every householder, will be commensurate to the wants of a population such as the city of New- York contains, and will contain. If further evidence was required, the Commissioners might refer to the experience of other populous cities and villages, both in our own and other countries. Their example ought, surely, to have some weight with us, when making up an opinion on this subject. To suppose that they would expend millions of money to procure water from a distant source, or to raise it from their rivers by powerful machinery, when at the same time they could obtain a sufficient supply, and as good an article, at a comparatively trifling expense, by sinking wells within the bounds of the city or village, is to suppose them destitute of common sense and prudence. By a "report on the subject of introducing pure and wholesome water into the city of Boston, by Loami Baldwin, Esq. Civil Engineer," it appears that a careful investigation was made of the character, quality, and uses of the water taken from the city wells. The whole number of wells in that city was ascertained to be 2767. The water from 2085 of these wells was drinkable, though brackish and hard, and 682 of them were bad and unfit for use. There were only seven of the city wells which yielded soft water, occasionally used for washing, and from thirty-three of them the water was obtained by deep boring. "Within a few years, (says the report,) it has become common in Boston, and the vicinity, to bore for water, and to make what is called Artesian wells. But no certain or valuable result has grown out of these endeavors. I cannot find that any geological science has been acquired by any one to guide or check these fruitless attempts ; and great sums of money are idly expended every year upon mere projects founded on guess-work. There are thirty-three bored wells, only two of which are stated as furnishing soft water." With very little variation, as the Commissioners think, this description of the wells in Boston, will not inaptly apply to the situation of the public wells in this city, the most of which produce nothing but hard and brackish water, and no one of which, so far as the Commis- sioners are informed, is sufficiently soft to authorize its use in washing clothes, &c. On the 27th of October, 1834, the Board of Aldermen referred to the Commissioners a communication from John Hunter, in which he states that he has matured a plan, by which an abundant supply of water may be obtained, on very reasonable terms ; that he proposed applying to the Legislature for a charter, and if the Common Council would consent to the application, and render such facilities for its success as may be in theiv 33 MEMOIR OF THE power, they may have such control over the company as will cause a forfeiture of the charter, in the event of any neglect in fulfilling its provisions. But if the Common Coun- cil are determined to keep the project in their own hands, the plan he has to propose, is the most certain and cheapest that can be adopted, and can be commenced immediately, and put in operation in a shorter time than any other. The Chairman of the Commissioners waited on Mr. Hunter accordingly, in order to obtain some idea of the plan he alluded to. He declined an explanation, however, but appeared willing to communicate his views to two or three of the Commissioners, in con- fidence. This was declined on our part, on the principle that the Commissioners were bound to report to the Common Council any and all the information they possessed on the subject of supplying this city with water, and they could not therefore receive any communication under the injunction of secrecy. On the 8th of November, Mr. Hunter, in accordance with a previous arrangement, met the Commissioners at their room in the Hall of Records. That portion of the act of the Legislature, which requires the Commissioners to "make a report, containing a full state- ment and description of the plan adopted by them, and an estimate of the expenses there- of," was read to Mr. Hunter, and he was at the same time informed, if he communicated his plan to the Commissioners, and if they adopted it, they would so report to the Common Council ; if they rejected it, they would so report, with their reasons for such rejection. Mr. Hunter finally promised to communicate his views to the Commissioners in writing. On the 17th of November a communication was received from Mr. Hunter, stating, among other observations not material to the matter in hand, that he deemed it necessary to make his