Mayor and Gentlemen of the Common Council : In delivering over the Croton water, and the works on this island, I have been requested by your Committee to make such remarks as the occasion may suggest. Prom the earliest period of the history of our city, the attainment of pure and wholesome water has been a subject of the highest interest. The Tea Water Pump, situated near the corner of Pearl and Chatham streets, was, for a long period of time, the grand source of all drinkable water for the lower part of the city.

CROTON AQ.UEDUCT. 295

Mr. Stevens then gave a rapid sketch of the various schemes, propositions, and devices, for supplying the city all which having been presented more at large in the memoir, are omitted here. Mr. Stevens then continued

We of New York have therefore now got the great desideratum, an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water, to be sure at a great cost nine millions of dollars, exclusive of the main and distributing pipes throughout the city, (now laid to the extent of 130

miles,) exclusive of the interest accumulating on the cost, being in all twelve millions of dollars.

Well, what of that ! does it not belong to the system which Eternal Wisdom has inflicted on the world 1 that the greatest blessings can only be procured at the greatest cost and sacrifices ?

What is this water to do for us 1 It is to protect our city from the awful conflagrations to which it was subject. We now pay in premiums one million of dollars annually to insure about half the value of our buildings, goods, and chattels, for we are our own