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REPORT 


COMMISSIONERS 


APPOINT£D    DNDBR   AN    OfiDBR    OF    THE    CITV    COUNCIL,   OF 


MARCH  16,  1837, 


TO    DEVISE    A   PLAN    FOR    SUPPLYING 


CITY  OF  BOSTON 


PURE    WAT  E 


BOSTON : 

JOHN  H.  EASTBURN,  CITY   PRINTER, 

No.  18  State  Street. 

1837. 


City  Council,  Mv.  23,  1837. 

The  Committee  on  the  introduction  of  Pure  Water  into  the 
City,  who  were  instructed  to  request  the  Commissioners  on  that 
subject  to  report  as  speedily  as  might  be,  have  the  pleasure  now 
to  present  the  report  of  those  Commissioners  to  the  City 
Council. 

Accompanying  the  report  is  a  statement  by  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  his  objections  to  the  plan  recommended  by  the 
majority. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

SAML.  A.  ELIOT,   Chairman. 


REPORT. 


The  Commissioners  appointed  to  examine  the  sources  from 
which  a  supply  of  pure  water  can  be  obtained,  and  the  best  means 
of  introducing  and  distributing  the  same  to  tiie  inhabitants  of  the 
City,  respectfully  present  to  the  City  Council,  through  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  on  Water,  a  detailed  Report  of  their  proceedings 
specifying  the  plan  which  they  deem  it  expedient  for  the  City  to 
adopt,  with  particular  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the  same. 


It  seemed  important  to  us  on  the  outset  of  our  inquiry,  to  de- 
termine the  quantity  of  water  required  for  a  full  supply  for  all 
purposes  to  which  it  can  be  usefully  applied. 

We  found  considerable  difficulty  in  forming  a  satisfactory  opin- 
ion upon  this  subject.  1st,  on  account  of  the  uncertainty  of  the 
data  for  computing  the  average  quantity  of  water  required  by 
each  family,  the  difference  in  the  habits  of  the  people  of  differ- 
ent cities,  not  admitting  of  any  general  rule  for  determining  the 
proper  measure  of  supply.  2d,  on  account  of  the  rapid  increase, 
though  at  unequal  rates,  in  the  population  of  Boston. 

We  believe  that  it  is  a  common  opinion  amongst  householders 
who  are  now  possessed  of  wells  and  cisterns  for  rain  water,  that 
80  gallons  of  water  a  day,  for  each  family,  are  sufficient  for  all 
domestic  uses.  On  turning  however  to  the  quantity  supplied  by 
waterworks  in  cities  where  such  works  are  established,  it  will  be 
found  that  a  larger  quantity  than  this  is  used  in  the  dwelh'ng 
houses.  Thus  the  eight  water  companies  of  London,  in  1833, 
supphed  36,790,000  imperial  gallons  to  196,492  tenants,  or  187 
gallons  to  each  tenant  daily. 

In  Philadelphia,  the  average  daily  supply  in  1836,  was  3,122,- 
664  beer  gallons  to  19,678  tenants,  or  160  gallons  to  each  tenant, 
Of  these,  13,632  tenants  reside  in   the  city,  and  the  remaining 


4 

6,046,  in  the  incorporated  districts  adjoining  the  city.  The 
above  supply  in  both  London  and  Philadelphia,  includes  all  the 
water  used  for  watering  the  streets,  extinguishing  fires,  and  all 
other  purposes,  those  taking  the  water  f6r  manufactories,  brew- 
eries, baths,  and  stables,  being  included  under  the  general  name 
of  tenants.  Still  however,  as  the  greater  proportion  of  the  ten- 
ants are  formed  of  families,  it  seems  evident  that  much  more  than 
80  gallons  are  used  by  each  family. 

The  popylation  of  London  in  1831,  was  1,521,436,  probably 
in  1833,  it  was  1,550,000.  The  supply  of  water  then  was  23^ 
imperial  gallons,  equal  to  27|  wine  gallons  to  an  inhabitant.  The 
population  of  London  depends  almost  exclusively  upon  the  water 
companies  for  a  supply,  and  this  supply  is  generally  considered 
as  sufficient  in  amount. 

If  therefore  we  take  for  the  supply  of  Boston,  a  quantity  pro- 
portionate to  that  of  London,  according  to  its  inhabitants,  it 
would  seem  that  we  shall  not  fall  below  the  requisite  quantity. 
This  will  give  Boston,  containing  about  80,000  inhabitants, 
2,220,000  wine  gallons  daily,  on  its  present  population,  provided 
that  the  water  were  at  once  taken  as  generally  as  it  is  taken  in 
London. 

In  Philadelphia,  the  supply  in  1836  was,  for  the  city  alone, 
13,632  tenants,  160  beer  gallons,  equal  to  194  wine  gallons 
each  ;  2,644,608  wine  gallons.  The  population  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  was  in  180,380,462.  In  1836,  it  was  probably 
93,000.  The  supply  therefore  was  28|  wine  gallons  to  each  in- 
habitant. This  exceeds  in  a  very  small  degree,  the  average 
quantity  furnished  in  London,  and  we  have  adopted  it  as  the  basis 
on  which  our  calculations  for  the  supply  of  Boston  are  founded. 

The  population  of  this  city,  now  80,000,  has  doubled  within 
the  last  twenty  years,  and  has  nearly  twice  doubled  within  forty 
years.  Within  the  last  seven  years,  the  increase  has  been  even 
more  rapid  than  at  any  preceding  period  of  the  same  duration. 
There  is  no  particular  reason  to  anticipate  a  material  check  of 
this  increase  for  a  long  time  to  come.  It  will  therefore  be  ex- 
pedient to  adopt  a  system  of  works  for  a  supply  of  water  to  the 
city,  which  shall  be  adapted  to  the  prospective  demand,  which 
will  arise  from  an  increase  of  population  ;  either  by  the  establish- 
ment of  works  commensurate  with  such  supply,  or  by  adopting  a 


plan  of  supply  which  shall  admit  of  future  enlargement.  We 
may  fairly  anticipate  that  in  five  years  from  the  present  time,  the 
population  requiring  a  supply  of  water  will  be  87,000.  This  at 
28|  gallons  each,  will  require  2,500,000  gallons  daily,  and  at  the 
end  often  years,  the  population  being  taken  at  105,000,  will  re- 
quire 3,000,000  gallons  daily. 

With  these  views  of  the  increase  of  the  city,  we  have  thought 
it  necessary  to  provide,  in  our  designs  for  works,  for  an  immedi- 
ate supply  of  1,600,000  gallons  daily,  to  be  extended  in  five 
years,  to  2,500,000,  and  at  the  end  of  ten  years,  to  3,000,000 
gallons  daily. 

Before  entering  upon  an  examination  of  external  sources,  from 
which  this  supply  of  water  may  be  obtained,  it  might  be  expect- 
ed that  we  should  have  instituted  an  inquiry  into  the  practicability 
of  obtaining  it  by  any  form  of  well  within  the  city.  An  opinion 
prevails,  it  is  believed  somewhat  extensively,  that  a  full  supply 
of  water  may  be  obtained  from  wells,  commonly. called  Artesian 
Wells,  formed  by  boring  to  a  great  depth.  Within  the  last  ten 
years,  a  large  number  of  these  wells  have  been  formed  in  many 
places,  some  of  them  yielding  water  of  greater  purity  than  the 
common  shallow  wells,  but  in  no  instance  in  which  an  analysis  has 
been  made,  to  our  knowledge,  equalling  the  most  impure  of  the 
pond  or  river  waters,  from  which  it  has  ever  been  proposed  to 
supply  the  city.  It  does  not  appear  important  to  us  to  enter  up- 
on the  question  of  the  possibihty  of  obtaining  2,000,000  gallons 
of  water  daily,  from  any  number  of  wells  of  this  kind,  because  if 
it  could  be  so  obtained,  even  from  as  small  a  number  as  twenty 
of  these  wells,  the  difficulty  and  cost  of  raising  and  distributing  it 
to  the  inhabitants,  must  be  much  greater  than  that  which  will  be 
incurred,  by  bringing  purer  water  from  any  of  the  neighboring 
ponds  or  rivers,  and  distributing  it  by  the  same  means  to  the  citi- 
zens. We  do  not  intend  by  this  to  give  any  opinion  unfavorable 
to  Artesian  Wells,  as  useful  works  for  obtaining  small  supplies  of 
water,  to  be  used  in  the  vicinity  of  the  well,  especially  in  dis- 
tricts not  much  elevated  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  while  such 
districts  continue  unsupplied  by  an  aqueduct  or  other  waterworks. 
Beyond  this,  we  think  they  offer  nothing  worthy  the  attention  of 
the  city  government  or  the  inhabitants. 

Such  being   our  deliberate  conviction  of  the  insufficiency  of 


6 


any  means  of  obtaining  a  supply  from  any  source  within  the  city, 
we  proceeded  to  an  examination  of  the  rivers  and  ponds  in  the 
vicinity. 

These  are  as  follows  : 


Names  of  Pond  a  and 

Situated  in 

Acres  in 

Feet  above  high 

Miles  from  State 

Rivers. 

Area. 

water. 

House. 

Spot, 

Stoneham, 

283 

143,01 

8 

Reading, 

South  Reading, 

276 

about  50 

12 

Horn  and  Wedge, 

Woburn, 

123 

10 

Mystic, 

Medford, 

228 

7 

Spy  and  Little, 

West  Cambridge, 

140 

6 

Fresh, 

Cambridge, 

180 

5 

Waltham, 

Waltham, 

52 

189,67 

11 

Sandy, 

Lincoln, 

152 

219,95 

15 

Morse's, 

Needham, 

20 

109 

15 

Buliard's, 

Do. 

35 

101,64 

15 

Long, 

Natick, 

600 

123,52 

18 

Farm, 

Framingham, 

193 

144,98 

21 

Shakum, 

Do. 

89 

150,62 

22 

Farm, 

Sherburne, 

160 

• 

19 

Baptist, 

Newton, 

33 

138,99 

9 

Punkapaug, 

Canton, 

217 

144,77 

13 

Massapaug, 

Sharon, 

22 

Great  Pond, 

Weymouth, 

20 

Charles  River, 

Neponset  do. 

Of  the  above,  Spy  Pond,  Waltham  Pond,  Sandy  Pond, 
Morse's  Pond,  Buliard's  Pond,  Farm  Pond,  in  Framingham, 
Shakum  Pond,  Farm  Pond,  in  Sherburne,  and  Baptist  Pond, 
were  at  once  perceived  to  be  singly,  insufficient  for  a  supply, 
while  Massapaug  Pond  is  too  distant,  compared  with  other  sour- 
ces, to  be  rendered  available.  We  likewise  rejected  Reading 
Pond  on  account  of  its  distance,  combined  with  want  of  elevation, 
and  Weymouth  Great  Pond,  on  account  of  its  distance  and  the 
dark  color  of  its  water.  Our  subsequent  examination  was  there- 
fore confined  to  Spot  Pond,  Long  Pond,  Punkapaug  Pond, 
Mystic  Pond,  which  receives  the  waters  of  Horn,  Wedge  and 
Winter  Ponds,  Fresh  Pond,  Neponset  River  and  Charles  River. 
Of  these,  the  three  first,  are  so  elevated  that  their  waters  may  be 
brought  directly  to  Boston,  through  proper  artificial  channels, 
without  any  expenditure  for  the  erection  and  maintenance  of 
pumps  and  other  machinery,  while  the  four  last  can  only  be  made 
to  yield  a  supply  to  the  highest  parts  of  the  city,  by  the  applica- 


tioa  of  exti'aneous  power,  capable  of  elevating  such  supply,  at 
least  100  feet.  On  arranging  the  sources  into  these  two  classes, 
we  were  enabled,  on  comparing  those  of  the  second  class,  one 
with  another,  to  reject  Fresh  Pond,  as  having  no  superiority 
over  Mystic  Pond,  except  in  distance,  which  is  much  more  than 
compensated  by  the  supply  from  Mystic  Pond  greatly  exceeding 
that  of  Fresh  Pond,  it  being  sufficient  for  any  prospective  in- 
crease of  the  city. 

Considering  it  highly  important  that  the  purity  of  any  source 
recommended  should  be  placed  beyond  a  question,  we  procured 
analyses  of  all  those  not  rejected,  for  reasons  heretofore  given, 
except  Mystic  Pond,  from  Mr.  Hays,  of  the  Chemical  works  in 
Roxbury. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  foreign  matters  contained  in 
these  waters  according  to  this  analysis.  The  6th,  7th,  and  Sth 
columns  show  the  result  of  the  analysis  of  Dr.  Charles  T.  Jack- 
son, of  several  of  the  same  waters,  and  likewise  that  of  Mystic 
Pond. 


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*Dr.  Jackson  says  in  a  second  trial,  "  Tiie  water  contains  a  trace  of  sulphate  of  lime,  but  I  am 
not  decided  whether  the  oxide  of  iron  exists  in  the  state  of  carbonate,  or  in  combination  with  the 
organic  matter.  It  will  require  that  a  very  large  quantity  of  water  should  be  operated  upon  to  set- 
tle this  question." 

t  Another  specimen  taken  from  outlet  of  Lake,  was  examined  which  was  free  from  color,  floeculi, 
and  animalculi.    Speeifio  gravity  same  as  above,  but  yields  somewhat  less  vegetable  matter. 


