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 to 800 feet in length, through hills of more or less altitude. The most prominent work on the second division, is the crossing Mill River, which must be effected, either by an aqueduct bridge, of heavy stone masonry, or by a large culvert and embankment, the latter of which the Commissioners have preferred. There are also two tunnels in this division, of considerable length, with a number of small cul- verts for crossing the several ravines and brooks on the line of the aqueduct. In the third division, the crossing of Saw Mill River and Tibbit's Brook occurs, a pretty formidable part of the work. There are two tunnels ; one at Yonkers, for entering the valley of Saw Mill River, and the other for entering the valley of Tibbit's Brook. The fourth division embraces some highly important works. The most imposing is the crossing of Harlem River, either by an aqueduct bridge, or by inverted syphons ; next, carrying the aqueduct over Manhattan Valley ; and last, though not least, the erec- tion of the receiving and distributing reservoirs in this city. Here we have a formidable array of work, to exercise the talents of our chief engi- neer, in planning, and the ingenuity of our mechanics and laborers in executing ; and if to this be added the great length of the aqueduct to be built, and the large amount of ex- cavation to be effected, in many places from fifteen to thirty feet in depth, and that through a soil abounding with rock, stone, and cemented earths, it cannot be wondered at if the estimates of the engineers, originally employed to make the necessary examinations shall fall far short, as the Commissioners have now good reason to think they will, of the sum necessary to bring the project to a successful termination. The Commissioners wish it to be understood, therefore, by your honorable body, as their settled opinion, based upon the result of the bids for that portion of the work offered for contract, and the very high price they have been compelled to pay for land and other privileges required for the works, that the total cost of the project will far exceed the estimates reported to the Common Conn- CROTON AQUEDUCT. 147 cil, founded upon the data adopted by the engineers, in their reports dated the 1st of No- vember, 1833, the 25th of January, 1835, and the first of February, 1835. The intimation here given that the first estimates by Major Douglas, Mr. Martineau, and other engineers, who had examined the route, would be greatly exceeded, is followed up by a request that the Common Council would, at an early day, adopt measures to raise more money, taking it for granted, that as the people of the city had deliberately decided through the medium of the ballot boxes, and by a large majority, that the necessary funds should be raised for prosecuting the work, there could be no doubt that it was to be pro- ceeded with. They also, in this Report, advert to the expenditure that would be occasioned by fur- nishing and laying pipes in the streets, of which, estimating that 152 miles in length, in. addition to the 15 then laid, would be required, they calculate the expense at $1,261,627. The cost of this branch of the work, it is very properly suggested, should be included in the farther amount for completing the aqueduct, which it was proposed to ask permission from the Legislature to raise. In view of the length of time which the construction of the aqueduct would occupy, of the vast sums that would be expended, and of various and perplexing questions that could not fail to arise in the progress of the undertaking, in the shape of claims from per- sons supposing themselves aggrieved, by contractors for extra allowances, &c., &c, the Commissioners suggest, for the consideration of the Common Council, the adoption of a plan similar to that adopted by the State in respect to the construction of, and expendi- tures on, the canals, viz. : constituting two Boards, one, Commissioners of the Water Fund, to be composed of the Mayor, the Comptroller, the Counsel of