and to make another report to the Common Council, which report shall specify as near as may be, the probable supply of water which can be obtained within the county ; also for paying the necessary expenses of the Commissioners in the performance of their duties under the act. The Commissioners entered zealously on their duties, and as the report they made to the Common Council in Feb., 1835, gives a very intelligent view of their proceed- ings, and those of their engineers, and examines moreover, with acuteness, various, pro- jects, that had been agitated in opposition to that of constructing an Aqueduct from the Croton, we make copious extracts. To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of New York : The Water Commissioners appointed under the Act of the Legislature of this State, entitled, " An Act for supplying the City of New York with pure and wholesome water," passed the 2d. of May, 1834, respectfully REPORT: That the undersigned were appointed Commissioners, under an Act of the Legisla- ture, entitled " An Act for the appointment of Commissioners, in relation to supplying the City of New- York with pure and wholesome water," passed February 26th, 1833, and that on the 12th of November, of the same year, they had the honor of submitting to the Common Council a report, in which they recommended the Croton river as the only sure source of supply ; both on account of its capacity and the purity of its waters. Two plans were proposed for conducting the water by aqueduct to the city, one through the interior of the county of Westchester, by the valley of the Sawmill river, and the other through the valleys of the Croton and Hudson rivers, until the two lines meet a few miles east of the village of Yonkers. They avoided, for the reason stated in the report alluded to, making any selection of the route preferred between the interior and Hudson river routes, presuming that the main object of their appointment was to ascertain, 1st. Whether a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome water could be obtained for present and all future purposes. 2d. The practicability of its introduction into the city, at an elevation that would preclude the use of machinery. And 3d. The total cost of completing the projected work. It will be seen, as they think, by a reference to their report of November, 1833, that they have conclusively shown that the supply from the Croton will be abundant, the quality of the water unquestionable, and the facility of introduction beyond dispute. The act under which they hold their present appointment requires of them, 1st. To examine and consider all matters relative to supplying the city of New York with a sufficient quantity of pure and wholesome water ; to adopt such plan as in CROTON AQ.UEDUCT. 125 their opinion will be most advantageous for securing such supply, and to report a full statement and description of the plan adopted by them. 2d. To ascertain, as near as may be, what amount of money may be necessary to carry the same into effect 3d. To report an estimate of the probable amount of revenue that will accrue to the city, upon the completion of the work, and the reasons and calculations upon which their opinion and estimates may be founded ; such report to be made and presented to the Com- mon Council of this city, on or before the first day of January, 1836, The Commissioners have presumed, however, that a paramount object of their re- appointment was a close and thorough re-examination, under such additional lights as time and further reflection may have produced, of the plans they have proposed, and of the estimates they have entered into, extending their inquiries to any new matter allu- ded to by the act of the Legislature, referred to them by the Common Council, or suggest- ed to them by others, for effecting the object in view, or, as improvements upon the plans and estimates proposed by their former report. With these views of what would be required of them, and in order to test the cor- rectness of the plans proposed by their report of November, 1833, the Commissioners en- gaged David B. Douglas, Esq., to re-examine his surveys, levels and calculations, and to ascertain whether lines for an aqueduct may not be designated that will require less labor and expense than those recommended by the report of 1833 ; whether a more economi- cal method of constructing the aqueduct may not be adopted ; whether the cost of build- ing culverts and bridges, making excavations and embankments, erecting the reservoirs, estimating the damages to water rights, &c., may not be reduced ; whether the expense of equalizing reservoirs may