successful experiment, yields but 20,000 gallons daily, and it would require 200 such wells, with steam power at each, to supply four million gallons. The plan for relying on the Croton, admitted to be that which ensured the most abundant supply, was put aside by reason of the great cost of the work, and because the Bronx river presented an adequate resource nearer by, and at less expense. The minimum daily supply from that river, was estimated by accurate measurement and survey, made by Canvass White, in 1826, at 4,302,720 gallons, and by damming the Rye ponds, an additional supply of 4,798,000 gallons would be obtained, so as to make a daily aggregate of 9,100,000 gallons, equal to the wants, at 20 gallons per head, for a population of 450,000 persons. The committee, therefore, unhesitatingly recommend, that the Bronx river be the source, and thence proceed to consider the mode in which the water should be conducted to the city. Three plans were suggested : an open canal, an arched brick tunnel, and iron pipes. The first is condemned, because of the impurities, which, in its course it would be liable to gather ; and upon the whole, the preference is given to the arched tun- nel, which, according to an estimate of Canvass White, might be constructed, of five feet diameter, for $31,174 per mile, making the whole cost, from the point where the water was taken from the Bronx to Macomb's dam, $400,000. Independently of superior cheapness, as compared with iron pipes, a tunnel of the size proposed, would supply the greatest quantity of water that could be required. But in all these plans, the water was to be forced up by machinery at the Harlem river, to the height requisite to its introduction, with a sufficient head into the city. The tide water of the Harlem river, was relied upon for the power, and the cost of the bridge and dam, to raise and pass the water, was estimated at $50,000. The machinery for lift- ing, and the reservoirs on Harlem heights, which were to be 120 feet above tide, were to cost $50,000 more. And the three lines of twelve inch iron pipe, calculated to convey 2,000,000 gallons daily (an adequate supply for the then population), were to cost $10,000 MEMOIR OF THE per mile each. The distance from the receiving reservoir at Harlem to that at Thir- teenth-street, being four miles, the whole cost of the pipes would be $120,000. The whole expense of the work, including the extinguishing of rights, the purchase of lands, mason-work tunnel, iron pipes to connect the reservoirs, and distributing pipes through the city, is estimated by the committee, with the concurrence in judgment, of Canvass White and Benj. Wright, at two millions of dollars. The Report sets forth as follows, the means of paying this amount : For this expenditure, our inhabitants will have water, pure and wholesome, not only as a beverage and for culinary and domestic purposes, but an ample supply for cleaning the streets and sewers of our city, and for the extinguishment of fires. And it must not be forgotten that the estimated loss by fire in the year 1828, was $600,000. Your Committee are of opinion that the expense of this undertaking, the advantages of which will be lasting and permanent in their character, should be provided for by a loan, and they view the present or coming season as one at which this money can be procured at a low rate of interest, probably not to exceed four per cent., redeemable in thirty years. It would be well secured, as due from a city whose taxable property is rated at $125,000,000, and is worth much more. To provide for the $80,000 interest, supposing the expense to amount to two millions, we should have a fair charge on our present citizens. It is believed that we have, or within a year or two will have, 35,000 houses and buildings, all of which are obliged to build and keep cisterns, while many of our citizens purchase water, and all are at the expense of sinking wells and erecting pumps, at an average annual charge, including all these expenses, it is believed, of exceeding eight dollars per house. Now if we estimate that we can charge each house, on an average, four dollars, we have $140,000, nearly double the whole interest. If it should be thought that four dollars is too much for some houses, it may be remarked, that several families, in limited circumstances, generally reside in one house, and that this being the case, the landlord might well afford to pay four dollars per annum ; but as this calculation of four dollars per house, is an average charge, it will be seen that