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Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct

Tower, Fayette B. Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1843. 260 words

The inverted arch of brick, as well as the brick facing on the sides, is four inches thick, and the roofing arch of brick is eight inches thick. After the masonry is finished the excavation which was done to receive it, is filled up around it, and over the top of the roofing arch generally to the height of 3 to 4 feet, and in some instances of deep excavation, up to the natural surface. If the natural surface be not of sufficient height for the top of the earth covering, the earth is raised to the requisite height with proper width on the top and slopes on the sides for protection to the Aqueduct masonry. Plate II. is a section of the Aqueduct in open cutting in

rock.

After the rock has been excavated to the required depth and width, the bottom is levelled up with concrete to the proper height and form for the inverted arch of brick, which is laid in the manner before described for earth excavation. The side walls of stone and brick are bonded together by headers of brick entering the stone walls as shown in the drawing, and the walls of stone are built closely against the sides of the rock and forming a junction with it. On the exterior of the roofing arch a heavy spandrel of stone masonry (of the same character as the stone walls beneath it) is built, filling the space between the arch and the rock. After the masonry is finished, the rock cut above it is filled