Jervis, who had been engaged in most of the public works constructed by this State, was appointed chief engineer, at an annual

salary of $5000. We cannot but pause in our narrative for a moment, to express regret that a great enterprise like this, of which the plans and details were digested by Major Douglas, which even in its consummation, must still be deemed mainly to be his work, should, owing to any misunderstanding or incompatibility of temper between him and the". Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, have been committed to other hands.

only just to add, however, that those other hands have proved themselves It is

abundantly competent, and that Mr. Jervis has shown equal activity and skill in perfecting the great undertaking. He entered immediately upon his duty, traversed and inspected the whole line of the Aqueduct between the two rivers, and so far as he was able to judge without instrumental verification, approved of it. Garretson's Mills, he considered under the circumstances, the best position for the dam.

By direction of the Commissioners, who were anxious to place some of the work under contract for the opening of the working season, shafts were sunk at the site of the dam, and along the line of the Aqueduct as far as Sing Sing, eight miles, in order to exhibit the nature of the ground to be excavated, for the information of all parties this, as well as ;

examinations on the same line for stone fit to be quarried and used in the construction, was successfully accomplished. The number of acres required for a Croton Reservoir and Aqueduct from river to river is stated by the Commissioners at 813.