The same spirit has been uniformly evinced by subsequent Common Councils, in rendering their unremitting countenance and aid to the measure ; and to these," the Commissioners add, "they are mainly indebted for their ability to progress thus far with the great and important work under their special charge."

During the whole of this year, operations were pushed with great vigor, so that nearly one million six hundred thousand dollars were expended, and from 3500 to 3800 men employed denoting, on the part of the contractors, a determination to complete the work within the time specified in their respective contracts.

160 MEMOIR OF THE The whole amount disbursed, up to 31st December, 1838, was within a small fraction of two millions of dollars.

On 1st October, the Commissioners opened the bids from the various iron masters in England and the United States, to whom they had addressed notices respecting the iron pipes needed. There were three offers from England, and seven from the United States. That of the West Point Foundry Association being found a shade lower than the others, a contract was passed with them, with adequate personal security on their part for the due fulfilment of their undertaking.

The Commissioners also let out upon advantageous terms the difficult and important sections from 86 to 97, part of the fourth division. These included the bridge to support the syphons across the Harlem River, the work to support the pipes across Manhattan valley, the bridge over Clendining valley, the receiving reservoir at Eighty-sixth-street, and the distributing reservoir at Murray Hill.