Home / Tower, Fayette B. Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1843. / Passage

Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct

Tower, Fayette B. Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1843. 284 words

Some trainers have so much fear of hard or strange water, that they carry with them to the different courses the water that the animal has been accustomed to drink and what they know agrees with it."

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to increase that of another. There is, therefore, every probability that had not water been introduced into the city of New-York from abroad, the supply from the wells would, in a few years, have been insufficient for the economical, domestic and manufacturing purposes of the inhabitants. It is fearful to contemplate the amount of decomposing organic matter contained in the wells in the vicinity of Trinity, St.

Paul's, and St. John's burying grounds, which for more than a century furnished the only water used by those residing in their neighborhood. No one can doubt that the use of such water, as well as that from the wells on the Collect, and over the greater portion of the city below Canal-street, must have proved extremely detrimental to the health of the citizens, and especially to children, and infants. We believe, therefore that the introduction of the Croton water, will increase the average

duration of human life in the city of New-York, from 8 to 12 per cent. From 1815 to 1836, it ranged from 30.08 to 22.05, (in 1836), but the mean duration of life for the last 20 years is about 25 years ; and the ratio of mortality, according to population, about as 1 to 35. From the manner, however, in which the inspector's reports have been made, from the imperfection of the law, no great confidence can be placed in the returns, --those carried out of the city for burial, not having been included.