9 

Although  there  is  some  want  of  agreement  between  the  twa 
analyses,  owing  probably  to   the   different   seasons  in   which  the 
specimens   were   taken,  they  both   show   that   all   these   waters, 
except  those  from   the    Artesian    Wells,   are   very   nearly  pure. 
Chemical  analysis,    however,   is  not  yet  sufficiently   perfect   to 
determine   several  important  qualities  of  the   foreign   substances 
found  in  water.      Thus  the  color   and   taste  which  these  substan- 
ces give  to  water,  are  in  a  great  degree  beyond  the  reach  of  anal- 
ysis as  now  practised,  and  can  only  be  determined  ]ij  the  senses, 
and  yet  these   properties   are  more  important  in  the  character  of 
water  than  the   presence   of  a  little   oxygen  or   inert  earthy  mat- 
ter.     To   form  an  opinion   of  the   relative   clearness   and  trans- 
parency of  the  different  waters,  we  have  compared  them  repeat- 
edly with  each   other,  and   with  numerous   specimens  obtained 
from  distant  places,  in   well  arranged  lights,  and  we  have  found 
them  to  stand  in  the  following  order,  in  their  freedom  from  colory 
the  most  transparent  being  placed  at  the  head  of  the  list. 
Spot  Pond. 
Long  Pond. 
Punkapaug  Pond. 
Mystic  Pond. 
Charles  River. 
Neponset  River. 

In  taste  they  present  no  marked  differences,  all  being  nearly 
insipid. 

There  is  apparently  no  route  by  which  the  water  of  Punka- 
paug Pond,  can  be  brought  directly  to  Bostosp,  by  a  structure 
which  shall  be  less  expensive  than  will  be  required  to  bring  the 
supply  from  Long  Pond,  while  the  water  of  the  latter  is  more 
abundant  in  quantity  and  of  better  quality  in  color  and  taste. 
We  therefore  rejected  Punkapaug  Pond  from  further  examina- 
tion, considering  Long  Pond  as  a  more  favorable  source. 

Furthermore,  on  a  comparison  of  the  water  oi^  the  Neponset 
with  the  Charles,  as  the  former  river  presented  no  peculiarity  in 
distance,  height  or  chemical  purity,  commanding  a  preference  to 
the  latter,  and  as  the  water  of  the  Charles  appeared  more  clear 
and  colorless  than  that  of  the  Neponset,  we  determined  that  it 
ought  to  be  preferred,  and  consequently  abandoned  all  further  ex- 
amination of  the  Neponset  as  a  source  of  supply. 


10 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  statement  that  we  have  thus,  by 
rejecting  several  of  the  sources  first  enumerated  from  our  inquiry, 
narrowed  the  necessary  examination  to  the  following. 

Spot  Pond,  Long  Pond,  Mystic  Pond,  and  Charles  River, 
the  two  first  being  preferable  to  all  others  which  we  have  placed 
in  the  class  not  requiring  elevation  by  artificial  means,  and  the 
two  last  as  preferable  to  all  others  if  such  means  are  to  be  resort- 
ed to. 

To  decide  the  question  of  preference  between  these  four 
sources,  requires  a  more  particular  description  of  each.  Spot 
Pond  in  Stoneham,  8  miles  from  Boston,  contains  283  acres,  as 
appears  from  a  survey  made  by  J.  Sargent  for  Messrs.  G.  &  T. 
Odiorne,  who  are  the  owners  of  the  outlet  of  the  pond.  This 
quantity,  however,  includes  a  large  tract  of  low  meadow  which  is 
covered  by  water  only  when  the  pond  is  nearly  full.  The  water 
of  this  pond  is  less  colored  than  any  water  in  the  vicinity  of  Bos- 
ton, except  Jamaica  Pond,  and  Baptist  Pond,  and  it  is  of  great 
chemical  purity.  The  water  therefore  is  unexceptionable.  The 
surface  of  the  water  in  this  pond  when  level  with  the  waste- 
way  or  wier,  is  143.01  feet  above  tide  water,  while  its  distance 
is  but  10  7-10  miles  on  the  shortest  route  by  which  it  would 
be  advisable  to  lay  a  pipe.  With  the  exception  of  a  short  ridge 
near  the  pond  all  high  land  may  be  avoided  between  Boston  and 
the  pond,  and  an  iron  pipe  laid  between  these  two  points  without 
the  cost  of  deep  cutting.  By  this  means  the  water  of  Spot  Pond 
may  be  brought  to  Boston  and  delivered  at  the  summit  of  Beacon 
Hill  by  a  permanent  work  with  the  utmost  certainty.  These  ad- 
vantages over  all  other  waters  wculd  have  decided  us  in  favor  of 
this  pond  as  a  source  of  supply,  were  the  quantity  of  water  which 
is  coUeced  in  it  yearly,  sufficient,  not  only  for  the  immediate 
wants  of  the  citizens,  but  for  such  an  increase  as  will  certainly  be 
demanded  in  u  few  years  by  .the  increase  of  the  population. 

Various  estimates  have  been  made  of  the  quantity  of  water 
which  may  be  drawn  from  this  pond  yearly,  but  none  of  them  ap- 
pear to  have  been  founded  upon  such  well  ascertained  data  as 
entitle  them  to  confidence.  Perceiving  at  the  commencement  of 
our  examination  the  importance  of  determining  this  question  ac- 
curately and  definitely,  we  constructed  and  placed  upon  the  out- 
let of  the  pond  an  apparatus  capable  of  measAiring  the  discharge 


n 

with  all  the  exactness  that  can  be  desired.  Observations  have 
been  made  with  this  apparatus,  three  times  a  day  from  May  4th 
to  October  2d  and  once  a  day  since  that  time,  These,  with  ob- 
servations made  upon  the  height  of  the  pond  above  the  wier  or 
wasteway,  from  the  31st  of  March  to  the  4th  of  May,  from  which 
we  have  by  our  subsequent  observations  estimated  the  discbarge 
during  that  time,  have  enabled  us  to  form  an  accurate  account  of  > 
the  discharge  from  the  31st  of  March  to  the  3d  of  November. 
During  this  time,  217  days,  the  discharge  has  been  4  ^  cubic 
feet  per  second,  and  the  pond  has  subsided  in  the  same  time  56 
inches,  or  its  surface  on  the  3d  of  November,  was  56  inches  be- 
low the  point  at  which  it  stood  on  the  31st  of  March.  We  la- 
ment exceedingly  that  the  necessity  of  completing  this  report 
prevents  us  from  obtaining,  for  our  guide,  in  forming  an  opinion 
of  the  discharge  of  this  pond,  the  observations  of  a  full  year.  In 
the  absence  of  this  guide  however  we  have  endeavored  to  form 
an  estimate,  from  the  facts  already  before  us,  of  the  amount  at 
which  the  yearly  discharge  may  be  fairly  taken.  A  full  account 
of  our  observations  and  mode  of  estimating  the  supply  of  Spot 
Pond  is  herewith  transmitted  in  a  separate  form  (marked  A). 
By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  we  are  of  opinion  that  Spot  Pond 
may  be  relied  upon  to  furnish  an  average  of  2,100,000  gallons  a 
day, — that  the  discharge  may  be  taken  as  never  falling  below 
1,600,000  gallons, — and  may  never  be  expected  to  exceed 
2,600,000  gallons  a  day. 

With  these  results  we  cannot  therefore  recommend  to  the  City 
Council  to  erect  works  for  the  supply  of  the  city  depending  en- 
tirely, for  the  future  as  well  as  the  present,  upon  Spot  Pond  as 
a  source.  We  shall  hereafter  show  however,  that  by  combining 
with  the  pipe  from  this  pond,  steam  engines  and  pumps,  taking  a 
supply  from  Mystic  Pond,  an  abundance  of  water  not  only  for 
the  present  but  for  an  extended  period  in  the  future  naay  be  ob- 
tained. 

Passing  from  this  for  the  present,  we  proceed  to  an  account 
of  our  examination  of  Long  Pond. 

Long  Pond  is  three  or  four  miles  in  length,  and  is  about  a  mile 
easterly  from  Sudbury  or  Concord  River,  into  which  its  waters 
are  discharged  just  below  the  mills  at  Saxonville.  The  distance 
of  this  Pond  from  Boston,  by  the  line  which  we  have  had  sur- 


12 

veyed  for  an  aqueduct,  is  20  miles  1043  feet.  It  is  123.52  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea  at  full  tide.  The  water  of  this  pond  is 
nearly  as  colorless  as  that  of  Spot  Pond,  and  although  the  chemi- 
cal analysis  show  it  to  be  more  impure  than  Spot  Pond,  we 
think  its  impurity,  is  not  so  great  as  to  render  it  in  any  consider- 
able degree  objectionable. 

If  this  pond  be  taken  as  a  source  of  supply,  it  will  be  necessa- 
ry to  increase  the  height  of  the  dam  at  its  outlet,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reserving  the  greater  part  of  the  water  which  would  other- 
wise be  discharged  during  the  winter  and  spring,  and  by  this 
means  securing  a  supply,  to  be  drawn  during  the  summer  and 
autumn.  We  have  not  kept  an  account  of  the  flow  from  this 
pond  with  the  care  and  accuracy  that  the  account  of  Spot  Pond 
has  been  kept,  because  we  have  never  entertained  the  same 
doubt  of  its  sufficiency  for  a  supply.  An  apparatus  was  placed 
upon  the  outlet  however,  on  the  24ih  day  of  July  last  and  ob- 
servations have  since  been  made  daily.  Before  that  time,  to  the 
17th  of  April,  such  measures  and  guages  were  taken  as  have 
enabled  us  to  estimate  the  discharge  from  the  last  named  period 
to  the  1st  of  the  present  November.  A  full  account  of  these 
observations  and  of  the  calculations  founded  upon  them  is  here- 
with transmitted,  (marked  B).  From  these  we  conclude,  that 
by  raising  the  dam  at  the  outlet  of  Long  Pond  and  reserving 
the  water  collected  in  it  during  the  winter  and  spring,  a  discharge 
may  be  obtained  from  it  of  13|  cubic  feet  per  second  or  8,743,- 
680  galloMs  a  day  through  the  year. 

Mystic  Pond  situated  in  Medford,  is  7  miles  from  Boston  by 
way  of  Medford  turnpike  and  9  miles  from  the  same  place,  by  a 
line  over  the  Mill-dam  and  through  Cambridge,  by  which  a  pipe 
may  be  laid  for  conveying  its  water  to  a  reservoir  on  Beacon 
Hill.  This  pond  contains  228  acres,  and  its  surface  is  nearly 
on  a  level  with  the  sea  at  high  water  in  ordinary  tides.  The  wa- 
ter of  this  pond  is  somewhat  less  transparent  and  more  colored 
than  those  of  Spot  or  Long  Ponds,  while  the  chemical  analysis 
shOiVys  it  to  contain  but  a  very  minute  portion  of  foreign  matter, 
h^ing  more  pure  than  Long  Pond,  and  less  pure  than  Spot  Pond. 
It  may  be  taken  therefore  as  of  sufficiently  good  quality  for  alj 
the  purposes  of  life.  As  the  Mystic  receives  all  the  water  col- 
lected in   an  extensive  basin,  comprising  within  its  limits  Horn 


13 

Pond  and  several  smaller  ponds  with  various  brooks  and  water 
courses,  die  quantity  of  water  which  flows  from  it,  is  not  in  any 
degree  indicated  by  the  size  of  the  pond.  We  have  examined 
the  outlet  at  various  times  during  the  summer  and  have  found  the 
flow  from  it  constant  and  abundant  when  not  interrupted  by  the 
rise  of  Mystic  River,  which  at  spring  tides  flows  back  into  the 
pond.  This  would  require  to  be  cut  off  by  a  dam  thrown  across 
the  outlet  of  the  pond.  Were  means  adopted  for  saving  the  wa- 
ter which  flows  into  the  Mystic,  we  have  reason  to  believe  that 
a  sufficient  supply  for  the  present  century  may  be  obtained  from 
it.  The  only  practicable  means  by  which  water  from  this  pond 
can  be  brought  to  Boston,  is  by  forcing  it  through  an  iron  pipe 
by  pumps  driven  by  the  steam  engine. 

The  last  source  to  which  we  proposed  calling  your  attention 
is  Charles  River,  taken  above  the  lower  dam  in  Watertowti. 
We  have  found  the  water  of  this  river  more  colored  than  that  of 
Spot  Pond,  Long  Pond,  or  Mystic  Pond.  The  chemical  analy- 
sis however  shows  it  to  be  a  very  pure  water.  Notwith?tanding 
this  we  consider  the  pretence  of  coloring  matter  as  a  serious, 
though  not  an  insuperable  objection.  The  opinion  has  been  of- 
ten expressed  that  the  Charles  is  rendered  very  impure  by  filth 
from  the  various  mills  upon  its  course.  The  amount  of  this,  is 
exceedingly  minute  when  diffused  through  the  river,  and  the  same" 
objection  may  be  made,  though  in  a  less  degree,  to  all  ponds  the 
borders  of  which  are  inhabited,  or  which  are  frequented  by  cat- 
tle. We  are  of  opinion  therefore,  that  this  ought  not  to  be  taken 
as  seriously  affecting  the  quality  of  the  v;ater  of  Charles  River. 
For  the  quantity  of  water  furnished  by  this  river  it  may  be  con- 
sidered as  abundant  for  the  supply  of  the  city,  for  more  than  the 
present  century,  as  it  seems  to  be  well  ascertained  that  the  flow 
by  the  Waltham  Mills,  is  equal  to  40  cubic  feet  a  second  con- 
stantly, in  the  dryest  seasons.  To  obtain  a  supply  from  this 
source,  the  water,  like  that  of  Mystic  Pond,  must  be  elevated  by 
pumping.  As  the  flow  of  this  river  however,  is  at  all  times  be- 
yond the  quantity  required  for  the  present  wants  of  the  city, 
and  during  a  considerable  part  of  the  year  greatly  beyond 
that  quantity,  the  question  arises  whether  this  surplus  water 
may  not  be  used  at  the  falls  in  Watertown,  as  a  power  to  elevate 
the  supply  required  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  city.     An  estimate 


14 

of  the  cost  for  furnishing  a  supply  in  this  way,  using  steam  only 
so  far  as  shall  be  required  in  the  driest  season  and  likewise  an 
estimate  of  the  cost  of  obtaining  a  supply  by  means  of  steam 
power  alone,  will  be  found  with  the  papers  herewith  transmitted 
(marked  C). 

