The popular voice having thus pronounced, by an overwhelming majority, in favor of the Croton Aqueduct, the Corporation lostno time in passing an ordinance, dated 7th of May, instructing the Commissioners at once to proceed in the work, according to the plan

adopted by them, and authorizing a loan for two millions and a half of dollars, at 5 per cent interest, to provide for the expenses thereof We subjoin the last section, as indica-

140 MEMOIR OF THE

ting the understanding and intention of the Common Council at that time, both that a revenue should be derived from the water furnished to the inhabitants of the city, and that such revenue, whatever it might be, should go to the Sinking Fund for the redemption of the debt.

9. The provisions of the ordinance, entitled, " A Law providing for the redemption of the City Stock," so far as the same can be applied to the " Water Stock of the city of of New York," shall be applicable to the same and all revenue to be received for water, :

to be procured by the said work and furnished to the inhabitants of the city of New York, shall be specially appropriated as a Sinking Fund towards the redemption of the said Water Stock.

Another ordinance was passed on the 15th of May, fixing the salary of the Chairman of the Water Commissioners at $1500 per annum, and that of each of the others, at $1000, to be paid as part of the contingent expenses of said work. The Commissioners went to work zealously ; on the 2d of June, they appointed D. B. Douglas, Esq., their chief engineer, and directed him to organise a corps of engineers as soon as practicable. The party, consisting of seventeen, took the field on the 6th of July, 1835.