Scarcely, however, had peace returned, with Liberty and National Independence achieved, than our citizens again busied themselves about good water. In April, 1785, Samuel Ogden made proposals to the Corporation for erecting and establishing Water Works to supply the City. In January, 1786, proposals for a like object were presented by the Hon. R. R. Livingston and John Lawrence, Esq. Both projects were submitted to a committee, who, in February, made a report thereon, and

concluded with advising, that the Board advertise for proposals for supplying the City with water.

This suggestion was adopted and on the 19th of April, the Clerk informed the ;

Board, that he had received three sealed packets said to contain proposals for supplying the City with water. In this stage of the business, the inhabitants seem to have interfered, for the aldermen and assistants being called upon for the opinions of their constituents, reported as the sense of the people of their respective wards, that the Corporation ought not to grant the privilege of supplying the City with water to individuals, but that the same ought, if possible, to be undertaken by the Corporation.

In consequence of this manifestation of public sentiment, it was ordered, That the proposals remain unopened with the Clerk, until the further order of the Board, or that they be returned at the option of the parties offering them. Ordered, further, That the Aldermen and Assistants, be requested to set on foot, in their respective Wards, representations to this Board, in writing, and subscribed by the citizens, in order, more fully, to ascertain their sense, whether the Corporation ought to grant to individuals, the privilege of supplying the City with water, or whether the same ought to be undertaken by the Corporation, and that the monies necessary for the purpose, should be raised by tax on the citizens.