By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  there  is  no  essential  difference  in 
the  cost  of  the  two  methods,  and  considering  the  greater  ex- 
tension of  the  works  by  the  former  mode,  and  the  consequent 
perplexity  to  the  city  government  in  their  supervision,  we  are  of 
poinion  that  a  preference  ought  to  be  given  to  works  depending 
upon  steam  power  alone.  Still  however,  should  the  City  Coun- 
cil determine  to  obtain  a  supplyfrom  Charles  River,  this  would 
be  a  proper  subject  for  a  more  exact  scrutiny. 

With  this  general  outline  of  the  sources  from  which  a  supply 
of  water  may  be  obtained  we  proceed  to  lay  before  you  four 
distinct  plans,  with  estimates  in  sufficient  detail,  of  each  plan,  to 
enable  you  to  decide  which  it  will  be  expedient  to  adopt. 

1st,  a  plan  for  pumping  a  supply  by  Steam  power  from  Charles 
River  to  a  reservoir  to  be  formed  on  Corey's  Hill  in  Brook- 
line,  117  feet  above  tide  water,  from  which  it  may  be  brought  in 
an  iron  pipe  to  Boston. 

2d,  a  plan  for  pumping  a  supply  from  Mystic  Pond  by  Steam 
power  to  a  reservoir  to  be  formed  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  near  the 
Royall  farm  in  Medford,  at  an  elevation  of  126  feet  above  tide 
water,  from  which  it  may  be  brought  through  Cambridge  to 
Boston. 

3d,  a  plan  for  bringing  the  water  of  Spot  Pond  to  the  reser- 
voir before  named  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  and  combining  with 
this,  a  plan  for  pumping,  by  steam  power,  to  the  same  reservoir, 
from  Mystic  Pond,  such  quantity  as  shall  be  required  to  render 
the  supply  sufficient  by  these  means  whenever  Spot  Pond  shall 
fail  to  yield  a  sufficiency  ;  the  whole  to  be  brought  in  an  iron 
pipe  through  Cambridge  to  Boston. 

4th,  a  plan  for  bringing  a  full  supply  from  Long  Pond  by  a 
close  covered  conduit,  formed  of  stone  or  brick,  and  terminating 
at  the  before  named  reservoir  to  be  formed  on  Corey's  Hill,  from 
thence  to  be  brought  to  the  city  by  an  iron  pipe. 

We  wish  to  observe  with  regard  to  these  several  plans  and 
estimates,  that  the  time  devoted  to  making  the  examinations  of 


15 

the  route  to  Long  Pond,  together  with  the  estimates  for  this,  and 
for  the  distribution  of  the  water  in  Boston,  has  prevented  our 
giving  that  attention  to  the  estimates  on  the  three  first  plans 
which  we  could  have  desired,  before  presenting  them  to  the  city 
government.  We  believe,  however  that  they  are  all  sufficiently 
near  the   truth,  to   guide   the   city  government   in  their  choice. 

We  proceed  to  describe  these  several  plans  in  such  details  as 
is  necessary,  to  have  them  well  understood,  and  to  give  general 
abstracts  of  the  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the  works  required  to 
carry  either  of  the  plans  into  operation. 

1st.  To  obtain  a  supply  of  water  from  Charles  River  by 
pumping  with  steam  power,  it  will  be  necessary  to  purcliase  the 
dam  and  water-rights  of  the  lower  falls  in  Walertown,  near  which 
place  the  steam  engines  and  pumps  should  be  erected.  From 
this  point  the  water  should  be  taken  from  the  river  into  the 
pumps  and  forced  through  an  iron  pipe  of  21  inches  diameter,  to  a 
reservoir,  to  be  formed  on  the  side  of  Corey's  Hill  in  Brookline 
near  the  Brighton  hne,  at  an  elevation  of  117  feet  above  tide 
water,  the  dis,tance  from  the  falls  to  the  reservoir  being  16.910 
feet  or  3|  miles.  The  reservoir  has  been  calculated  to  contain 
5,000,000  gallons,  being  sufficient  to  supply  the  city  for  two 
days.  By  the  use  of  this  reservoir,  the  city  will  be  secured  in  a 
supply  during  any  unforeseen  interruption  of  the  works  for  two 
days.  The  water  will  likewise  be  kept  running  into  the  city 
during  any  short  stoppage  of  an  engine,  required  for  oiling  or 
adjusting  any  part.  By  this  means  a  pipe  of  less  diameter,  and 
consequently  of  less  cost,  will  be  required  than  would  be  neces- 
sary were  no  reservoir  used.  From  the  reservoir  on  Corey's 
Hill,  our  estimates  provide  for  an  iron  pipe  of  21^  inches  in; 
diameter  extending  across  the  Mill-dam  to  a  reservoir  proposed 
to  be  formed  upon  the  Bowdoin  estate  on  Beacon  Hill,  the  dis- 
tance being  20,485  feet  or  3.88  miles.  The  calculated  discharge 
from  this  pipe*  at  the  reservoir  on  Beacon   Hill  will  be  about  4 


*  In  all  our  calculations  concerning  the  discharges  of  pipes,  we  have  used  the 
simple  formula  of  Prony,  V  =48.5254  v/  D  jjr  V,  being  the  velocity  of  the  dis- 
charge a  second  in  feet,  D,  the  diameter  of  the  pipe  in  feet,  L,  the  length  of  pipe 
in  feet,  and  H,  the  height  of  the  source  at  which  the  water  is  taken,  above  the 
point  of  discharge. 


16 

cubic  feet  a  second,  or  at  the  rate  of  2,592,000  gallons  a  day, 
and  whenever  the  discharge  shall  be  taken  upon  the  reservoir  on 
Fort  Hill,  as  hereafter  described,  it  will  be  at  the  rate  of  about 
8  cubic  feet  in  a  second,  or  5,134,000  gallons  a  day,  and  should 
the  vi^hole  water  be  drawn  from  the  main  at  the  pavement  in  the 
market,  the  discharge,  will  be  about  9  feet  a  second,  or  5,832,- 
000  gallons  a  day. 

The  cost  of  these  several  works  including  the  purchase  of  wa- 
ter-rights, and  all  damages  for  land,  but  not  including  the  reser- 
voir on  Beacon  Hill,  are  given  in  a  detailed  estimate,  herewith 
transmitted  (marked  D). 

By  this  it  will  appear  that  the 

Cost  of  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill  together  with  land  for  the 
same,  and  land  over  which  the  pipe  shall  pass  will  be  ^22,954 
Damage  to  water-rights  at  Charles  River,        -         -  15,000 

Pipe  from  Walertown  to  Cory's  Hill  reservoir,       -        145,806 
Two  steam  engine  and  pumps  complete,  each  engine 
capable  of  delivering   2,500,000  gallons  of  water 
in   20   hours   to  the   reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill — 

$35,000  each, 70,000 

Engine  and  pump  houses  for  both  engines,       -         -  20,000 

Main  pipe  from  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill  to  reser- 
voir on  Beacon  Hill  2l|  inches  diameter,  -        189,279^ 
Sundry  works  not  here  enumerated,       -         -         -  2,000 


Whole  cost  of  the  works,      -         -         -         -     |465,039' 

Besides  the  above  there  will  be  required  a  constant  expendi- 
ture for  keeping  the  engines  in  operation.  We  have  had  no 
small  difficulty  in  satisfying  ourselves  as  to  the  expense  of  pump- 
ing by  steam  power.  A  great  portion  of  the  cost  of  pumping 
water  by  this  means  is  in  the  consumption  of  fuel,  commonly 
coal.  We  therefore  thought  it  highly  important  to  ascertain, 
with  as  much  accuracy  as  possible,  the  quantity  of  coal  required 
to  be  used,  in  raising  a  given  quantity  of  water  through  a  given 
height.  As  there  is  not,  to  our  knowledge,  a  single  engine  ap- 
plied to  pumping  in  this  country,  in  which  the  fuel  used  produces 
effects  equal  to  those  produced  in  England,  we  resorted  to  the 
accounts  of  the  performance  of  the  English  engines  to  guide  us 


17 

in  this  inquiry.  In  computing  the  etFect  produced  by  any  quan- 
tity of  coal  in  pumping  water,  it  is  usual  to  reduce  the  measures, 
so  as  to  express  the  quantity  of  water,  in  pounds  raised  through 
one  foot,  by  the  consumption  of  one  bushel  of  coal,  and  this  is 
called  the  duty  of  the  engine. 

Since  the  year  1811  an  accurate  account  has  been  kept  of  the 
Performance  of  the  engines  used  at  the  mines  in  Cornwall,  and 
these  accounts,  specifying  the  performance  of  each  engine,  have 
been  published  monthly  under  the  name  of  Reports  since  1815. 
From  these  it  appears  that,  by  a  gradual  improvement  in  the  con- 
struction and  management  of  the  engines,  the  duty  was  increased, 
taking  the  average  of  the  Cornish  engines,  between  the  years 
IS  11  and  1835,  from  13,500,000  to  50,561,042  pounds.  These 
reports  show  a  very  great  difference  between  the  performance  of 
different  engines.  Thus  the  report  for  April  1835,  giving  as 
above  stated,  50,561,042  lbs.  as  the  average  duty  of  53  engines, 
shows  one  performance  as  high  as  91,959,596,  and  several  above 
70,000,000,  while  one  is  as  low  as  22,985,113.  There  have 
been  instances  of  performances  exceeding  100,000,000  pounds 
raised  1  foot  by  1  bushel  of  coal.  The  excess  in  the  perform- 
ance of  these  engines  over  those  used  for  pumping  water  in  Lon- 
don, which  are  of  a  different  construction,  and  which  do  not 
raise  upon  an  average  30,000,000  pounds  1  foot  high  with 
1  bushel  of  coals,  has  led  many  engineers  to  doubt  the  accuracy 
of  the  reports.  No  error  however  has  ever  to  our  knowledge, 
been  detected,  although  constantly  subject  to  a  severe  scrutiny, 
and  it  seems  to  us,  considering  the  mode  in  which  the  measures 
are  taken,  the  way  in  which  the  registers  are  made,  and  more- 
over, that  the  amount  paid  for  the  coals  used,  is  ascertained  from 
the  data  of  the  reports,  that  they  are  worthy  of  entire  confidence. 

In  our  estimate  of  the  cost  of  coals  for  pumping  therefore, 
we  have  taken  these  reports  as  our  guide.  We  have  taken  a 
duty  somewhat  above  that  of  the  present  mean  of  the  Cornish 
engines,  because  many  of  the  old  engines  are  not  of  the  best  con- 
struction. At  the  same  time,  we  have  not  supposed  we  shall  be 
able  to.  equal  their  highest  performances.  But  as  we  have  found 
in  the  reports  a  small  pngine,  30  inch  cylinder,  and  said  to  be 
"  not  of  modern  construction,"  which  during  the  three  months  of 
March,   April,    and    May,    1835,  raised  64,148,640  lbs.  1  foot 


18 

high,  by  every  bushel  of  coal  consumed,  we  have  thought  that 
we  might  safely  rely  on  raising  60,000,000  1  foot  by  the  same 
quantity  of  fuel. 

A  particular  estimate  of  the  cost  of  pumping,  founded  upon 
the  above  measure,  will  be  found  in  the  annexed  papers,  (mark- 
ed E). 

By  this  it  appears  that  the  annual  cost  for  pumping  will  be 
$11,808.  This,  taking  the  interest  of  money  at  5  per  cent, 
is  equal  to  a  present  outlay  of  $236,160. 

We  may  therefore  take  the  cost  of  constructing  the  works  ne- 
cessary for  delivering  a  full  supply  of  water  from  Charles  River, 
to  a  reservoir  on  Beacon  Hill,  together  with  the  annual  cost  of 
maintaining  those  works  and  keeping  them  in  constant  operation, 
as  equal  to  a  present  outlay  of  $701,199  ;  add  for  contingencies 
10  per  cent.  70,119,  makes  $771,318. 

To  obtain  a  supply  by  the  second  plan  proposed,  namely,  by 
pumping  from  Mystic  Pond,  it  will  be  required  to  obtain  a  right 
to  erect  a  dam  near  Wear  Bridge,  to  prevent  the  flowing  of  the 
tide  water  at  Spring  tides  into  the  pond.  Near  this  place  the 
steam  engines  and  pumps  should  be  erected,  which  shall  draw 
the  requisite  quantity  of  water  from  the  pond  and  force  it  through 
an  iron  pipe  to  the  reservoir,  to  be  formed  on  the  top  of  Walnut 
tree  Hill,  at  an  elevation  of  126  feet  above  tide  water,  and  at  a 
distance  of  8,250  feet  or  1.562  miles  from  Mystic  Pond.  This 
reservoir  has  been  calculated  to  contain  5,000,000  gallons,  or 
sufficient  for  two  days'  supply  of  the  city.  From  this  point,  it 
is  proposed  to  lay  an  iron  pipe  of  22  inches  diameter,  passing 
through  Cambridge,  west  of  the  colleges,  to  Charles  River, 
which  .may  be  crossed  upon  a  permanent  stone  bridge,  con- 
structed on  the  west  side  of  the  bridge,  leading  from  Cam- 
bridge to  Brighton.  From  this  point,  it  is  proposed  to  pass 
in  the  shortest  course  across  the  Mill  dam  to  the  reservoir  on 
Beacon  Hill,  specified  in  the  1st  plan,  the  whole  distance  being 
39,707  feet,  or  7.52  miles,  the  discharge  being  very  nearly  equal 
to  that  calculated  for  the  last  plan  at  the  several  points  therein 
given. 

