This was a very trying year for financial arrangements ; nevertheless, the city continued to face all its engagements with punctuality, and to meet the great expenditure on account of the aqueduct ; and the Commissioners, although not charged with any agency in raising the money needed for the work, nevertheless express their clear conviction that it

would be better to pay higher interest, if necessary, for the amount required for the next year, than to incur the loss of interest, the claims of damages from contractors, and the unavoidable injury to the unfinished works, that would result from a suspension.

The Commissioners at the same time estimate the wants of the year 1840, at

$2,100,000. The high bridge was contracted for in August, 1839, at $737,755, conditioned that it should be completed in August, 1843. Meantime, it will have been perceived in the report of Mr. Jervis, that he suggested as a temporary expedient, the laying down pipes along the coffer dam in the river, through which the Croton water might be conducted to the New York shore. The Commissioners repeat this suggestion without expressing an opinion concerning it, but in referring to the rapid execution of the general work they say " there is hardly a doubt that the whole line from the Croton to the Harlem, will be finished, some years, before the expensive and difficult work over the latter river can be."

Much, however, and of very difficult and expensive construction, remained to be done on the island of New York. Independently of the stupendous works at the Harlem river, scarcely yet commenced, there were the expensive crossings at Manhattanville, and at the Clendening valley, besides the two reservoirs, on all of which, as yet, but little progress had been made. Indeed, so heavy and so costly was the work on the island, that it alone,