The Engineers were also instructed to designate the best and most feasible route for conducting the water, the most fit and proper manner for constructing the conduits and reservoirs, the probable amount of damage that would be sustained by the proprietors of the water to be taken, and of the land it might be necessary to occupy in constructing the required conduits and reservoirs, together with the total amount of cost to the city for

completing and putting into operation, the whole project. Mr. Douglass began his surveys late in June, and they occupied him and his party

until late in September, and the result was as above stated, a firm conclusion that the Croton should be the source of supply. Two routes, out of marfy examined, were decided on and estimated for, " The Inland," and " The Hudson River " route. The first of these lines followed the valley of the Sawmill river ; its length from the confluent reservoir at Wood's bridge, over the Croton, to the distributing reservoir on

CROTON AdUEDUCT. 117

38th street, was a little more than 43 miles the height above tide, at which the water would stand in the latter reservoir was 117 feet, with a minimum daily supply of about 16,000,000 gallons of running water, and 11,000,000 gallons obtainable from stored water and at a cost of four and a half millions of dollars for the whole.

The Hudson river route was traced wholly along the undulating side of the Croton and Hudson valleys, passing through Sing Sing, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, and so on till it touched the line of the inland route in the valley of the Sawmill river.