The  works  here  enumerated  wiil  cost,  as  appears  from  a  de- 
tailed estimate  herewith  presented  (marked  F.)  as  follows  : 


19 

Dam  and  Works  at  the  outlet  of  Mystic  Pond,         -  ^4,000 
Land  for  reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  and  damages 

to  land  over  which  the  pipe  shall  pass  to  Boston,  5,500 

Reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,     -         -         -         -  13,000 

Pipe  laid  from  the  Pond  to  Walnut  tree  Hill,         -  60,472 
Two  steam  engines  and   pumps,  each  capable  of  de- 
livering 2,500,000  gallons  of  water  in  20  hours  to 

the  reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,       -          -         -  70,000 

Buildings  for  engines  and  pumps,  -         -         -         -  20,000 
Pipe  from   Walnut   tree   Hill   reservoir  to    Beacon 

Hill  reservoir. 358,157 

Bridge  across  Charles  River,         -         -         -         -  14,000 

Sundry  works  not  enumerated,       -         -         -         -  9,4  93 


$554,622 
The  constant  expenditure,  and  wear  and  tear  in  keeping  the 
works  in  operation,  may,  be  taken  as  in  the  first  plan  at  $11,808. 
This,  as  stated  in  that  plan,  is  equivalent  to  a  present  cost  of 
$236,160,  which  added  to  the  above  sum  of  $554,622,  makes 
the  whole  cost  of  works,  together  with  the  yearly  cost  of  keep- 
ing them  in  operation,  $790,782  ;  to  this  add  for  contingencies 
10  per  cent,  and  the  amount  becomes  $869,860. 

In  the  third  plan  it  is  proposed  to  bring  the  water  of  Spot 
•Pond  to  a  reservoir,  to  be  formed  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  and  in 
addition  thereto,  to  pump  by  steam  power  from  Mystic  Pond, 
such  quantity  as  shall  be  required  to  render  the  supply  from  both 
these  soiirces,  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  the  city. 

Spot  Pond  will  yield,  according  to  our  opinion  heretofore  giv- 
en, an  average  supply  of  2,100,000  gallons  daily,  never  falling 
below  1 ,600,000  gallons  a  day,  in  the  driest  season.  This  sup- 
ply of  1,600,K)00  gallons,  will  be  ample  for  four  years,  as  it 
would  be  impracticable  to  lay  the  pipes  for  the  distribution  of  a 
larger  quantity,  before  the  termination  of  that  period.  Let'  us 
then  suppose  that  at  the  end  of  four  years  the  quantity  demanded 
shall  be  2,500,000  gallons,  enough  to  supply  a  population  of 
87,000  inhabitants,  and  that  after  that  period,  it  shall  go  on  in- 
creasing for  the  succeeding  six  years,  until  it  becomes  3,000,000 
gallons,  supplying  105,000  inhabitants.  The  average  supply  for 
those  six  years,  will  then  be  2,750,000  gallons^. while  the  aver- 


20 

age  supply  from  Spot  Pond  will  be  2,100,000  gallons.  It  will 
require  then  that  650,000  gallons  a  day  be  pumped  from  Mystic 
Pond.  As  the  supply  from  Spot  Poi-id  however,  may  become 
short,  by  sudden  drought,  it  will  be  necessary  to  provide  for 
such  contingency,  to  erect  such  works  at  Mystic  Pond,  as 
shall  be  sufficient  for  the  full  supply  of  the  city  during  any  por- 
tion of  lime  that  Spot  Pond  may  fail,  and  our  estimates  fully 
provide  for  the  cost  of  works  to  that  extent.  In  the  yearly  cost 
for  the  maintenance  and  operation  of  these  works  however,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  provide  for  keeping  them  in  constant  readiness 
to  operate,  with  such  expenditures  for  coal  and  for  attendance, 
and  wear  and  tear  as  is  required  to  pump,  upon  an  average, 
650,000  gallons  daily,  during  the  six  years,  to  the  reservoir,  on 
Walnut  tree  Hill.  To  carry  this  plan  into  full  operation,  we 
propose  to  lay  an  iron  pipe,  of  22  inches  diameter,  from  Spot 
Pond,  at  its  southern  end,  east  of  the  Andover  turnpike,  to 
Mystic  River,  above  the  upper  ship  yard  ;  thence  crossing  that 
river,  upon  a  permanent  stone  bridge,  it  is  designed  to  pass  to  a 
reservoir,  to  be  formed  upon  Walnut  tree  Hill  ;  identical  with 
that  described  in  the  second  plan,  the  distance  from  Spot  Pond 
being  3.18  miles.  From  this  reservoir,  it  is  proposed  that  a 
pipe  of  22  inches  diameter  shall  be  carried  upon  the  line  describ- 
ed in  the  second  plan,  across  Charles  River,  by  a  stone  bridge, 
as  described  in  that  plan,  and  over  the  Mill  Dam  to  Beacon 
Hill.  The  discharge  from  this  pipe  will  be  equal  to  that  pro- 
duced in  the  first  and  second  plans.  In  our  estimate  of  the  cost 
of  carrying  this  plan  into  operation,  we  feel  very  uncertain  as  to 
the  accuracy  of  the  sum  assigned  for  the  cost  of  land  and  water- 
rights.  We  applied  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  to  George 
Odiorne,  Esq.,  joint  owner,  with  Thomas  Odiorne,  Esq.  of  the 
outlet  of  the  pond,  and  of  the  right  of  drawing  water  from  the 
same,  to  be  informed  at  what  price  he  would  sell  his  rights  to 
the  city.     In  answer  to  our  inquiry,  Mr.  Odiorne  says, 

"  To  your  first  and  second  questions,  I  reply  that  my  brother 
Thomas  Odiorne,  of  Maiden  and  myself,  are  sole  owners  of  said 
pond,  and  of  the  bed  of  the  creek  leading  from  thence  to  the 
Mills  in  Maiden,  and  they  have  an  indisputable  right  to  close  the 
outlet,  to  draw  off,  or  divert  the  stream  of  said  pond. 

"  Your  third  inquiry  being  prospective  in  its   tenor,  I   cannot 


21 

so  promptly  answer.  To  illustrate  my  meaning,  permit  me  to 
reply  a  little  in  detail.  During  the  pendency  of  some  years,  of 
the  question  of  a  sale  of  said  pond  to  the  city,  I  have  been  re- 
tarded in  the  prosecution  of  my  business  at  Maiden,  have  re- 
frained from  extending  or  improving  the  works,  as  far  as  the 
power  of  water  would  justify. 

"  The  establishment  consists  of  the  following,  viz  : 

A  mansion  bouse,  barn,  and  out-buildings,  connected,  a  rolling 
and  slitting  mill  and  machine  shop,  two  new  mills,  erected  the 
last  year,  a  small  factory,  for  block  tin  ware,  twelve  dwellings 
for  laborers,  a  smith's  shop,  a  coal  house,  and  other  small  build- 
ings. 

"  These  all  derive  their  chief  value  from  the  continuance  of 
these  works,  and  would  turn  to  but  small  account,  if  the  business 
there  should  'cease — vi^hich  would  be  the  case,  if  the  waters  of 
Spot  Pond  should  be  cut  off.  It  would  also  put  an  end  to  my 
business  in  the  city,  in  which  I  have  been  engaged  thirty  years, 
with  the  expectation  of  leaving  to  my  son.  In  estimating  the 
value  therefore  of  Spot  Pond,  these  considerations  should  not  be 
lost  sight  of. 

"  The  value  of  the  pond  should  also  bear  some  proportion  to 
the  daily  average  quantity  of  water  it  yields. 

"  That  my  price  however,  may  form  no  obstruction  in  the 
way  of  a  supply  of  pure  water  for  tlie  city,  I  ofier  to  them, 
through  you,  one  moiety  of  said  pond  for  sixty  five  thousand  dol- 
lars, until  the  first  day  of  September  next,  and  not  exceeding  the 
sum  of  seventy  thousand   until  the   first  day  of  January,  183S." 

We  are  of  opinion  that  the  price  above  named  is  much  more 
than  the  value  of  the  water  of  Spot  Pond,  for  any  manufacturing 
purposes,  including  all  damages  to  works  already  erected.  We 
have  therefore  added  to  our  estimate  of  cost  of  land  for  reser- 
voir, and  damage  to  land  over  wliich  our  pipe  shall  pass,  such 
sum  as  we  think  equivalent  to  the  value  of  Spot  Pond.  With- 
out assuming  that  this  item  of  the  estimate  is  accurate,  we  be- 
lieve that  it  is  sufficiently  near  the  truth,  to  guide  the  city  coun- 
cil in  their  choice  of  the  plans  proposed.  The  detailed  estimate 
of  the  plan  here  specified,  is  given  in  the  annexed  papers, 
(marked  G.) 


22 

From  this  it  appears  that  the 
Cost  of  iron  pipe  from   Spot  Pond  to  reservoir   on 

Wahiut  tree  Hill,  will  be  .         -         -         .     „$152,436 

Dam  and  apparatus  at  pond,  -         -         -         -  1,200 

Stone  Bridge  at  Medford  River,    -         -         -         -  5,000 

Reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,     -         -         -         -  13,000 

Engine  and  pumps  at  Mystic  Pond,  capable  of  pump- 
ing 2,500,000  gallons  in  20  hours,  to  reservoir  on 

Walnut  tree  Hill, 35,000 

Building  for  Engine, -  10,000 

Pipe  from  Mystic  Pond  to  reservoir  on  Walnut  tree 

Hill, 35,640 

Pipe  from  Walnut  tree  Hill  reservoir  to  Beacon  Hill 

reservoir,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -        358,157 

Bridge  across  Charles  River,         -         -         -         -  14,000 

Land  for  reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  together  with 
damages  to  land  over  which  the  pipe  shall  pass, 
and  our  assumed  value  of  Spot  Pond,  -      '   -  80,000 

Several  works  not  enumerated,       -         -         -         -  10,500 


$714,933 
The  constant  expenditure  for  coals,  attendance,  and  wear  and 
tear  in  pumping  650,000  gallons  a  day,  for  six  years,  equal  to 
390,000  gallons  a  day  for  ten  years,  whole  cost,  $2,890  a  year, 
equal  to  a  capital  of  $57,800  at  5  per  cent,  which  added  to  the 
above  sum  of  $714,933,  makes  the  cost  of  works,  with  the  ex- 
pense of  keeping  them  in  operation,  equal  to  a  capital  of  $772,33 
— add  10  per  cent,  for  contingencies,  and  it  becomes  $850,006. 
In  devising  a  mode  for  bringing  the  water  of  Long  Pond  to 
Boston  which  forms  the  fourth  plan  herein  proposed,  we  perceiv- 
ed at  once  that  its  distance,  18  miles,  combined  with  its  limited 
elevation,  would  place  the  cost  of  an  iron  pipe  at  too  great  a 
sum,  to  render  it  expedient  to  resort  to  a  work  of  that  kind.  As 
that  may  be  considered  as  the  only  practicable  means  of  carrying 
water  along  an  undulating  surface,  our  attention  was  next  direct- 
ed to  finding  the  straightest  line,  upon  which  a  work  could  be 
built,  having  a  gradual  and  equal  descent  from  the  pond  to  some 
point  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Boston.  After  several 
examinations,  a  line  was  found  through  the  towns  of  Natick, 


23 

Needham,  and  Newton,  where  it  crosses  the  Charles  River  near 
the  Lower  Falls.  From  this  point  it  passes  through  Brighton 
terminating  at  Corey's  Hill  in  Brookline.  This  line  is  general- 
ly through  land  easily  excavated,  requiring  no  cutting  over  36 
feet,  and  except  in  crossing  the  Charles  River,  and  a  valley  near 
the  Agricultural  Hali  in  Brighton,  which  rnay  be  passed  by  pipes, 
no  high  embankments. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  state  that  water  may  be  brought 
along  a  course  of  gentle  and  equal  descent,  as  here  described, 
without  resorting  to  the  expense  of  an  iron  conduit.  It  may  be 
brought  in  this  way  by  an  open  canal,  or  by  a  covered  tunnel, 
formed  either  of  brick  or  stone.  Th-e  open  canal  is  highly  ob- 
jectionable ;  1st,  on  account  of  its  exposure  to  being  used  for 
bathing,  and  to  its  becoming  a  rer^^ptacle  for"  foul  water  and  many 
offensive  substances,  from  persons  residing  upon  its  banks,  and 
those  passing  over  the  numerous  bridges,  required  at  the  roads 
which  must  cross  it-  2d,  the  large  quantity  of  water  that  would 
be  lost  by  percolation  through  its  banks,  would  diminish  essen- 
tially the  efficiency  of  the  source  of  supply.  These  objections 
appeared  to  us  sufficient  to  warrant  us  in  withholding  our  recom- 
meuda'Lion  from  this,  as  a  proper  structure  for  supplying  the  city 
with  pure  water.  By  the  close  conduit,  of  brick  or  stone,  the 
1st  of  these  objections  is  entirely  removed,  and  the  2d  may  be 
so  far  reduced  that  we  should  entertain  no  serious  apprehension 
that  Long  Pond  will  not  furnish  a  supply,  over  all  waste  by  leaks, 
sufficient  for  the  citizens  after  many  years  increase. 

With  these  opinions  we  proceeded  to  make  estimates  1  st,  for 
a  close  conduit  of  stone,  consisting  af  a  floor  9  feet  wide  and  1 
foot  thick  ;  upon  this  two  walls  are  placed  2|  feet  high  and  1| 
feet  thick,  leaving  a  clear  space  of  4  feet  wide  between  them. 
This  space  forming  the  water-course  is  to  be  covered  by  a  semi- 
circular arch  1 1  feet  thick,  the  whole  being  of  rough  stone  with- 
out cement,  designed  to  be  surrounded  with  a  puddle  of  clay  and 
gravel  to  prevent  leakage. 

2d,  for  a  structure  of  brick  laid  in  hydraulic  cement.  This 
structure  is  designed  to  be  in  the  form  of-  a  cylinder,  8  inches 
thick,  having  a  c|ear  passage  for  the  water,  of  4.6  feet  in  diame- 
ter.    Both  of  these  forms  present  equal  areas,  and  are  calculated 


24 

to  convey  upon  a  slope  of  3  inches  to  the  mile,  11  cubic  feet  of 
water  a  second. 

