RELATIVE TO MANHATTAN WATER, • on' Tr\ 9 11 \ IN frS M [ ■ i S New- York, April 3, 1824. Being requested to express my opinion of the qualities of the water ordinarily made use of by the citizens of New-York, I hereby testify, that agreea- bly to the analysis made of it by skillful chemists, it abounds in earthy and saline materials, highly injurious to the constitution, when so constantly ta- ken into it by our daily beverage, and in connection with our food prepared with it. I also certify, that the water of New- York is frequently productive of diseases of the stomach and bowels, especially with strangers upon their first use of it. Gravel, and other complaints of the kidneys, are of frequent occurrence among our citizens, and I believe are oftentimes attributable to the water as their source. From my long experience of the unwholesome qualities of the New- York water, I long since, when holding the office of resident physician, addressed to the corporation of the city a discourse relative to the improvement called for in our medical po- lice, and urged upon them the necessity of intro- ducing an abundant supply of pure and wholesome 2 water, as imperiously demanded in this rapidly in- creasing city. Under the same impressions, I have for some time past been in the habit of using in my own family, water brought from the country, and have, as a duty I owed to the families for whom I prescribe, urged them to do the same. Many, by my advice, are accordingly in the practice of re- ceiving from the neighboring country their daily supplies of water, as not only more agreeable, but as essentially necessary to health. DAVID HOSACK, M. D I cordially concur in the foregoing. WRIGHT POST, M. D. 1 also concur in the foregoing views. Wm. Js. macneven, m. d. New- York, April 3d, 1824. Application having been made to us to express our opinion as to the Manhattan and other waters in this city, we declare it is our opinion that said water is in most instances (if not all) impure, and not conducive to the health nor convenience of the people. That from analysis it has been demon- strated to be unwholesome; so much so, that it has been a subject of general complaint, and rendered needful for many to send out of the city for a supply of pure water, and that we consider the obtainment of pure water from a distance from the city, as a desideratum of great moment to the health, convenience, prosperity and reputation of our otherwise highly favored city, and sincerely 3 hope the application to the honorable Legislature for an act of incorporation, may be successful. J. WOOD, M. D. JAMES L. PHELPS, M. D. GILBERT SMITH, M. D. ZEB. W. SEAMAN, M. D. JOHN C. CHEESEMAN, M. D We the subscribers, practising physicians in the city of New-York, do hereby certify that we consi- der the impurity of the water now used by the ci- tizens of New- York, and supplied by the works of the Manhattan Company, to be very injurious to the health, comfort, and convenience of those who use it ; and that in consequence many of the citi- zens keep themselves supplied by having pure wa- ter brought to them from a distance; and that we believe the furnishing a supply of pure water would tend very much to the health and comfort of the inhabitants of New-York, and all who visit the city. JOHN S. CONGER, RICHARD VETCHAULE, JACOM OSTRAM, WM. BALDWIN, ZEBULON W. SEAMAN, EDWARD CONWAY. I hereby certify, that I have made a chemical ex- amination of the water of a great number of the wells of this city, and among others of the Manhat- 4 tan water, both from the wells from which it is drawn by the engines of the company, and from the pipes in private apartments, and I have no he- sitation in saying, that the water in almost all the populous parts of the city is extremely hard, and unfit for wholesome drinking, cooking, and for washing, and that the Manhattan water is quite as hard and impure as the generality of the city wa- ter, being charged with a very large proportion of salt and lime. JOHN GRISCOM. New- York, 4 Mo. 1, 1824. City and County of New- York, ss. William Underhill, being duly affirmed, declares and says, that some time since he received the water from the Manhattan Company, but owing to its great impurity, he was compelled to refrain from the use of it, and believes if he had have continued its use, it would have injured his health: That the general opinion of the citizens is unfavourable to its use, aud that it is wholly unfit for general use. New-York, 4 Mo. 2d, J 824. Wm. UNDERHILL. Affirmed this 2d April 1824, before me, S. COWDREY, Commissioner, 8,'c. Mr. Samuel Legget. At your request to give my opinion in writing, relative to the Manhattan water now supplied the 5 citizens of New-York, I do certify, that the same is considered generally by those who use it, to be of a very indifferent quality, and totally unfit for washing ; and from its impure qualities, is not re- garded as a wholesome or pleasant drink, and that it is a general subject of just complaint and dissat- isfaction to the inhabitants, and that many are in the habit of receiving daily supplies of pure water from a distance out of the city. ELBERT ANDERSON. April 3d, 1824. On board the Steam Boat Chancellor Livingston, April 3d, 1324. To Samuel Legget, Esq. SIR, You having requested me to state in writing, the opinion I expressed in conversation relative to the Manhattan water with which our city is sup- plied, I have no objection to say, that although I take the water and pay ten dollars annually for the supply of my family, I find it so disagreeable and unpleasant, that I obtain daily from the country all that is used for drinking and making tea, at an expense of about ten dollars per annum. Your obedient Servant, JAMES HEARD. New- York, April 2d, 1824. This is to certify, having been requested to state our opinion of the Manhattan and other waters, the 6 i undersigned have been advised by their physicians to cease the use of these waters, and have for some time past been supplied with water from a distance from the city, in consequence of the most respecta- ble proofs of the impurity of the water of the city. WM. SEAMAN, E. E. WEED, SAMUEL LEGGET, ROBERT BARTOW, CHARLES G. HAINES, HENRY POST, Jr. JOHN FRANKLIN, GEORGE C. MORGAN. WM. R. COOKE, JOHN LEGGET, S. COWDREY, N. PRIME. I am in the habit of taking the water brought from Greenwich, and am convinced that the wa- ters of our city are very impure. JOHN C. CHEESEMAN, M. D. April 3, 1824.