large quantities of water for conducting their business, that the supply on this island is annually diminish- ing. The Commissioners have understood that at the chemical works on the North river, at 33d street, and at an extensive turpentine distillery on the East river, some dis- tance above the Alms House, water cannot be procured in sufficient quantity from the large wells on their premises, where but a few years past, it was obtained in abundance j and, consequently, they are now compelled to cart a portion of their water from a distant place on the island. At the gas works, situated on the Collect grounds, where they have a well twenty feet in depth, by eighteen feet in diameter, which, until the present season, furnished water freely, enabling the engine to raise 20,000 gallons in ten hours, now re- quires fourteen to sixteen hours to raise the same quantity ; and in order to continue the supply it has been found necessary to return the water to the well after using it for con- densing the gas. The Commissioners are also informed, that the Corporation well on 13th street, which formerly yielded 120.000 gallons of water each day, will now only pro- duce from five to ten thousand. To remedy this evil, a well has been sunk at Jefferson Market, which has deprived most of the wells in that vicinity of water ; thus drying up one source of supply, in order to increase that of another. These are important facts, and ought not to be lost sight of by the municipal authorities, or by the people of this me- tropolis. As if to leave nothing unexamined or unsaid that might determine the authorities and citizens of New York to undertake this noble and useful enterprize, which it was made the duty of their Commissioners to report upon, the effect of bad water upon the health of ' CROTON AQUEDUCT. 13B cities is illustrated by many striking examples, and the report, marked with great research and ability, and pervaded throughout by an earnest spirit, thus concludes-; The quantity of water, in order to be effectual, in preserving the city from disease, must not be limited to the ordinary wants of domestic consumption merely, nor ought it I 11 S3 « 03 •*-> I •2 § ^ fl a ^\ *§ £ Description of Water Takers. ^| & $ ft ® ^» f •< 1 flS CD • IM rO bCrrJ Sj 0 B 3 111 1 Dwelling houses, - 20,000 $8 00 $160,000 00 Back tenements, 2,000 4 00 8,000 00 Taverns, 2,646 15 00 39,690 00 "Baths, 2,000 4 00 8,000 00 Livery stables, ... 86 52 00 4,500 00 Horses, - - - 4,000 1 50 6,000 00 Manufactories, ... 70 90 00 6,300 00 Bake houses, 267 12 00 3,204 00 Hatters, ..... 73 15 00 1,095 00 Sugar houses, - 7 150 00 1,050 00 3Brew houses. 12 300 00 3,600 00 Tanners, curriers, and morocco mami- ) facturers, - $ 20 40 00 800 00 Dyers, ... 20 30 00 600 00 Distilleries, ... 63 100 00 6,300 00 Printing offices, - - 178 10 00 1,780 00 Steam engines, 60 35 00 2,100 00 Slaughter houses, 100 12 00 1,200 00 Soap and candle factories, 58 60 00 3,480 00 Porter cellars, ... 10 10 00 100 00 Marble and stone cutters, 43 35 00 1,505 00 School houses, 68 15 00 1,020 00 Large hotels, ... 40 150 00 6,000 00 Boarding houses, - - 240 10 00 2,400 00 Boarding schools, 22 10 00 220 00 Victualling and refectories, - 100 25 00 2,500 00 Shipping, 4,534 8 00 36,272 00 CJas Works, 2 1,000 00 2,000 00 Chemical works, - 1 800 00 800 00 Total, - - ... $310,516 00 136 MEMOIROFTHE be restricted to the poor, or those in moderate circumstances, by a high charge for its use ; but, on the contrary, the quantity supplied should be abundant, the quality good, the cost moderate, and to the poor gratis. In order to effect the aforesaid object, a portion of the interest, at least, on the capital necessary to complete the project, and the annual expense attending the delivery of the water, should be paid by a tax on the real and personal estate of the city, in the same man- ner that the watching, lighting, and repairing the streets and roads, are paid ; or as the expense of the police, criminal courts, board of health and public schools are paid. These axe matters in which the poor man partakes equally with his rich neighbor, all being pro- per and necessary municipal expenses for preserving the peace, health, comfort and morals of the community ; and are