But owing to the unskilful manner in which that work was designed and executed, nearly the whole day passed before the pipes could be sufficiently cleared of air, to allow the water to flow regularly into the lower part of the city.

The water has since continued to flow with a depth in the aqueduct of about two feet, and delivering into the receiving reservoir about 12,000,000 imperial gallons per day. No accident has occurred to interrupt its regular performance, and no failure or defect, or indication of either, has been observed in any part of the work after the most careful inspection.

In a tone of natural exultation, this report concludes with warm congratulations to the city, on the practical accomplishment of the great and costly work undertaken by it, and looking back to the small beginnings from which this magnificent undertaking sprang, thus recalls the past :

Your predecessors in office on the 16th of March, 1829, nailed up and discussed the report of a committee for abolishing the system of public cisterns, and laying down two lines of 12 inch iron pipes, one through Broadway and one through the Bowery and ;

placing a tank or reservoir in 13th street, on the pinnacle of a rock there situated. James Palmer was the chairman of the committee, and brought good practical sense as well as an honest reputation to the support of the measure. The plan was fully discussed was

CROTON AQ.UEDUCT. 197

pronounced by some to be visionary, and it was declared by a member then in the city councils, that water enough could not be procured to fill a tea-kettle, much less the tanks and pipes ! The reply to that argument was, " Give us the tank and pipes, and we !