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 communication preliminary to a full development at a future time ; that his object in withholding his communication from the Commissioners was, that he may have some assurance from the Common Council, that his plan will not be made use of without his consent and approbation. He states that he " will now develope a part of the plan, and then make a proposition to carry it into effect, not expecting that it would be accepted without a full development, but merely to bring the subject to a tangible point." He then proposes to deliver a sufficient supply of pure water for all present purposes, " in a permanent aqueduct, ot sufficient capacity, at the base of Harlem heights, below the sur- face on the north side, ready and suitable to be elevated to the height that it may be necessary for conveying it to the city." He further states, that he will build a reservoir of sufficient capacity, and erect the machinery for raising the water to the reservoir, for one million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ; the Corporation to pay all damages for land and water rights ; to receive the water from the said reservoir, and to construct such other reservoirs and fixtures, for distributing the water, as they may deem necessary. The plan of Mr. Hunter, as he states, " would embrace all the water the engineers show in their surveys and reports, or, in fact, all surface or running water of the county of West Chester." "That the whole can be completed within four years from the time it is commenced, and a partial supply may be had in a shorter time, and before the whole is completed." This is the substance of the information communicated to the Commissioners by Mr. Hunter, which, without further remark, is respectfully submitted to the Common Council, together with his communication, which accompanies this report. In addition to the foregoing, the Commissioners have received a communication, dated the 21st of November, 1834, from Mr. Bradford Seymour, of Utica, suggesting the follow- ing plan for supplying the city with water. CROTON AQUEDUCT. 131 Mr. Seymour proposes to erect a permanent dam in the Hudson river, extending from this city, at or near the site of the old State Prison, at the foot of Amos-street, to the Jersey shore, so as to elevate the surface of the water within the said dam, from 18 to 24 inches above high tide. He estimates the expense of this erection at one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and for the construction of as many ship locks as may be proper, at one hundred and forty thousand dollars each. If deemed necessary to build a lock in the centre, or channel of the river, it would add to the expense from one to two hundred thou- sand dollars more. The advantages to be derived, Mr. Seymour states, will be, 1st. That the waters of the Hudson, coming from the high lands around the Sacondagoand Mohawk rivers, are the purest in the United States. 2d. That a hydraulic power equal to thirty thousand horses, may thus be obtained, twenty-seven thousand of which may be employed for manufactur- ing purposes, and three thousand used for elevating the water to the reservoir for supplying the city. 3d. That by raising the water in the city above said dam to the height he pro- poses, all overslaughs and bars will be removed by the down current, and any vessel capa- ble of entering the harbor of New York, may proceed to Albany and Troy without obstruc- tion. 4th. That a safe and easy communication between this city and Albany, on the ice, for three months in the year, may be effected. That no injury will be caused to the land on the banks of the Hudson, as the water within the dam will never be higher than it now is in high tides and freshets. Another of the advantages is, that solid and pure ice may be obtained at a small expense. On the 29th of November Mr. Seymour made a further communication, in which he states, that the grounds upon which he desires to