of two and a half millions of dollars, by the creation of a stock to be called " The Water Stock of the city of New York-," at five per cent., interest. The law of the preceding year, authorising the appointment of Commissioners having expired, it became necessary to renew it, and accordingly on the 2nd May, the Legisla- ture passed an act embracing this object, and that of the Common Council, for authori- ty to raise money. As this act lies at the foundation of the noble enterprise of which we are recording the progress and. accomplishment, it is given entire. AN ACT To PROVIDE FOR SUPPLYING THE ClTY OF NEW YORK WITH PURE AND WHOLESOME WATER. (Passed May 2, 1834.) The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : § 1. The Governor shall nominate, and with the consentof the Senate, shall appoint five persons, to be known as the Water Commissioners for the city of New York, who shall be citizens and inhabitants of the said city. § 2. It shall be the duty of the said Commissioners to examine and consider all matters relative to supplying the city of New York with sufficient quantity of pure and wholesome water, for the use of its inhabitants. CROTON AQ.UEDUCT. § 3. The said Commissioners shall have power to employ engineers, surveyors, and such other persons as, in their opinion, may be necessary to enable them to perform their duties under this act. § 4 The said Commissioners shall adopt such plan as, in their opinion, may be most advantageous for procuring such supply of water ; and shall ascertain, as nearly as may be, what amount of money may be necessary to carry the same into effect : and for such purpose, they shall have power to make conditional contracts, subject to the ratification of the Common Council of the city of New York, with the owner or owners of all lands, tenements, hereditaments, rights or privileges whatsoever, which may be required accord- ing to such plan, for the purchase thereof, at stated prices ; which contracts shall be so drawn as to be binding upon the said owners, respectively, in case the same shall be ratified by the said Common Council within two years from the passage of this act. § 5. The said Commissioners shall make a report of their proceedings, under the foregoing sections of this act, containing a full statement and description of the plan adopted by them ; an estimate of the expense thereof, together with an estimate of the probable amount of revenue to accrue to the city, upon the completion of the work ; with the reasons and calculations upon which their opinions and the said estimates may be founded : and all such other information, connected with the object of their appointment, as they may deem important. § 6 Such report shall be made and presented to the Common Council, by the Commissioners, together with all such conditional contracts as may have been made by them by virtue of this act, on or before the first day of January, which will be in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six. § 7. In case the plan so adopted by the Commissioners, shall be approved of by the Common Council, they shall appoint a poll to be open on the days upon which the next annual election for charter officers is by law appointed to be held ; and the inspectors of said election shall provide a ballot box, with suitable lock and key, and the electors shall express their assent or refusal to allow the Common Council to proceed in raising the money necessary to construct the works as aforesaid, by depositing their ballots in the box provided for that purpose in their respective wards. And those electors who are in favor of granting the necessary power to the Common Council, shall each deposite a ballot containing the word "yes," written or printed thereon ; and those who are opposed, shall each deposite a ballot containing the word "no," written or printed thereon. And a canvass and return of the votes shall be made by the inspectors of the election, in the same manner as is now prescribed by law, in regard to the canvass and return of votes for charter officers. § 8. If a majority of the said electors are found to be in favor of the measure, it shall then be lawful for the Common Council to instruct the Commissioners to proceed in the work : and it shall also be lawful for the Common Council to raise by loan, from time to time, and in such amounts as they may think fit, a sum not exceeding