It  will  be  perceived  from  the  estimates,  that  from  the  greater 
quantity  of  excavation  required  to  give  room  for  the  stone  work, 
(owing  to  its  shape  and  greater  thickness,)  than  is  required  for 
that  of  brick,  the  cost  of  the  entire  structure  on  the  former  plan, 
will  exceed  that  of  the  latter  by  ^59,192  91.  Either  of  the 
above  works  may  be  considered  as  imperishable  in  their  mate- 
rials. We  cannot  hovv^ever,  speak  of  them  in  their  other  proper- 
ties with  the  entire  confidence  with  which  we  can  speak  of  an 
iron  pipe,  because  we  aie  not  aware  that  any  work  precisely 
similar  to  either  of  them,  has  ever  been  constructed,  and  proved 
experimentally  to  answer  the  end  designed  ;  while  iron  pipes 
have  been  used  throu'gh  a  considerable  period  of  time,  and  under 
many  varieties  of  circumstances,  and  when  rightly  made,  always 
with  success.* 

In  consideration  of  the  inferior  cost  of  the  excavations  for  the 
brick  structure,  and  the  greater  certainty  of  the  water  not  escap- 
ing from  it  by  leakage  however,  we  have  taken  that  as  best  to 
be  adopted. 

In  our  estimate  of  the  cost  of  supply  from  this  source,  as  in 
that  for  Spot  Pond,  we  have  great  doubt  as  to  the  accuracy  of 
the  sum  assumed  for  the  value  of  water  rights  and  damages.  The 
mill  power  formed  at  the  outlet  of  the  Pond,  is  owned  by  the 
Framingham  Manufacturing  Company,  no  mill  now  being  erected 
upon  it.  A  second  power  below  this,  is  used  for  a  carpet  mill. 
The  use  of  the  water,  after  falling  into  Concord  River,  is  claim- 
ed by  the  Middlesex  Canal,  and  by  several  establishments  at 
Billerica  and  Lowell.  Probably  an  equivalent  for  the  use  of 
this  water,  to  the  canal  and  to  the  lower  mill  owners,  may  be 
found,  by  forming  reservoirs  from  several  small  Ponds  in  the 
vicinity  of  Concord  River,  where  the  water  may  be  reserved  in 
winter  and  used  as  required  in  the  dry  season.  Not  being  able, 
however,  in  this  m'ass  of  conflicting  interests,  to  obtain  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  extent  of  rights,  and  the  damage  which  a  diversion 
of  the  water  of  Long  Pond  from  its  usual  channel  would  occa- 
sion, we  have  added  to  our  estimate  for  land  damages,  such  sum 
as  we  think  ought  to  qyiet  all  the  claimants  of  the  waters  of  Long 
Pond.f 

*See  annexed  paper  (marked  H).        fSee  annexed  paper  (marked  I). 


25 

By  the   estimates  hereunto   annexed    (marked   J.)  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  cost  of  the  structure  herein  proposed,  will  be, 
For  excavation  aod  embankment  between  Long  Pond 

and  Corey's  Hill, $183,319 

Brick  aqueduct,  15  miles  1,600  feet,  laid  in  hydrau- 
lic cement, 453,531 

Pipe  30  inches  diameter,  across  Brighton  valley  and 

Charles  River, -  33,499 

Guard  gates,  bridges  and  culverts,           -         -         -  18,468 

Water  rights,  land  and  land  damages,      -         -         -  110,000 

Reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,            _         -         -         -  21,004 
Iron  Pipe  21|  inches  diameter,  from   Reservoir  on 

Corey's  Hill,  to  Reservoir  on  Beacon  Hill,         -  189,279 

Sundry  wodis  not  here  enumerated,        -         -         -  7,481 


1,016,631 
Add  for  contingencies,  10  per  cent.,      -         -         -        101,663 

1 1,1 18,294 

In  comparing  together  these  several  plans,  we  are  to  consider 
1st,  the  cost  of  supply — 2d,  its  sufficiency — 3d,  the  certainty 
with  which  it  may  be  relied  upon  at  all  times — 4th,  the  purity  of- 
the  water. 

We  have  seen  that  the  cost  to  deliver  the  supply  upon  Beacon 
Hill,  without  distributing  it  to  the  inhabitants,  will  be, 

1st  plan — Charles  River,  -         -         -         -     |771,318 

2d  plan— Mystic  Pond,     -         -         -         -         -       869,860 
3d  plan— Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds,      -         -         -       850,006 
4th  plan— Long  Pond,      -         -         -         -         -    1,118,294 
As  the  2d  plan  is  certainly  not  superior  to  the  3d,  under  what- 
ever aspect  it  may  be  «ompared,  and   as   its   execction  will  re- 
quire an  expenditure  greater  than  that  required  fcxr  the  third,  we 
are  of  opinion  that  it  ought  not  to  be  adopted.     By  adopting  the 
1st  plan  in  preference  to  the  3d,  a  saving  in  cost  of  about  $80,- 
000  would  be  effected.     As  the  constancy   of  the  supply  how- 
ever, in  this  plan,   depends  upon  the   operation   of  machinery, 
which  always  implies  some  shade  of  uncertainty,  though  in  this 
case,  as  our  estimate  provides  for  two  complete  engines,  pumps, 


26 

and  buildings,  either  of  whicli  will  elevate  the  supply  by  operat- 
ing 20  hours  per  day  only,  the  chance  of  failure  must  be  very 
small  ;  yet  taking  into  consideration  the  possibility  of  such  a 
contingency,  and  likewise  the  better  quality  of  the  waters  of  Spot 
and  Mystic  Ponds,  we  are  of  opinion  that  the  1st  plan,  founded 
upon  Charles  River  as  a  source,  ought  not  to  be  adopted. 

In  comparing  the  two  remaining  sources  with  each  other,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  supply  from  Long  Pond  will  cost  $268,288 
more  than  that  from  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds,  the  quantity  of  wa- 
ter brought  into  the  city  by  the  works  provided  in  either  plan, 
for  the  first  ten  years,  being  nearly  the  same.  The  works  as 
proposed  from  Long  Pond  to  Corey's  Hill  however,  will  have 
an  important  advantage  over  the  works  from  Spot  and  Mystic 
Ponds,  in  providing  for  the  discharge  of  a  large  surplus  of  water, 
at  the  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,  which  may  be  rendered  availa- 
ble at  a  future  day,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  city,  by  laying  a 
new  main  from  that  reservoir  to  Beacon  Hill.  Let  us  attempt 
to  ascertain  the  value  of  that  surplus  water,  and  the  sum  that  it 
will  have  cost  to  obtain  it  in  the  city,  when  any  part  of  it  shall  be 
required,  which,  as  has  been  heretofore  shown,  may  be  taken  at 
the  end  often  years.  First  then,  we  have  the  present  excess  in 
the  cost  of  the  works  from  Long  Pond,  over  those  from  Spot 
and  Mystic  Ponds  $268,288.  This  in  ten  years,  with  interest, 
added  each  year  at  5  per  cent,  will  amount  to  $436,880.  Sec- 
ondly, the  cost  of  a  new  main,  which  it  vv^ould  be  expedient  to 
make  equal  to  that  now  proposed  for  the  same  route.  The  cost 
of  this  will  be  $189,279,  making  a  total  cost  of  $626,159. 

We  have  seen  that  the  supply  provided  from  Spot  and  Mystic 
Ponds  will  be  ample,  and  indeed  equal  to  that  brought  from  Long 
Pond  and  distributed  to  the  city  for  ten  years.  Let  us  next  as- 
certain whether  at  the  end  of  that  period  the  works  at  Mystic 
Pond  can  be  increased,  to  meet  the  increase  of  demand  for  wa- 
ter which  will  then  exist  without  exceeding  the  above  sum  of 
$626,159,  whieh  will  have  been  expended  to  obtain  such  in- 
creased supply  from  Long  Pond,  should  that  plan  be  adopted. 
We  have  assumed  that  the  population  at  the  end  of  ten  years,  re- 
quiring a  supply  of  water,  will  be  105,000,  and  that  it  will  in- 
crease in  ten  more  years,  to  become  150,000.  There  will  be 
required  then  on   the  average  for  that  ten  years,  3,619,000  gal 


27 

Ions  of  water  a  day,  or  about  1,119,000  a  day  more  than  the 
average  quantity  provided  for  during  the  first  ten  years.  To  fur- 
nish this  quantity,  there  will  be  required  a  new  steam  engine  and 
pumps,  at  Mystic  Pond,  which,  with  buildings,  will  cost  ^^45,000, 
and  a  pipe  from  the  Walnut  tree  Hill  reservoir  to  the  reservoir 
on  Beacon  Hill,  which  will  cost  ^^358,157.  To  this  must  be 
added  the  cost  for  coals,  attendance,  and  other  constant  expenses 
for  pumping  1,119,000  gallons  daily;  which  will  amount  to 
^5,285  a  year,  equal  to  a  present  outlay  of  1 1 05,700.  Thus 
we  see  that  the  whole  expense  of  increasing  the  supply  from 
Mystic  Pond,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  citizens  for  twenty  years, 
will  be  ^503,857.  Making  a  difference  in  favor  of  the  latter 
plan  of  ^117,302.  If  we  were  to  continue  a  calculation  of  this 
kind,  for  a  further  period  of  ten  years,  we  should  find  that  this 
excess  in  the  cost  of  works  of  Long  Pond,  with  accumulated 
interest,  would  be  fully  equal  to  the  sum  required  to  increase  the 
supply  from  Mystic  Pond.  We  see  then,  that  giving  its  full 
prospective  value  to  the  surplus  water  from  Long  Pond,  no  ad- 
vantage can  be  obtained  from  it,  in  point  of  expenditure,  over 
the  plan  of  supply  from  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds. 

On  the  second  point  proposed  for  consideration  in  our  com- 
parison, namely,  the  sufficiency  of  the  supply,  the  two  plans  may 
be  considered  equal,  as  the  quantity  proposed  to  be  brought,  is 
calculated  to  be  sufficient  for  a  full  supply  of  the  wants  of  the 
citizens,  which  ever  of  the  plans  may  be  adopted. 

The  third  point  of  comparison,  namely,  the  certainty  with 
which  the  supply  may  be  rehed  upon  at  all  times,  we  consider  of 
great  importance,  and  we  have  given  it  a  careful  and  grave  ex- 
amination. We  have  no  doubt  but  a  conduit  may  be  construct- 
ed from  Long  Pond,  to  Corey's  Hill,  which  shall  be  as  much 
beyond  the  reach  of  interruption  in  its  operation,  as  any  work  of 
human  art  can  be  beyond  the  reach  of  accident. 

We  cannot  pretend  however  that  the  cost  given  in  our  esti- 
mate, is  sufficient  to  produce  a  work  of  this  permanent  and  per- 
fect character,  and  we  should  not  think  it  expedient  to  increase 
the  expenditure  beyond  the  limits  of  our  estimate,  as  the  object 
of  supply  may  be  obtained  upon  either  of  the  other  plans,  with 
more  advantage  to  the  city  than  by  this,  if  its  execution  must  be 
at  an  expense  much  beyond  that  which  we  have  assigned  to  it. 


28 

In  applying  this  consideration  of  the  certainty  of  supply  to  the 
plan  founded  upon  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds  ;  we  can  see  no  rea- 
son to  fear  the  possibihty  of  a  failure.  The  plan  provides  for 
bringing  the  water  in  iron  pipes  strong  enough  to  sustain  three 
times  the  pressure  of  the  head  to  which  they  will  be  subjected. 
Pipes  of  this  kind  have  been  in  operation  in  a  great  many  places, 
and  all  experience  has  shown  them  worthy  of  entire  confidence. 
It  is  true  that  in  carrying  this  plan  into  operation,  as  a  steam  en- 
gine and  pumps  are  required  to  be  kept  at  work,  during  a  short 
period,  perhaps  every  year,  that  part  of  the  supply  which  is  de- 
rived from  these  machines  will  be  subject  occasionally,  though 
we  think  rarely,  to  interruption.  But  whenever  this  shall  hap- 
pen, as  the  pipes  proposed  to  be  laid  from  Spot  Pond  to  the 
city,  will  be  sufficiently  large  to  convey,  at  :ill  times  the  full  sup- 
ply, they  may  be  safely  relied  upon  through  any  period  of  occa- 
sional interruption  from  derangement  of  the  machinery  at  Mystic 
Pond,  even  should  it  be  to  the  extent  of  bursting  all  the  steam 
boilers,  or  burning  down  the  engine  house. 

As  regards  the  fourth  point  of  comparison,  namely,  the  purity 
of  the  water,  the  analyses  show  both  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds,  to 
be  more  pure  than  Long  Pond.  We  see  no  reason  to  appre- 
hend, however,  that  the  water  of  Long  Pond  is  not  sufficiently 
pure  for  all  purposes  for  which  it  can  be  required,  greatly  ex- 
ceeding in  this  respect,  the  waters  of  the  Wandle  and  Verulam 
in  England,  which  it  has  been  proposed  to  substitute  for  Thames 
water,  in  the  supply  of  London.  To  bring  this  water  to  Boston, 
however,  in  the  structure  which  we  have  described,  great  care 
must  be  taken  to  procure  a  cement  to  be  used  in  the  masonry, 
which  shall  not  be  liable  to  be  dissolved  by  the  water,  as  this 
would  impart  to  it  a  portion  of  lime,  and  other  foreign  matter, 
disagreeable  to  the  taste,  and  highly  injurious  to  its  softness. 
Possibly  it  will  be  found,  that  to  answer  this  condition  the  Eng- 
lish Roman  cement  must  be  used.  This  will  add  very  materially 
to  the  cost  of  the  structure.  As  the  estimate  now  stands  then, 
we  are  not  free  from  doubt  as  to  the  purity  of  the  water  which 
shall  be  procured  through  a  structure,  such  as  we  have  proposed, 
and  which  we  believe  to  be  the  best  which  can  be  formed  with- 
out extending  the  expense  to  such  an  amount  as  shall  render  the 
inexpediency  of  adopting  it  in  preference   to   any  of  the  other 


29 

plans,  at  once  apparent.  To  resolve  this  doubt  will  require  in- 
formation which  we  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  in  season  for 
this  report. 

