completed during the winter, advertisements were, CROTON AdUEDUCT. 145 on 28th February, published in the newspapers of New York, Albany, Utica, Hartford, Ct., and Philadelphia, inviting proposals until 26th April, "for furnishing the materials and completing the construction of twenty-three sections of the Croton Aqueduct, including the dam in the Croton, the aqueduct bridge over Sing Sing Kill, and the necessary exca- vations and tunnelling on the line of about S£ miles from the Croton to Sing Sing village." On the day appointed, abundant offers were opened for all the sections, but owing to the condition of monetary affairs, only 13 sections were let, and those at prices considera- bly above the original estimate for the cost of the work. Three years were allowed for the fulfilment of these contracts, which were to be always under the special and constant inspection of the resident engineer and his aids, the particular examination of the chief engineer, and the general supervision of the Commis- sioners. The following judicious, and indeed essential condition, was inserted in all the con- tracts— " that the contractors will not themselves, nor by their agents, give or sell any ar- dent spirits to their workmen, or any person at or near the line of the aqueduct, or allow any to be brought on the works by laborers, or any other person, and will do all in their power to discountenance its use in the vicinity of the work by persons in their employ ; and that they will not allow any person in their employ to commit trespass on the premises of persons in the vicinity of the work, and will forthwith, at the request of the Commis- sioners or engineer, discharge from their employ any that may be guilty of committing; damage in this respect,'' Previous to commencing operations, the whole line was divided into four districts, and a competent resident engineer, with the requisite number of assistants, was assigned to each. On the first, extending from the Croton ten miles southerly, Edmund French was appointed resident ; on the second, including the next 10J; miles, Henry T. Anthony ; and the third, 10 miles more, to Fordham church, and the fourth, from Fordham church to the distributing reservoir in the city, 10^ miles, were for the present considered as one division, and put in charge of Peter Hastie. We are thus particular in giving the names and stations of the engineers, because in so grand a work, and which, so far as yet tested, has proved so thoroughly well con- structed, it is just that they who, though in comparatively subordinate stations, con- tributed largely to its excellence and sufficiency, should be commemorated. The Commissioners present this brief but clear sketch of the respective divisions of the aqueduct line, and of the great natural difficulties to be overcome ; 37 146 MEMOIR OF THE The country through which our line of aqueduct lias to pass, affords, perhaps, as few facilities for the avoidance of labor and expense as any other portion of the State ; we are met at every step with deep ravines, which must be passed, either by embankment or bridge, or elevated hills which must be pierced by a tunnel of more or less extent. The most prominent objects of labor and cost on the first division arer first, the dam across the Croton River. This dam will be fifty feet high, from the bed of the river, and about forty feet from low water level ; the top, or lip of the dam, about one hundred feet across ; breadth at the bottom about seventy feet, and on the top or lip, seven feet, averaging about forty feet in thickness. The down stream course will slope one and a quarter to one, and the up stream will be carried plumb. The abutments twelve feet thick ; the top and down stream slope to be covered with heavy coping, well clamped to- gether with iron anchors and straps, &c. In fact, the whole structure is to be a mass of substantial stone masonry, combined together with hydraulic cement ; and, when com- pleted, will be one of the most stupendous erections of the kind to be found in any part of this or any other country. The next important work in order, is the Aqueduct Bridge, across the valley of Sing Sing Kill. This requires an arch of eighty feet span and twenty-five feet rise, resting on abutments of stone masonry, and is intended to be a work of great strength and solidity. In addition to these, there are several large culverts to be built, for crossing the streams and brooks running through this section of the works ; some pretty lofty embankments to be made, and four tunnels, of from 300