millions, the fifth section of which is quoted in a preceding page, it is expressly enacted " that no item of expenditure should be charged against the water stock fund, except the same is approved by the Water Commissioners and the Comptroller." Under this provision, the Commis- sioners stated to the Board of Aldermen, that they felt constrained to call the attention of their engineers to the subject of supplying the city with pipes, and laying them down. " The extent of the subject," say the Commissioners, " and its importance, will be readily perceived, when it has been stated by our predecessors, that lines of pipes, to the 184 MEMOIR OP THE extent of 165 miles, will be required, and as early as the spring of 1842, according to the opinions of our predecessors, from which we see no reason to dissent. The lines of pipes now laid down, are in extent about 35 miles, which are to be mainly abstracted from the length of line believed to be required. Now by the progress made the last year, and understood to be making for the present year, it would require 14 or 15 years to complete the laying down of the distributing pipes, supposing the city to remain stationary." Another objection to the work being done by committees of the Corporation, seems to have been, that it was by day's work, and not by contract, and therefore less economi- cal. All the other work on the aqueduct had been done by contract, and it is reasonably urged that the same practice should be observed in laying down the distributing pipes. The former Commissioners had so construed the then existing laws, as to terminate their duties and responsibilities at the distributing reservoir ; and they had so reported to the Common Council. But this was antecedent to the law of 28th April. The Commissioners, after elucidating the grounds on which they differ as to this point from their predecessors, urgently pressed upon the Board of Aldermen for a decision, before the new Board came in, as the incumbents were familiar with the subject, and it would necessarily require some time for their successors to become so. No decision, however, was made. In August an ordinance was adopted, organising the Croton Aqueduct Department, to be composed — 1. Of the Croton Aqueduct Committee, being a joint committee of three members from each Board, whose duties are thus defined : § 2. All bills for expenditures incurred in relation to the said department, shall be carefully examined by the Croton Aqueduct Committee, and, if approved, shall be signed by the respective Chairman thereof, and paid. § 3. The Croton Aqueduct Committee are hereby vested with the powers necessary for making all contracts in relation to the said department, and for conducting the water- works, purchasing materials, and distributing the water; provided always, that the powers of the said Committee shall not be construed to interfere with those now vested in the Water Commissioners, and that the contracts of such Committee shall not exceed the amount of the moneys which may, from time to time, be appropriated for the several objects aforesaid ; and the said Committee is hereby required to make reports monthly to the Common Council of their proceedings. 2. Of an Aqueduct Commissioner, at a salary of $1000 per annum, to give bond in $5000, and take an oath faithfully to perform his duties — which are to superintend and direct the aqueduct department, to take charge of all contracts, books, papers, and vouch- ers of the department, to file copies of all contracts immediately upon their execu- tion, in the Comptroller's office, to keep a complete record of every transaction apper- AQUEDUCT. 185 • taming to the water pipes, and the distribution of the water in the city, showing the cost of the pipes, whence obtained, &c., with a complete description, map, and plan of all the different sizes of pipes now laid down, and to be laid, with the exact dimensions of their offsets in each street, and the distances they are laid from the sidewalks, in order that the size of the pipes, and their offsets, with their exact location may be known thereby. He is also, under the direction of the Committee, to advertise for, and make contracts, examine and certify bills for work, and generally to perform such duty as may be re- quired of him by the Croton Aqueduct Committee. He is also to make a quarterly report to the Common Council, of the detail of every expenditure in the department, with the number of the different sizes of water pipes and their connections, on hand and under contract. 3. Of a Water Purveyor, to be subject to the direction of the Committee and