We  have  seen  that  the  waters  of  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds  are 
more  pure  at  the  respective  Ponds  than  those  of  Long  Pond. 
Spot  Pond  is  as  little  exposed  to  be  contaminated  with  impure 
substances,  wantonly  or  accidentally  introduced  into  it,  as  any 
source  which  can  be  resorted  to.  The  waters  of  Mystic  Pond 
are  derived  from  streams  on  which  are  several  small  manufactur- 
ing establishments,  and  are  liable,  though  in  less  degree,  to  the 
objection  alluded  to  in  the  notice  of  the  Charges  River.  For 
the  reason  there  given,  however,  we  do  not  consider  the  objec- 
tion as  of  great  force.  The  quality  of  the  waters  as  they  exist 
in  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds  may  be  preserved  beyond  all  question, 
in  transmitting  them  to  the  city  in  the  manner  proposed,  in  the 
plan  of  works  connected  with  those  ponds  ;  as  we  believe  that 
no  instance -can  be  found  in  which  water  has  been  contaminated 
in  passing  through  iron  pipes. 

On  a  full  review  of  this  comparison,  a  majority  of  the  Com- 
missioners are  of  opinion  that  it  will  be  expedient  for  the  city  to 
adopt  the  third  plan  herein  proposed,  namely,  that  depending 
upon  Spot  and  Mystic  Ponds  for  a  supply. 

From  whatever  source  the  water  may  be  brought  to  the  city, 
we  recommend  the  same  plan  for  distributing  it  to  the  inhabitants  ; 
which  is,  to  form  two  reservoirs,  one  upon  the  summit  of  Beacon 
Hill,  and  one  under  the  summit  of  Fort  Hill,  the  fmmer  at  a 
hundred  and  four  feet,  and  the  latter  at  fifty  feet  above  tide 
water.  The  purpose  of  these  reservoirs  is  to  receive  the  water 
from  the  main,  extending  to  the  source  or  reservoir  out  of  the 
city,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  day  and  the  night,  when  but 
little  is  drawn  from  the  service  pipes,  and  to  supply  it  to  the  ser- 
vice pipes  during  the  few  hours  in  the  morning  when  the  greater 
part  of  .the  M'ater,  for  domestic  purposes  is  required.  By  this 
arrangement,  an  abundant  supply  will  be  kept  up  at  all  times  in 
the  day,  by  means  of  a  main  pipe,  extending  from  the  city  reser- 
voirs to  the  source,  of  much  smaller  dimensions  than  would  be 
required  were  no  reservoirs  provided  in  the  city  ;  so  that  on  the 
whole,  a  great  saving  of  cost  is  attained  by  this  expenditure. 


30 

From  these  reservoirs,  we  propose  to  lay  iron  mains  in  various 
directions,  of  from  six  to  twenty  inches  diameter,  through  the 
principal  streets  to  the  length  of  44,050  feet,  or  eight  and  a  third 
miles.  By  the  side  of  these  mains,  we  propose  to  lay  small  iron 
service  pipes,  of  three  inches  diameter,  from  which  the  water 
shall  be  taken  by  small  leaden  or  wrought  iron  pipes  to  the  several 
houses.  The  object  of  this  double  line  of  pipes,  through  the 
above  distance,  is  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  ever  interrupting  the 
flow  of  the  water  through  the  mains,  when  it  shall  be  required  to 
furnish  a  supply  to  a  new  tenant,  which,  were  it  not  for  the  pro- 
vision here  specified,  could  only  be  done,  by  drawing  off  the 
water  from  the  main,  for  several  hundred  feet,  thus  interrupting 
the  flow  through  it,  while  the  operations  of  boring  and  inserting 
the  pipe  required  for  the  new  tenant  were  performed.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  we  have,  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  breaking  up  the 
pavement  across  the  great  thoroughfares,  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
down  tenant's  pipes,  provided  for  laying  service  pipes  on  both 
sides  of  the  streets,  through  the  distance  of  59,290  feet,  or 
eleven  and  a  quarter  miles. 

Having  thus  provided  a  plan  for  the  conveyance  of  the  water 
from  the  reservoirs,  in  various  directions,  to  different  parts  of 
the  city,  and  provided  for  the  distribution  of  it  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  streets  through  which  the  mains  pass,  we  propose  to  con- 
vey it  through  the  remaining  streets,  and  distribute  it  to  the  in- 
habitants, by  single  pipes  of  three  and  four  inches  diameter, 
which  shall  communicate  with  the  principal  mains,  and  with 
each  other,  in  all  directions.  According  to  our  estimate,  it  will 
require  130,820  feet  or  nearly  twenty  six  miles  of  pipe  of  the 
kind  last  specified,  to  perform  this  service.  The  whole  length 
of  the  streets,  thus  traversed  by  mains  and  service  pipes,  amounts 
to  223,477  feet,  or  forty  two  and  a  third  miles,  being  all  the 
streets  and  lanes,  laid  down  upon  Smith's  map  of  Boston,  after 
deducting  therefrom  five  and  three  quarters  miles,  for  streets  laid 
out  upon  lands  upon  which  no  buildings  are  yet  erected.  The 
whole  length  of  pipe  of  all  diameters  proposed  to  be  laid  for  dis- 
tribution in  the  city,  is  nearly  sixty-two  miles. 

We  have  futherraore  provided  in  the  estimate,  for  four  hundred 
and  forty  seven  fire  plugs,  to  be  placed  at  proper  distances,  in 
communication  with  the  mains  and  pipes,  from  which  the  water 


31 

shall  be  drawn  for  extinguishing  fires.  These  fire  plugs  may 
receive  a  supply  of  more  than  thirty  gallons  of  water  a  second, 
from  the  source  without  the  city,  and  in  addition  to  this,  whatever 
quantity  may  be  in  the  reservoir  on  Beacon  Hill.  As  the  water 
will  flow  from  thence  to  the  height  of  the  source,  at  least  a 
hundred  and  four  feet  above  tide  water,  it  may  be  conducted 
through  hose  directly  to  the  top  of  any  common  building  situated 
in  a  low  part  of  the  city.  It  will  be  seen  likewise,  that  the  esti- 
mates provide  for  the  cost  of  a  great  number  of  stop  cocks,  for 
shutting  off  the  water  wherever  alterations,  additions  or  repairs 
shall  be  required. 

A  separate  estimate  has  been  made  for  the  supply  and  distribu- 
tion of  the  water,  to  South  Boston.  This  embraces  65  miles  of 
pipe,  and  will  be  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  the  present  population 
of  that  district. 

No  provision  is  made  in  our  estimate,  for  carrying  the  water 
from  the  service  pipes  to  the  dweUings,  as  we  are  of  opinion  that, 
this  should  be  done,  according  to  the  practice  of  other  cities,  at 
the  expease  of  the  tenants.  We  have  moreover,  concluded  not 
to  place  in  the  estimate,  any  sum  for  forming  cisterns  and  pumps 
in  the  streets,  for  public  use,  as  we  are  not  yet  sufficiently  in- 
formed of  the  number  of  these  that  will  be  required. 

We  believe  that  the  plan  of  distribution  herein  proposed,  will- 
equal  that  possessed  by  any  modern  city.  It  is  simple,  certain 
and  permanent,  fully  sufficient  for  the  present  inhabitants,  and 
may  be  extended  with  the  utmost  facility,  to  meet  the  future 
wants  of  an  increased  p-opulation. 

The  cost  of  the  distribution  as  herein  proposed,  as  appears  by 
the  detailed  estimate,  (marked  K)  will  be  as  follows  : 
Stone  reservoir  on  the   Bowdoin  estate,  on   Beacon 
Hill,  100  feet  square  inside,  10  feet  deep,  to  con- 
tain 750,000  gallons,  including  the  cost  of  land,  ^71,539' 
Reservoir  under  ground  at  Fort  Hill,   65  feet  in 

diameter,  to  contain  370,000  gallons,  -         -  6,224 

62  miles  of  iron  pipe  of  various  sizes,  laid  complete, 

in  the  several  streets,  -  -  .  -  -  433,846 
733  Stop  Cocks,  of  various  sizes,  _         -         -         29,583, 

447  Fire  Plugs,  -         -         -        -        -        -         -  8,940  , 

$550,132 


32 

Conveying  water  to,  and  distributing  it  in  South  Boston. 
2|  miles  of  8  inch  pipe,  for  conveying  the  w^ater  to 

South  Boston,  cost,  laid  complete,    -         -         _  27,709 

3  mtles  of  distributing  pipe,  cost,  laid  complete,      -  18,936 

Stop  Cocks, -  1,000 


$47,645 


Making  for  the  complete  distribution,  including  South 

Boston, 597,777 

Add  for  contingencies,  10  per  cent.        -         -         -  59,777 


557,554 


The  entire  cost  of  bringing  in  the  siipply  on  the  plan  recom- 
mendedji  we  have  seen  was  $850,006.  To  this  add  the  above 
sum  of  $657,554  for  distributing  it,  and  we  have  the  sum  of 
$1,507,560  as  the  entire  cost  for  bringing  in  the  water,  and  dis- 
tributing it  upon  the  extensive  scale  herein  proposed,  including 
all  water-rights,  lands  and  damages,  with  10  per  cent,  for  con- 
tingencies. 

Having  thus  presented  our  views  of  the  modes  in  which  an 
ample  supply  of  pure  water  may  be  introduced  into  the  city,  for 
the  use  of  the  inhabitants',  with  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the 
necessary  works  for  obtaining  such  supply — and  having  specified 
the  method  which,  in  our  opinion,  it  will  be  expedient  for  the 
city  to  adopt — it  may  perhaps  not  be  improper  for  us,  to  advert 
to  some  of  the  reasons  for  undertaking  a  work  requiring  so  large 
an  expenditure.  These  reasons  have  perhaps  all  occurred  to  the 
minds  of  those  members  of  the  city  government  who  directed 
the  investigation  with  which  we  have  been  entrusted  ;  but  it  may 
be  useful  to  recapitulate  them  in  connection  with  the  plan  of  sup- 
ply proposed  for  adoption,  and  the  estimate  of  cost,  that  a  con- 
nected view  of  the  whole  subject  may  be  presented  to  the 
conside-ration  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  uses  of  water  are  so  numerous,  and  so  indispensable  to 
all  classes  of  inhabitants,  that  it  would  be  a  work  of  some  labor, 
to  enumerate  all  the  advantages  of   an  ample  and  wholesome 


33 

supply.  Water  constitutes  so  impfvtant  a  part  of  every  one's - 
food,  and  may,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  have  so  decisive 
an  effect  upon  the  purity  of  the  air  whicli  we  breathe,  that  there 
can  be  no  doubt,  that  the  quality  and  abundance  of  the  water 
habitually  used  in  a  city,  for  domestic  purposes,  and  for  purifying 
tlie  streets,  yards,  and  sewers,  is  a  matter  which  is  intimately 
connected  with  the  preservation  of  the  health  of  the  inhabitants. 
It  is  an  opinion  which  has  extensively  prevailed  for  many  years, 
that  the  quality  of  the  water,  in  the  wells  of  Boston,  in  general, 
is  not  favorable  to  health.  This  opinion,  although  not  universally 
adopted,  has  the  sanction  of  eminent  medical  men,  deliberately 
given  after  long  and  careful  observation  and  inquiry.  Admit- 
ting that  there  were  much  less  weight  of  autliority  than  there  is 
in  fact,  in  sui)po)-t  of  this  opinion,  it  is  well  known,  that  the 
water  of  the  purest  springs  in  the  city  contains  a  much  greater 
proportion  of  earthy  and  saline  substances,  than  that  v,hicb  is 
now  proposed  to  be  introduced — that  the  wells  in  many  parts  of 
the  city  afford  water  containing  a  still  greater  mixture  of  foreign 
substances — that  many  of  the  Vv'ells,  in  consequence  of  the  dense 
state  of  the  population,  are  exposed  to  impurities  by  the  absorp- 
tion of  noxious  substances  from  the  surface  of  the  earth — that  the 
rain  w-ater,  collected  in  cisterns,  is  from  year  to  year  rendered 
more  liable  to  impurities,  from  the  increased  consumption  of 
coal,  and  the  greater  collection  of  soot  upon  the  roofs — and  that 
consequently  the  supply  of  water  now  relied  upon  for  the  general 
use  of  the  inhabitants,  if  not  positively  unfavorable  to  health,  and 
unfit  for  use,  as  many  persons  repute  it  to  be,  is  yet  far  from 
possessing  that  degree  of  purity,  which  affords  the  only  absolute 
security,  against  the  deleterious  effects  v^hich  are  apprehended 
from  it. 

But,  aside  from  the  advantages  which  may  be  anticipated  on 
the  score  of  health,  from  an  improvement  in  the  quality  of  the 
water,  in  common  use  for  drink,  and  for  culinary  purposes,  there 
are  others  wdiich  may  be  derived  from  the  use  of  a  greater  quan- 
tity, for  washing  streets,  common  sewers,  and  other  receptacles 
of  filth,  and  thus  adding  to  the  general  salubrity  of  the  atmos- 
phere, which  nothing  can  so  effectually  promote  in  a  densely 
peopled  city,  as  the  free  use  of  pure  water.  Even  those  there- 
fore who  are  disposed  to  give  little  or  no  weight  to  the  opinion, 


34 

that  the  qualitj  of  the  water  in  commoause  in  the  city  is  unfavor- 
able to  health,  will  be  ready  to  admit,  that  more  or  less  benefit 
is  to  be  derived  from  an  abundant  supply  of  water,  of  undoubted 
purity  and  salubrity  ;  and  when  it  is  considered  how  important  a 
matter  is  the  health  of  the  population  of  a  large  city — or  even  the 
preservation  from  epidemic  diseases,  of  a  small  and  most  insig- 
Jiificant  part  of  the  city,  no  one  would  hesitate  to  purchase  such  a 
benefit  at  a  large  cost.  Even  the-  reputation  of  being  subject  to 
diseases  of  a  painful  and  dangerous  character,  from  the  deleteri- 
ous properties  of  the  water  used  by  its  inhabitants,  if  founded  in 
erroneous  impressions^  is  a  stigma  which  the  guardians  of  the 
public  w^elfare  should  be  anxious  to  remove,  although  it  should 
be  a  measure  which  could  be  attained  only  at  some  cost. 

