The Builder, No. 2, February 18, 1843

by Various

SUPPLY OF WATER TO NEW YORK.

(From the Scotsman of Nov. 12, 1842.)

The New York papers of 15th October are filled with long accounts of the opening of a stupendous aqueduct of thirty-two miles, for conveying water to that city from the Croton River. The celebration of this event took place on Friday, the 14th, under the direction of the Common Council, and consisted of the largest procession of military companies and civic associations that ever took place in New York. It was between six and seven miles in length.

We omit the account which describes the time and order of the procession, the personages and bodies composing it, the forms and ceremonies gone through, the feastings, illuminations, and rejoicings, and proceed with that part of the account which is more directly to our purpose.

It appears that from 1829 up to the present time, New York was supplied with water from a tank or reservoir erected in Thirteenth street, and filled first by means of horse and afterwards by steam power. The present work was commenced in 1835, after being approved of by the people by a vote of 17,330 affirmatives to 3,960 negatives. It consists of:—

First, an artificial reservoir, called the Croton River Lake, 45 miles from the Battery—the extreme part of the city; this lake is formed by a hydraulic stone-masonry dam, with two waste weirs or aprons, for the over fall of the water, one of 87 feet and one of 180 feet, these being separated by a gate-house. The height of these waste weirs is 55 feet above the bed of the river, and 40 feet above the low water level.

The dam backs the water 5 miles, and makes a lake of an area of 400 acres, and a capacity equal to 500 millions of gallons.

The water enters a gate-house, where the quantity is regulated, before it enters the aqueduct, which is a stone structure, lined and arched with brick.

The face of the interior of the aqueduct is at the bottom an inverted arch, width 6 ft. 9 in., height 8 feet 5½ inches, area 53⅓ square feet, about large enough for an omnibus and four to pass through. The line of the aqueduct being on a regular declivity of 13¼ inches to the mile down to the Harlem River, a distance of 33 miles, it has a line of tunnels of 6841 feet, being sixteen in number, sometimes through earth and sometimes through solid rock; the deepest cut is 80 feet, and the least 25 feet. In Westchester only, the aqueduct crosses 25 streams of water, which are from 25 to 13 feet below the top of the aqueduct.

The grade line of aqueduct across the Harlem is 25 feet above tide water, and the top of the water now passes over Harlem river in one pipe of 36 inches, placed on the earthen dam made in the construction of the high bridge.

The bridge itself is now about one-third completed, and will be when finished one of the most stupendous works of the kind in the world. Its cost is estimated at one million of dollars, and its elevation is so great as not to impede the navigation of the stream. Some idea of this vast undertaking may be formed from the fact, that the excavation for one pier has been carried 34 feet below the surface of the water, and then a rock foundation not having been reached, 240 poles, from 30 to 40 feet long, were driven in for the purpose. Several piers having been already carried, by the aid of coffer-dams, from four to fifteen feet above high-water mark.

The river is 620 feet wide at water line, but the slope of the river banks adds an additional distance of 830 feet, making in all 1,480 feet.

The plan now in progress crosses the river with eight arches of 80 feet span, and on piers of 31 by 44 feet at the base, resting on the bed of the river, and 7 arches on piers on the land from the edge of the water up the two banks of the river.

The spring of one of the arches is 95 feet above the lowest foundation put down; the top of the parapet will be 149 feet from the lowest foundation. It is intended that the water shall pass over this bridge in pipes, to have it secure against the possibility of danger.

The interesting works at Clendinning Valley, being a bridge over a valley of 1,900 feet in breadth, the greatest height of the aqueduct is 50 feet from the bottom of the valley; beautiful archways are constructed for three streets, 34 feet for the carriage-way, and 10 on each side for side-walks.

Next in interest is the reservoir at Eighty-sixth Street, which might well be called the detaining or clarifying reservoir. It has two divisions, together thirty-two acres—greatest depth of water twenty-five feet, containing one hundred and fifty millions of gallons. Two lines of thirty-six inch pipes connect this with the reservoir at Fortieth-street, which has also two divisions, forming together an area of four acres—depth of water when filled thirty-six feet. From this point four and a-half miles to the Battery. Whole length of line from the Battery to the artificial lake, fifty miles. There are in this great work 55,000,000 of bricks and 700,000 cubic yards of stone-masonry.

The water in the aqueduct is regulated at the entrance gate, so as not to flow under any pressure—it has not been permitted to flow in the division near the city at a greater depth than two feet, but the works at the Croton dam required a few days back that more water should pass through the first division (the distance between Sing Sing and the Croton river), being eight miles, and it was found to pass seventy-five millions New York gallons in twenty-four hours, and that its velocity was over two miles per hour.

The Croton Lake now retains, beyond the daily river supply, in reserve, five hundred millions of gallons; and a small expense would add other immense artificial lakes to hold back an additional supply; but the necessity of this is hardly conceivable. It is estimated that the London supply, from all their companies, is but twenty-four millions of gallons, and Paris four millions only.

On the 8th of June last the superintendents went through the aqueduct (32 miles in length) on foot, and the whole being found complete, on the 22nd the water was admitted to the depth of eighteen inches. “The Croton Maid,” a small boat prepared for the purpose, and holding four persons, was then placed in the aqueduct, and navigated its entire length by some of the same party. This novel voyage was made sometimes at the depth of 75 feet below and then again 80 feet above the natural surface of the earth, at the rate of a mile in forty minutes, the velocity of the current. When four feet deep, this will probably reach two miles per hour.

On the 27th, the water was admitted into the immense receiving reservoir, in the presence of a large assemblage, including the mayor, governor, military, firemen, &c. &c. A salute of thirty-eight guns was fired, and the Croton Maid, soon making her appearance, was hailed with great enthusiasm, as the evidence that a navigable stream was now flowing into the city. The boat was then formally presented to the Fire Department, and she now lies safely moored in the distributing reservoir. To this basin the stream was admitted on the 4th day of July, amidst general and imposing demonstrations of public joy, the Temperance Societies taking a prominent part.

Since then, the water has continued to flow about two feet deep through the aqueduct, delivering into the receiving reservoir twelve millions of imperial gallons per day, and, as yet, only five or six millions in the pipes; nor has any defect been found in any section of the work.

Over twelve millions of dollars is the estimated cost of the entire work when done. From ten to twelve dollars is the rate charged per annum to families for the use of the water; its own force carries the stream into the highest stories of the most elevated buildings.

“An eminent clergyman (says the New York Commercial Advertiser), who has recently travelled in Europe and Asia, pronounces the Croton aqueduct the greatest work of our age, and says he has seen nothing to compare with it in all his travels. Its conception and design are worthy to form an era in history, from the utility, vastness, and simplicity of the undertaking. For centuries to come, it will stand a noble monument of the enterprise, art, and science of the present generation. No population of 300,000 ever before executed such a plan—not undertaken to mark a field of battle—nor like the vast walls of China, Rome, or of modern Paris, in preparation for defence in war. On the contrary, the Croton aqueduct regards the health, temperance, and happiness of myriads of the present generation, and of ages to come. None without seeing it can form an idea of its magnitude and importance.”