(_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.”
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.