Next  to  the  sustenance  of  life,  and  the  preservation  of  health, 
one  of  the  most  important  uses  of  water  in  a  large  and  populous 
city,  is  in  checking  the  ravages  of  fire.  This  city  has  hereto- 
fore suffered  most  severely  from  the  conflagration  of  vast  amounts 
of  property,  which  in  all  probabflity  might  have  been  saved,  had 
there  been  at  hand  an  ample  supply  of  water-  It  is  perhaps  not 
an  extravagant  opinion,  that  had  the  city  been  provided  in  the 
years  1824  and  1825  with  the  supply  of  water  now  proposed  to 
be  introduced,  an  amount  of  property  would  have  been  saved  fcom 
destruction,  in  those  two  years,  fully  equal  to  the  whole  cost  of 
the  works  now  proposed.  The  deficiency  of  water  then  felt  has 
since  been  partially  supplied,  by  the  construction  of  reservoirs  in 
various  parts  of  the  city  ;  but  this  supply  is  very  far  short  of  the 
provision  proposed  in  the  plan  now  submitted,  both  in  the  quan- 
tity of  water,  and  the  facility  of  access  to  it.  With  hydrants,  at 
short  distances  from  each  other,  in  every  street,  capable  of  afford- 
ing at  all  times,  at  a  moment's  warning  a  copious  supply  of  wa- 
ter, delivered  under  the  pressure  of  a  head  more  than  a  hundred 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  tide,  and  consequently  admitting  of 
being  conveyed  through  hose,  without  the  aid  of  engines  to  the 
top,  or  to  any  part,  of  four  fifths  of  the  houses  in  the  city,  it  can- 
not be  doubted  that  fires  would  be  more  suddenly  extinguished, 
and  extensive  conflagraiions  more  effectually  prevented  than  they 
can  be  at  present,  under  the  most  active  and  efficient  administra- 
tion of  the  fire  department.  It  is  the  opinion  of  persons  conver- 
sant with  the  hazards  and  the  rates  of  insurance,  that  the  risk  of 


35 

loss  by  fire,  and,  consequently  the  rates  of  insurance,  which 
would  be  charged  by  insurance  companies,  if  such  a  system  for 
the  supply  of  water  as  is  now  proposed  were  introduced,  would 
be  reduced  about  one  third, — the  present  average  rate,  being  not 
far  from  forty  cents  on  a  hundred  dollars,  per  annum.  The 
amount  of  property  in  the  city  of  Boston,  exposed  to  the  hazard 
of  destruction  by  fire,  is  probably  not  less  than  ^75,000,000. 
Admitting  therefore  that  the  risk  of  insurance  on  this  property  is 
at  this  time  equal  to  4-10  of  one  per  cent.,  and  that  the  proposed 
supply  of  water  would  reduce  this  risk  by  one  third,  the  saving 
which  would  then  be  made  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  in  the 
risk  of  loss  by  fire  would  be  equal  to  ^100,000  per  annum.  It 
is  not  material  that  this  estimate  should  be  scrutinized  with  great 
exactness.  Whether  the  sum  here  named  be  too  high  or  loo 
low,  will  not  be  questioned,  that  the  annual  saving  from  loss  by 
fire  would  be  equivalent  to  a  very  large  sum,  and  would  go  far  to 
reduce  the  hazard  of  those  distressing  conflagrations,  which 
sometimes  occur,  and  which,  from  the  amount  of  property  de- 
stroyed, and  the  number  of  persons  deprived  of  employment, 
give  a  sensible  check  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city. 
If  such  calamities  can  be  prevented,  by  providing  the  most  am-  ' 
pie  supply  of  water,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  the  rate  of  insurance 
which  would  be  necessary  to  indemnify  the  loser,  it  is  manifest 
that  the  remedy  of  prevention  is  more  effectual  than  that  of  in- 
surance, because  it  not  only  insures  the  owner  of  property,  but 
prevents  the  interruption  of  the  labors  of  industry,  and  the  de- 
rangements of  business,  whicli  often  involve  numbers  in  embar- 
rassment and  distress. 

But  it  is  the  ordinary  and  regular  daily  uses  of  water  for  do- 
mestic, economical  and  unanufacturing  purposes,  which  are  chiefly 
relied  upon  for  refunding  to  the  city  the  expenses  to  be  incurred 
in  procuring  an  inexhaustible  supply,  and  distributing  it  to  all 
parts  of  the  city.  The  quantity  proposed  to  be  supplied,  and  on 
which  the  estimate  of  cost  is  founded,  is  2,000,000  gallons  per 
day  at  the  beginning,  increasing  annually  at  such  a  rate  as  to  make 
3,000,000  at  the  expiration  of  ten  years.  This  quantity  will  be 
equal  to  the  supply  of  about  72,000  persons,  or  12,000  families 
of  six  persons  each,  with  28g  gallons  of  water   to   each  person 


daily,  at  the  beginning,  and  increasing  to    105,000   persons,   or 
17,500  families  daily  at  the  end  of  ten  years. 

.  It  will  be  for  the  wisdom  of  the  council  to  determine  on  what 
terms  and  conditions  the  water  shall  be  supplied  to  the  inhabitants. 
But,  it  is  presumed  that  it  will  be  their  desire,  to  furnish  it  on 
such  moderate  and  easy  terms  as  will  afford  an  inducement  to 
much  the  greater  {)art  of  the  inhabitants  to  take  it,  and  at  the 
same  time,  at  such  a  rate  of  annual  rent,  proportioned  as  nearly 
as  may  be,  to  the  quantity  likely  to  be  used  by  each  tenant,  as 
will,  at  the  same  time,  aff"ord  to  the  city  a  reasonable  indemnity 
for  the  cost,  and  the  charge  of  maintaining  the  works,  and  also 
secure  them  against  the  wanton  and  useless  waste  of  the  water-, 
to  which  it  would  be  liable,  if  made  h'ee  to  the  inhabhants  with- 
out charge.  Such,  we  learn,  has  been  the  system  adopted  in 
Philadelphia,  and  it  has  been  found  to  operate  favorably.  Should 
such  a  system  be  pursued;  and  if  we  suppose  12,000  tenants  to 
be  supplied  at  an  average  rent  of  six  dollars  to  each  tenant,  it 
will  produce  an  incorae  of  ^72,000.  This  income,  if  increased 
with  the  growth  of  the  city,  in  the  ratio  above  supposed,  will 
amount,  at  the  expiration  of  ten  years,  to  |;105,000.  This  rate 
of  compensation  we  name,  not  so  much  for  the  purpose  of -re- 
commending it  to  be  adopted,  as  for  the  purpose  of  showing  what 
rate  will  be  sufiicient,  to  afford  an  income  equivalent  to  the  an- 
nual interest,  say  5  per  cent,  on  the  estimated  cost,  together 
with  a  sinking  fund,  for  the  gradual  reduction  of  the  debt.  The 
rent  named,  while  it  appears  to  be  sufficient,  to  indemnify  the 
city  for  the  charge  to  be  incurred,  will  be  a  very  moderate  price 
to  be  paid  for  the  accommodation  afforded.  It  will  be  recollect- 
ed, that  in  the  proposed  mode  of  supply,  the  only  charge  neces- 
sary for  fixtures,  will  be  for  a  small  pipe,  of  sufficient  length  to 
carry  the  water  to  any  part  of  the  premises  in  which  it  may  be 
■  required,  together  with  a  stop  cock.  The  certainty  of  a  supj)ly 
at  all  hours  of  the  day,  will  render  the  charge  of  a  cistern  unne- 
cessary, and  as  the  water  will  be  of  a  qualtity  fit  for  drinking, 
and  for  all  other  purposes,  it  must  in  general,  supersede  the  use 
of  wells,  pumps,  and  rain  water  cisterns.  The  rent  named,  in- 
stead of  imposing  an  additional  charge  on  the  tenant,  will,  in 
most  cases,  be  a  saving  of  expense  to  him,  as  it  will  render  un- 


necessary  the  charge  of  building  and  maintaining  in  repair,  wells, 
pumps,  and  cisterns.  To  many  persons,  not  already  provided 
with  wells  and  cisterns,  it  will  be  a  great  saving  of  expense,  es- 
pecially to  those  whose  houses  are  so  situated  that  wells  of  pala- 
table water  are  not  to  be  obtained. 

In  the  estimate  to  be  made  of  the  pecuniary  worth  of  such  a 
supply  of  water,  the  increased  value  which  it  will  give  to  the  lots 
of  land  belonging  to  the  city,  situated  on  the  neck,  ought  not  to 
be  overlooked.  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  water  has  heretofore 
retarded  the  sale  and  settlement  of  these  lots.  By  extending  to 
them  the  supply  now  proposed,  a  new  value  will  be  added  to  this 
description  of  city  property,  as  well  as  to  much  unoccupied  land, 
belonging  to  individuals.  A  further  addition  may  be  made  to  the 
estimated  value  of  the  proposed  supply  of  water,  from  its  uses 
in  several  branches  cf  mechanic  labor,  for  the  supply  of  steam 
engines  and  other  manufacturing  purposes. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  case  the  system  recom- 
mended by  a  majority  of  the  Commissioners  shall  be  adopted, 
that  part  of  the  estimated  expenditure  which  is  required  to  pro- 
vide for  the  pumping  of  a  part  of  the  proposed  supply  of  water, 
from  Mystic  Pond,  may  be  postponed  for  a  period  of  three  or 
four  years,  and  so  much  longer  as  the  waters  of  Spot  Pond  shall 
afford  a  sufficient  quantity,  for  the  use  of  such  part  of  the  inhab- 
itants as  shall  within  that  time,  make  their  election  to  take  it. 
The  whole  expenditure  for  distribution  also,  will  not  be  required, 
until  there  shall  be  a  demand  from  as  many  as  12,000  tenants, 
which  number  will  be  sufficient  to  insure  the  income,  before  cal- 
culated upon. 

Considering  therefore  the  grounds  which  there  are  for  the  opin- 
ion, that  the  health  of  the  city  will  be  promoted,  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  a  supply  of  water,  purer  in  quality,  and  more  abundant  in 
quantity,  than  that  now  in  common  use  by  the  inhabitants, — con- 
sidering the  reasons  which  have  been  stated  for  the  belief  that 
such  a  supply  of  water,  as  th;\t  which  is  proposed  to  be  intro- 
duced into  the  city,  will,  in  a  course  of  years,  be  the  means  of 
preserving  from  destruction  by  fire,  a  large  amount  of  property, 
equal  perhaps  in  value,  to  the  whole  cost  of  the  works  required, 
for  obtaining  such  supply, — and,  considering  that,  independently 
of  these  advantages,  the  uses  of  the  water  for  the  ordinary  do- 


S8 

mestic  and  economical  purposes  of  the  inhabitants,  will  be  of  suf- 
ficient value  to  induce  them  voluntarily  to  pay  a  rent  for  the  use 
of  it,  probably  sufficient  to  discharge  the  interest,  if  not  ultimate- 
ly the  principal  of  the  debt  incurred  in  introducing  it,  your  Com- 
missioners cannot  hesitate,  strongly  to  recommend  the  adoption 
of  one  of  the  plans  which  they  have  proposed. 

We  beg  leave  to  remark,  that,  although  the  plans  are  believ- 
ed to  be  practicable,  at  an  expense  not  exceeding  that  stated  in 
the  estimates,  and  in  a  manner  to  produce  the  beneficial  results 
described,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that,  with  further  time  for 
examination,  improvements  may  be  made  in  many  of  the  details, 
without  any  material  variation,  certainly  without  any  increase  in 
the  cost  of  execution. 

In  closing  this  report,  we  think  it  proper  to  state  that  we  have 
been  indebted  to  the  reports  of  Messrs.  Baldwin  and  Eddy,  for 
many  valuable  facts  and  "opinions.  We  wish  moreover,  to  ex- 
press our  thanks  to  Peter  Vaughan,  Esq.,  of  London,  for  his 
unremitting  exertions  in  procuring  for  us  information  concerning 
the  London  water-works,  especially  from  Messrs.  Mylne  and 
Wicksteed,  the  highly  respectable  engineers  of  the  New  River 
aud  East  London  Water  Companies.  Our  acknowledgements 
are  likewise  particularly  due  to  Frederick  Graff,  Esq.,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Philadelphia  Water  Works,  for  the  highly  im- 
portant information  furnished  by  him,  in  the  most  acceptable 
manner,  concerning  the  works  under  his  direction. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

DANIEL    TREADWELL,  ) 

JAMES  F.   BALD-WIN,      }  Commissioners. 

NATHAN  HALE,  ) 

Boston,  Jfovember  23,  1837. 


39 


To  Samuel  A.  Eliot,   Esq.^   Mayor  and    Chairman  of  the 
Committee  for  procuring  Water  for  the  City. 

Sir, 

A  majority  of  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  procure  a 
supply  of  pure  and  soft  water  for  the  City  of  Boston,  having  in 
the  Report,  concluded  to  lecommend  for  adoption  a  plan  to 
which  1  object,  I  have  thought  it  proper  to  state  to  the  Commit- 
tee, in  few  words,  the  principal  reasons  for  my  non-concurrencs 
in  the?r  opinions. 

