In compliance with the request of the Common Council the Legislature of the State, on the 26th of February, 1833, passed an Act,* providing for the appointment by the Governor and Senate, of five persons, as Water Commissioners, whose duty it was by said Act declared to be " to examine and consider all matters relative to supplying the city of New-York with a sufficient quantity of pure and wholesome water for the use of its inhabitants, and the amount of money necessary to effect that object." In pursuance of this law, the Governor and Senate appointed the Board of Water Commissioners, consisting of the following named gentlemen : -- Stephen Allen, William W. Fox, Saul Alley, Charles Dusenberry and Benjamin M. Brown. They were directed to make their report to the Legislature, by the second Monday of January, 1834, and to present a copy thereof to the Common Council of the City of New-York on or before the first day of November, 1833. The Commissioners proceeded in the discharge of their duties, employed as Engineers Canvas White, Esquire, and Major D. B. Douglass, of the United States Corps of En-

* This Act was drawn up by Myndert Van Schaick, Esq., and its character and

suitableness to obviate former difficulties were approved of by the Common Council,

and the situation of Mr. Van Schaick, as member of the Senate, no doubt promoted

its success.

gineers, and made all necessary examinations so as to determine, whether a sufficient quantity of pure and wholesome water could be obtained for present and future purposes, whether its introduction into the city would be practicable at an elevation precluding the use of machinery, and also what would be the probable cost of completing the projected work. Their report satisfied the Legislature that a supply of pure and wholesome water was of great importance to the city -- that its introduction was feasible,