From all which has been previously stated, you will learn that it is the unanimous opinion of the committee, that no adequate supply of good or wholesome water can be obtained on this Island, for the wants of a large and rapidly increasing city like New York. The various perforations which have been made, in the absence of all other proof, would sufficiently establish this position. These have been undertaken without any acquaintance with those immutable laws of nature, which regulate the position of rocks, and their utter uselessness is now sufficiently obvious. They- may be carried to any assignable depth in this rock, and when completed, will be merely reservoirs to receive the drainage from above.
Both the citizens and city authorities now went to work in earnest, and in December a report was made by Mr. Samuel Stevens, in behalf of the committee of fire and water,
CROTON AQUEDUCT. HI that reviewed the whole ground, the various plans that had at different times been
projected, and indicated that, which, in the judgment of the committee, was most feasible.
The possibility of supplying' the city from springs or wells on Manhattan Island, is considered, and discarded. Independently of the uncertainty both as to the quantity and quality of the water which might thus be obtained, the multiplication of wells and steam engines that would be required to produce the supply needed estimated at 4,000,000 gallons, daily was a decisive objection. The Artesian well of the Manhattan Company, at Thirteenth-street, which is considered as a very successful experiment, yields but 20,000 gallons daily, and it would require 200 such wells, with steam power at each, to supply four million gallons.