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.”
Literature.
Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Edited by “Boz.” London: Chapman and Hall.
Although it is a part of our plan, in the conduct of this Journal, to give it that varied character which shall constitute it the universal medium of instruction, information, and amusement for the class to which it is addressed, and therefore it needs no apology from us for introducing to our pages extracts from the writings of popular authors, such as those of the inimitable Dickens, yet we are impelled by a two-fold consideration to select from that source in this particular instance. That vein of withering satire in which the author has hitherto indulged in drawing out the character of Squeers, the Yorkshire school-master, is now, it seems, to flow afresh, in the delineation of Mr. Pecksniff, a Wiltshire architect. The broad dash of caricature with which he invests the portrait, is a peculiarity of the author that has no harm in it, since it is directed against a vicious practice, which deserves the strongest reprobation, and of which, as well as of the character of Pecksniff generally, it may be expected that our readers in particular will take an anxious cognizance. The very circumstance of the introduction of this worthy and his simple-minded pupil Pinch into the novel of Martin Chuzzlewit (for novel we suppose we must call it), will make us, and thousands of our class his readers, and eager expectants of the monthly issue which is to develope the workings of the miserable genius of Master Pecksniff. With this preface, we proceed with our purpose of drawing attention to the strong lights and shadows of the picture which arrests the eye of the architectural observer.