to make large contracts at first, but only sufficient to insure the steady and regular progress of the work. The length of the tunnel will be about lo£ miles, and is estimated to cost $ S 1,174 per mile, which in- cludes all the expense, connected with that part of the work ; making a reasonable allowance for the land transportation of the materials from the land- ing places to the line of the Tunnel. It will be ne- cessary to lay about 9 miles of 24 inch pipes ; they will probably weigh from i 700 to 1 ton each, and the length generally adopted is 9 feet, and by putting them together, they overlap 6 inches, which. • will make 621 pieces to a mile. Allowing them to weigh one ton each, at $70 per ton, they will cost #43,370 per mile, exclusive of the expense of laying; this has been found by experience, to add about .)0 per cent, to the cost of the pipes. Thk increase of expense is occasioned by the quantity of lead required in securing the joints, digging and regulating the ground, transportation of the pipes from the nearest landing places, &c. which will make the expense of laying one mile amount to #65,205. The expense of a bridge across the Harlaem river will depend on the location; if Macomb's dam should be taken, the present superstructure must be removed, and the w ork commenced on the foundation, at low water Another position may be selected for the bridge, which would be be- tween Cole's and Macomb's, and very convenient for the works of the Company ; the expense about the same as Cole's bridge ; and would have an ad- vantage over the others, by not interrupting the travel while the bridge was building, and would avoid a clashing of interests hereafter, in conse- quence of breaking up the road-way to repair the pipes, or to lay new ones. From Harlaem river the best route appears to be through the third avenue; the undulations of the surface are less on this than on any of the other avenues — and the ground in many places on the side of the avenue is favourably situated for constructing large reservoirs for containing many day's supply of water ; which, in case of a large draught of water, in consequence of fires or other causes, will allow the water to keep up a head suf- ficient for all the requisite purposes of the city. 9 and render the supply sure in case of accident to the pipes between the reservoirs; and would be useful in rendering the water more pure, by giving it an opportunity to settle. The particular form and construction of the re- servoirs, and their location, as well as several other subjects connected with the work, will be communicated hereafter. The estimated expense for delivering the water into a reservoir within the city will be as follows: For 13 1-4 miles closed canal, or tunnel, at $31,174 per mile, $413,055 50 Bridge over Harlaem river, 45,000 00 Nine miles 24 inch pipes, at $65,205 per mile, 586,845 00 Four reservoirs, 38,000 00 $1,082,900 50 Add for contingencies 5 per cent. 54,145 00 Distributing water in the city, 1 87,954 40 * $1,325,000 00 Making altogether $1,325,000, exclusive of the sums which may be necessary for purchasing water rights on the Bronx, and to pay damages to those whose lands the tunnel shall pass through. From the purchases already agreed to be made, it is rot believed that all subsequent ones will ex- ceed $125,000. The population of the city of New- York amounts to 170,000 persons. Allowing six persons to a family, it will make 28,333 families that may re- quire a supply of water. The foregoing estimate of main pipe for the B 10 nifre miles, carries it to the Park, and allows for several angles to connect with the reservoirs. The expense of distribution, asset down, I be- lieve more than ample. Before closing this report \ must beg leave to express my acknowledgments to the inhabitants of Westchester county lor the information and as- sistance thej have afforded me, in my examination! .md surveys, and who have uniformly evinced the strongest desire, that the work should be carried into lull and successful operation. I do therefore report it as my decided opinion — 1st. That it is practicable, and in the manner above stated, to introduce into the city of New- York an abundanl supply of pure and excellent water. 2d. That the same can be done at a moderate expense, compared with the public utility of the measure, and 3d. The foregoing estimate of costs and ex- penses, 1 believe to be, over rather than under the probable amount. — New-York, Jan. 9th, 1826. Respectfully submitted. CANVASS WHITE, Engineer. The subscriber having examined the ground and had explanations from Mr. White on all the particular details, upon w hich he grounds his cal- culation of expense in the foregoing report, I do hereby oxpress my full confidence in the ample and liberal estimate made by him, and believe the work may be accomplished, for the sum be has stated, with the most perfect prospect of success. BLNJAMIN WRIGHT. New-York, Jan. 14th, 1826. 11 At a meeting of the Directors of the Water Works Company, Jan. 16th, 1826. Resolved, That the report of the engineer be published for the information of the stockholders and the public. BENJ. WRIGHT, PresL E. E. WEED, Sec'y. The Maps are at the office of the New- York Water Works Company, and open to the inspec- tion of all persons.