— and I freely add, that the changes in the plan of the Corporation, which they suggest, have the full concurrence of my opinion, With respect and esteem, I am, dear sir, your obedient servant, RICHARD VARICK, ESQ.. A. HAMILTON. Communication accompanying this Letter. Among the objects agreed on all hands to be necessary towards preserving the city from pestilential disease, are the following : I. The conveyance of water in pipes through every part of this city, as well for the more convenient cleaning and washing of streets, alleys and lanes, as for the supply of the inhabitants. Then follow four other provisions as to draining low grounds, filling up slips, &c. As to the first point, the plan proposed by the Corporation is, that the business shall be executed by the Corporation for their own benefit ; and that, towards enabling them to do this, the Legislature shall grant to them for a term of years the revenue arising from sales at auction. No other fund is indicated by the bill. Probably it is contemplated that loans may be obtained on the foundation of the revenue to arise from the supply of water, and the deficiency, if any, may be made up by taxes on the city. The success of this plan is problematical. It is doubtful whether the J .legislature diminished, as are some of the sources of the revenue on which it has for some time relied, will be willing to grant the fund arising from auctions for the -profit of the Corpo- ration, for such a term as will make it go far towards accomplishing the object. Compu- ting its annual amount at $30,000, if granted for 20 years, which is as much as can be hoped, it would be equal only to a capital of $344,097, 60, interest at 6 per cent, CROTONAdUEDUCT. 97 But it is hardly to be expected that money can be borrowed at so low a rate. How far short will this be of the sum probably requisite ? This cannot be safely estimated at less than a million of dollars, if the business be done on a scale sufficiently extensive. The amount of the revenue, to result from the supply of the water, must be for some time uncertain, and under this uncertainty, extensive loans on this basis ought not to be counted on. To raise what may be wanted, by taxes, to carry on the enterprise with vigor, might be found so burthensome to the citizens, as to occasion the operation to languish. It is not to be doubted, that it will promote the convenience of the citizens, and secure the final success of the object, to let in the aid of a capital to be created by the voluntary contributions of individuals. This may be obtained on a plan like the following : Let a company be incorporated, of all those who shall subscribe to the fund, with a capital not exceeding a million of dollars, to be composed of shares of $50 each ; the affairs of which to be managed by seven Directors, annually chosen by the subscribers, except that the Recorder of the city, for the time being, always shall be one. Of this capital, a privilege to be reserved to the Corporation of the city to subscribe for any number of shares not exceeding one third ; to enable them to do which, a grant of the auction duties to continue to be solicited, and a power to be asked to raise on the city, an annual revenue equal to the interest and gradual reimbursement of the principal of such additional loans as may be found necessary. The Company to have powers similar to those which the draft of the bill contem- plates to be given to the Corporation. The residue of this paper, which is signed Alexander Hamilton, relates to the health laws, &c. After the communication was read, the Board came to the following determination : Whereas, By the Report of a Joint Committee from this Board, from the Chamber of Commerce, and from the Medical Society, with the Commissioners of the Health Office, dated 14th January last, a variety of regulations and improvements in this city were recommended as of primary importance to the health and welfare of the inhabitants ; and whereas, the introduction of a copious supply of pure and wholesome water into the city has long been contemplated by the Board, and is esteemed by the said Committee, " one of the most powerful means of removing the causes of pestilential diseases ;" and whereas, the Board, in order to carry the objects of the said Report into effect, and with a view to obtain such supply of fresh water for the benefit of the citizens in