Chap. VII.
299
Cincinnati water-works are on the Ohio ; horse-power was originally used, but thereare now two steam-engines, one of which works a double force pump, 10 inches indiameter, with a four-feet stroke, and throws up into the reservoirs 1000 gallons perminute; the other works a pump 20 inches in diameter, with an eight-feet stroke, andthrows up 1200 gallons per minute.
From the reservoirs, which are built in stone, and cemented, the water is conducted byiron mains, 8 or 9 inches in diameter, into the basin, where it is distributed by leadenpipes.
Pittsburg receives its water from the Ohio , by a steam-engine of eighty-four.horsepower, which, by means of its pumps, throws a million and a half of gallons into a re-servoir, 116 feet above the level of the river, from whence it is distributed by iron mains15 inches in diameter, into the town.
Albany , on the Hudson, and Troy on the same river, obtain the purest water from thehigh ground in the neighbourhood; reservoirs are formed at a sufficient elevation, and ofthe requisite capacity, from whence it flow’s through iron mains to the difFerent quarters ofthe town.
Boston originally derived its supply from wells, and according to a report furnishedto the state, there were 2767 for public use, 33 of which were Artesian.
Montreal , and many other towns, are now supplied with water by means of steam power,which, no doubt, will become universal; and when all the works contemplated at NewYork are completed, the town, which is now inadequately served, will be wonderfullybenefited.
The Croton aqueduct, upwards of 40 miles in length, is a subterranean brick tunnel,ascending at the rate of nearly 14 inches per mile from New York to Croton ; after thetrench was cut, and the aqueduct built, the earth was backed over the aqueduct, to adepth of 4 feet on the crown, where it was levelled down to a width of 8 or 10 feet, thesides being sloped with a talus of one and a half to one. "Wherever a valley is crossed, asolid wall 15 feet in width at top, with sides battering one-twelfth to one, is built withstone, on the top of which a bed of concrete is laid, and on it is constructed the coveredaqueduct, which is at bottom 6 feet wide, at top 7 feet, and 8 feet in height; the sidewalls being of stone, in courses, 39 inches thick at bottom, and 27 inches at top.
Across the river at Croton is thrown a dam; and 500 or 600 acres of water formthe great reservoir, which for every foot in depth is calculated to contain 100,000,000gallons of water. The dam is 100 feet in length, 70 feet wide at bottom, 7 feet at top, andthe average height is 40 feet; it is built of stone and hydraulic cement.
The water passes from the reservoir by the corporation tunnel, 180 feet in length, and amile further it crosses Lounsbcrry brook, by a culvert 6 feet in diameter and 66 feet inlength ; where it crosses the valley, the grade line is 40 feet above the brook, and 55 to thetop of the aqueduct.
Five miles beyond, the Indian brook is crossed by a culvert 8 feet in diameter, and142 feet in length, and the aqueduct is conducted through Benvenue tunnel, 720 feet inlength, and the Ackers brook tunnel, 166 feet in length. At half a mile from IndianBrook is Iloagshill tunnel, 276 feet in length ; from thence to Sing Sing are severalvalleys; it then passes through a tunnel 336 feet in length, cut in the solid rock. Soonafter a chasm 70 feet deep, worn by the Indian brook, is crossed by an aqueduct bridge of88 feet span, with an elliptical arch rising 25 feet, resting on stone abutments; theaqueduct is lined with cast-iron plates. A mile further are the two state prison farmtunnels, one 416 feet, the other 375 feet in length; and half a mile further Hollis Brooktunnel is entered ; here, in crossing the valley, the grade line is 35 feet above the stream,and the top filling of the aqueduct 49 feet. The culvert is 131 feet in length, and 6‘ feetin diameter. A mile beyond is Ryders Brook, where the foundation wall is 20 feet highfrom the bed of the stream, and 34 feet to the top line of the aqueduct. The culvert is100 feet in length, and 6 feet in diameter ; a viaduct then crosses the road, built of stone,with an arch 20 feet span. The Austin Farm Tunnel, 186 feet in length, being passed,there occur several valleys, and when it arrives at Mill River, the grade is about 72 feetabove the surface of the water, and the aqueduct is 87 feet in height. The culvert is25 feet in diameter, and in length 172 feet. After quitting Mill River, the aqueductpasses through five culverts, and two miles below is the "White Plains Tunnel, which is246 feet in length. At Jewells Brook the aqueduct crosses by an embankment 62 feetin height, where there is a culvert 148 feet in length, and 6 feet in diameter, and anotherfor the road 141 feet in length, and 14 feet in width. At Wiltseys Brook, 18£ milesfrom the Croton dam, the aqueduct crosses, and the culvert is 137 feet in length, and6 feet in diameter, and at Dobbs Ferry Tunnel it passes entirely through earth for a lengthof £62 feet. At Storms Brook is a culvert 137 feet in length and 6 feet in diameter; asit proceeds from Dykemans Brook, the top of the embankment is 35 feet above the surfaceof the country.
The tunnel at the Saw Mill river is through earth and rock for a distance of 684 feet j