lived on the opposite side ; but not understanding it, they took no measures for their safety, until still later, when the water began to come down in torrents. Two people at Baileys' Mills occupied themselves so long in remo- ving their property, that they could not get with safety to the main land, and repaired to MEMOIR OF THE a small clump of trees in the channel ; which, lamentable to say, were afterwards swept away, and no doubt these two persons were drowned. One of the laborers, lately on the works was also drowned. No dwelling house above the dam was carried away. John Tompkins, below the dam, lost his dwelling house, which was of small value, say five or six hundred dollars, and his son, John Tompkins, lost a grist mill and dam, value fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars. Two small dwelling houses at Bailey's Factory were also lost. The Wire Mill of the Messrs. Bailey's, supposed to be worth, with the two small houses above, from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars, was also swept away. An old grist mill, called Hallman's Mill, which had been abandoned, and not worked for many years, of little value, was also swept away. These are all the losses which have come to our knowledge on the Crotori River, and all the losses to everybody above and below the dam, including the dam, are considerably inside of $75,000." No other parts of the aqueduct were injured by the storm, and the Commissioners conclude this their first report with expressions of satisfaction, that thus far " the aque- duct on the line stood remarkably well, the culverts had been sufficient to discharge the waters from the valleys and streams, and the embankments had been but little washed or damaged by the unprecedented storm." The prevalence of heavy rains in the spring of 1841, retarded the reconstruction of the Croton dam, which was contracted for anew, at an increased price indeed, but of larger dimensions and more durable materials ; and delayed operations on the yet unfinish- ed portion of the line. The work had been found to withstand, with very little injury, the severe cold and the unusual floods and rains of the past season. The beautiful bridge at Sing Sing exhi- bited not the least settlement or defect ; and, with the exception of some spots where, in order to maintain the grade line across low grounds, the aqueduct rests on dry foundation walls, in which slight settlement had occurred, the whole work stood admirably. In their semi-annual report of 12th July, 1841, the Commissioners thus briefly report the doings of the six months : The works on this island, including the reservoirs, the mains, Clendening Valley bridges, and the tunnels, have been progressing during the summer, although retarded from the want of punctual payments. m The foundation for the bridge over the Harlem River, so far as piers Nos. 7, 8 and 9 are concerned, has been laid in the bed of the river, and the sinking of the coffer dams has been attended with less difficulty than was apprehended. In fact, the bed of the river, when cleared by the removal of the sand and mud, and the immense boulders found therein, has proved admirably calculated for the support of the lofty and imposing struc- ture intended to rest upon it. CROTON AaUEDUCT. Commissioners, contractors, and engineers, all complained, during this period, of the inequality and delay in the payments stipulated, occasioned partly, perhaps, by the former misunderstanding between the Commissioners and the Common Council, as to their rela- tive rights and duties, but mainly by the financial difficulties of the times, and the exhaustion of the funds appropriated. To put an end to all difficulties as to contested rights, as well as to provide the addi- tional means needed for the completion of the work, the Legislature, on the application of the Common Council, passed a law on the 26th July, by a two-third vote, authorising the Corporation to raise three and a half millions more. We annex portions of that law, which is a very important one, as settling several material points : 1st. That of laying a tax on the citizens to pay the interest of the water loan. 2d. To limit the power of the Water Commissioners over the aqueduct to its termination at Murray's Hill. 3d. To authorise the Commissioners, with the assent of the Common Council, to change the plan of crossing the Harlem on a high bridge, to inverted syphons and iron pipes. 4th. To postpone the construction of a reservoir at Yorkville ; and 5th, to authorize the Com- mon Council to execute all the work south of Murray's Hill. We annex these sections : § 4. The moneys to