The  plan  is  to  obtain  a  supply  of  water  from  Spot  and  Mystic 
Ponds.  The  water  of  Mystic  Pond  to  be  pumped  up  into  a  res- 
ervoir in  Medford,  by  the  power  of  steam  engines  to  be  placed 
near  the  pond. 

To  the  plan  of  pumping  up  water  by  steam  power  in  whole  or 
in  part  for  the  supply  of  the  city,  I  object,  as  it  entails  forever 
on  the  city,  the  care,  trouble  and  expense  of  maintaining  this 
power,  and  of  supporting  perpetually  an  establishment  for  carry- 
ing on  its  operations. 

The  supervision  of  the  work  ;  the  agents,  engineers,  over- 
seers and  assistants,  which  such  an  establishment  will  require  ; 
the  maintenance  of  work  shops,  and  the  stock  and  tools  which 
must  be  kept  on  hand  and  in  order,  together  with  the  necessary 
provision  for  a  certain  supply  of  fuel  at  the  engine  station,  let  it 
cost  a  great  or  small  sum,  will  impose  on  the  city  government, 
such  constant  watchfulness  and  care,  as  to  make  it  a  toilsome  and 
perplexing  duty,  and  ought  therefore  to  be  avoided. 

Another  reason  for  rejecting  this  mode  of  raising  water,  is  the 
necessity  the  city  will  always  be  under,  of  maintaining  the  fires, 
which  must  never  go  out,  by  sea  borne  coal  ;  a  supply  of  which 
may  be  interrupted  or  entirely  cut  off  by  the  acts  of  our  own 
government,  or  the  interference  of  foreign  powers.  And  that  i^ 
seasons  of  scarcity,  in  providing  for  the  wants  of  this  establish- 
ment, burdens  may  be  imposed  oh  the  citizens,  by  enhancing  the 
price  of  such  fuel  as  may  be  necessary  for  their  ordinary  con- 
sumption. 


Probably,  it  is  the  difference  in  th©  estimated  cost  of  the  sev- 
eral plans,  which  has  produced  the  opinion,  given  in  the  report, 
in  fovor  of  the  Medford  waters.  It  seems  that  at  the.  end  of  the 
first  ten  years,  provision  must  be  made  for  an  addition  supply, 
for  a  second  term  of  ten  years  ;  say  in  the  eleventh  year  from 
this  lime,  the  necessary  expenditure  for  the  additional  supply 
will  have  been  incurred,  and  then  the  difference  in  the  cost,  will 
be  only  117,000  dollars  in  favor  of  the  pumping  system. 

And  what,  sir,  are  ten  or  eleven  years,  or  what  are  111,000 
dollars,  in  a  work  of  this  description  ?  Population  is  increasing 
and  will  continue  to  increase,  whether  the  work  goes  on  now  or 
not — and  if  we  go  on  in  this  piece-meal  way,  we  shall  ever  be  at 
work,  and  never  fully  satisfy  the  wants  of  the  citizens. 

72,000  dollars,  now  put  at  compound  interest,  at  5  per  cent., 
will  produce  in  10  years,  an  amount  equal  to  the  difference  in 
the  cost  at  that  time,  of  the  two  modes  of  supplying  the  ciiy. 

If  therefore  a  saving  in  the  estimate  of  bringing  the  water  of 
Long  Pond,  could  be  made  of  72,000  dollars,  the  two  plans  at 
the  end  of  1 1  years  would  cost  alike. 

If  American  hydraulic  lime  will  answer  the  purpose  for  build- 
ing the  brick  aqueduct,  and  if  one  cask  and  a  half  is  sufficient,  as 
some  masons  believe  it  is,  for  laying  1,000  of  bricks — then  in 
this  item  alone,  67,500  dollars  can  be  saved  ;  for  2^  casks  of 
this  lime  to  1,000  of  bricks,  h-ave  been  allowed  in  the  estimate. 
The  "  Duty"  of  one  of  the  Cornish  engines  has  been  taken 
for  the  basis  of  the  estimate  of  the  steam  power  by  which  the 
pumps  are  to  be  worked.  This  duty  is  60  millions  of  pounds, 
raised  one  foot,  with  one  bushel  (84  lbs.)  of  coal.  This  duty 
is  not  extraordinary  in  the  Cornish  mines,  where  the  water  is 
raised  perpendicularly,  but  it  is  double  that  which  is  obtained 
from  any  of  the  engines,  used  by  the  eight  water  companies  of 
London,  for  pumping  water  for  the  use  of  that  city  ;  and  it  is 
somewhat  singular,  that  for  20  years  this  great  improvement  in 
pumping  has  been  overlooked,  or  at  least  has  not  been  there 
adopted.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  it  cannot  be  done,  but  I 
may  say  as  much  as  is  said  in  the  report  about  the  brick  aqueduct, 
that  it  has  not  as  yet  been  successfully  tested. 

I  object  to  Mystic  Pond  as  a  source  of  supply.     The  Pond 
lies  below  the  level  of  high  tides — thes-e  tides  now  flow  mto  and 


41 

out  of  the  Pond — and  a  dam  across  the  outlet  must  be  erected, 
to  shut  out  the  tide  waters  and  retain  the  fresh. 

The  effect  of  building  such  a  dam,  will  be,  in  my  opinion,  to 
fill  up,  in  some  degree,  the  channel  of  the  river,  and  produce 
serious  consequences  to  the  inhabitants  of  Medford  ;  who  would, 
I  think,  successfully  resist  any  application,  made  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, for  authority  to  establish  it. 

The  free  passage  of  the  water  into  and  from  the  Pond,  gives 
such  a  scouring  power  to  the  current  of  the  tide  in  the  river  be- 
low, as  to  carry  off  or  prevent  any  deposite  of  silt  or  dirt, 
which,  but  for  this,  would  remain,  and  in  time,  sensibly  contract 
the  channel,  and  reduce  the  depth  of  water. 

I  object  to  the  color  and  character  of  the  water  which  compo- 
ses this  source.  Much  of  the  v;ater  is  derived  from  the  .Middle- 
sex Canal,  from  tlie  leaks  and  wastes  on  a  large  portion  of  its 
length.  This  canal  is  fed  from  Concord  River,  in  Billerica,  a 
large  part  of  whose  waters  lie  every  year,  nearly  motionless, 
through  the  dog  days,  steeping  the  grass  on  the  Sudbury  mead- 
ows, for  many  miles  in  extent. 

There  are  also  upon  the  streams  which  flovr  into  this  Pond, 
15  or  20  dams  and  water  privileges,  where  various  kinds  of  mills 
and  factories  are  in  operation;  and' although  there  may  not  be 
at  present,  any,  more  objectionable  than  hat  factories,  tanneries, 
&.C.,  still,  at  some  future  day,  they  all  may  contribute,  more  or 
less,  to  render  the  water  unfit  for  domestic  purposes.  It  is  not 
now  the  question  whether  such  water  is  better  than  the  citizens 
now  use,  but  it  is,  whether  such  w^ater  is  likely  to  be  as  pure  as 
can  be  had  from  other  sources. 

I  have,  sir,  thus  briefly  given  the  most  prominent  reasons 
which  h:ive  occured  to  me,  for  rejecting  the  waters  of  Mystic 
Pond,  and  the  mode  of  obtaining  it  ;  and  conclude  in  the  lan- 
guage of  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Fair  Mount  Water  Works, 
"  if  you  can  get  water  without  pumping  it,  I  advise  you  to  do  it." 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  F.  BALDWIN,    \  ^J^' 'f  l^''  ^^^^'^ 

'    (     iJo7ninissione7^s. 

Boston,  November  23,  1837. 


To  Messrs.  D.  Treadwell  and  N.  Hale, 
Gentlemen, 

Mr.  Baldwin,  who  has  been  associated  with  you,  in  the 
commission  on  the  introduction  of  water,  has  sent  me  a  commu- 
nication containing  some  objections  to  the  plan  approved  by  you. 
As  I  see  no  particular  reference  to  these  objections  in  the  re- 
port, I  send  you  the  communication,  that  you  may  have  an 
opportunity  to  present  to  the  city  council  any  remarks  you  may 
think  it  expedient  to  make. 

Respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 
(Signed)  SAML.  A  ELIOT. 

City  Hall,  December  1,  1837. 


To  Samuel  A.  Eliot,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Boston,  and 
Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee,  on  supplying  the  City 
with  Water. 

Sir, 

We  have  examined  the  objections  of  Mr.  Baldwin,  to  our 
recommendation  of  a  plan  of  water  works,  enclosed  to  us,  with 
your  note  of  the  1st  inst.,  and  proceed  to  make  such  remarks 
upon  them,  as  appear  to  us  necessary  for  the  information  of  the 
city  government. 

Mr.  Baldwin's  first  objection  is  to  the  plan  of  pumping  w"ater 

.by  steam  power.  The  grounds  of  this  objection  are,  "  that  it 
entails  forever  upon  the  city,  the  care,  trouble  snd  expense  of 
maintaining  this  power,"  and  in  the  next  paragraph,  he  specifies 
the  components  of  this  "  care,  trouble,  and  expense,"  to  be 
agents,  engineers,  overseers,  and  assistants  ;  the  maintenance  of 
work-shops,  and  the  stock  ot  tools  which  must  be  kept  on  hand 
and  in  order,  and  ends  his  account  with  the  necessity  of  keeping 

a  supply  of  fuel  for  the  use  of  the  engine. 


43 

Neglecting,  for  the  present,  the  last  objection,  you  will  no 
doubt,  be  surprised  to  find,  as  is  shown  in  the  estimate,  that  the 
whole  care  and  trouble  to  the  cily  government,  or  to  the  super- 
intendent of  the  water  works,  for  the  first  ten  years,  will  be  in 
the  appointment  of  one  operative  engineer,  who  will  employ  two 
common  firemen,  for  about  four  months  in  each  year.  The  ex- 
pense of  these  workmen  to  the  city,  is  unquestionably  an  objec- 
tion, which  amounts,  according  to  our  estimate,  including  all 
purchases  to  renew  parts  of  the  engine,  worn  out,  to  $2,100  a 
year.  This  weight  is  given  to.it  throughout  the  report.  Indeed, 
if  it  were  possible  to  raise  water  by  steam  power,  without  ex- 
pense, our  examination  would  have  ended  with  Charles  River  or 
Mystic  Pond.  The  whole  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  objection,  there- 
fore, goes  to  a  repetition  of  one  of  the  items  of  cost  in  the  plan 
recommended  by  us,  which,  after  having  been  fairly  considered 
and  appraised  in  the  report,  was  found  to  be  of  so  inconsiderable 
weight,  that  the  plan  of  which  it  made  part,  was  still  to  be  de- 
cidedly preferred  to  any  other. 

Our  answer  to  the  next  objection,  namely,  that  founded  upon 
the  necessity  of  providing  a  supply  of  fuel,  is  the  same  as  that 
given  to  the  preceding,  which  is,  that  according  to  our  best  judg- 
ment, it  weighs  just  $790  a  year,  and  to  this  extent  it  is  to  be 
taken  against  the  plan  recommended,  but  no  farther.  But  as  this 
plan,  with  this  objection  thus  resting  upon  it,  has  been  shown  to 
be  more  advantageous  than  any  other,  we  are  unable  to  perceive 
why  it  ought  not  to  be  adopted. 

-  There  are  some  amplifications,  however,  in  the  recital  and 
repetition  of  this  objection  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  which  deserve 
further  notice.  Thus  it  is  said  that  the  city  will  always  be  un- 
der the  necessity  of  maintaining  the  fires,  which  "  must  never  go 
out."  Now,  during  the  first  ten  years,  it  is  shown  that  the  en- 
gine will  be  required  to  raise  but  390,000  gallons  of  water  a  day, 
or  142,350,000  gallons  a  year.  The  report  and  estimate,  ex- 
pressly state,  that  the  engine  is  calculated  to  raise  2,500,000 
gallons  in  20  hours,  or  1,095,000,000  gallons  a  year.  'If  there- 
fore, it  be  kept  at  work  1,138  hours,  or  48  days  in  any  part  of 
the  year,  the  supply  will  be  maintained.  It  is  not  true  then,  that 
the  fires  must  be  always  maintained,  unless  always  be  taken  as 
equivalent  to  one  seventh  part  of  the  time.     Again,  it  is  said  that 


44 

the  fires  must  be  maintained  by  "  sea-borne  coal,  a  supply  of 
which  may  be  interrupted,  or  entirely  cut  off  by  the  acts  of  our 
own  government,  or  the  interposition  of  foreign  powers,  and  that 
in  seasons  of  scarcity,  in  providing  for  the  wants  of  this  estabhsh- 
ment,  burdens  may  be  imposed  upon  the  citizens,  by  enhancing 
the  price  of  such  fuel  as  may  be  necessary  for  their  ordinary  con- 
sumption." 

It  is  true,  that  in  our  statement  of  the  cost  of  fuel  for  pump- 
ing, we  assumed  that  the  engines  should  be  kept  in  operation  by 
coal,  as  that  article  alone  is  used  for  the  engines  which  formed 
the  guide  in  our  estimates.  Mr.  Baldwin  Vvell  knows,  however, 
that  steam  may  be  formed  by  the  heat  of  a  wood  fire,  as  effectual- 
ly as  by  that  of  coal.  lie  has  even  read  of  an  engine  in  Corn- 
wall, pumping  water  by  a  fire  of  turf,  at  an  expense  of  eight 
pence  half  penny  a  day.  As  to  the  hardship  the  citizens  are 
likely  to  experience,  from  an  advance  of  the  price  of  coal  occa- 
sioned by  the  extent  of  our  demand  in  the  market,  we  beg  leave 
to  refer  you  to  the  coal  merchants  to  decide  how  much  the  price 
is  affected,  by  an  extra  demand  of  1  or  200  chaldrons  a  year. 

After  this  statement  of  objections,  Mr.  Baldwin  proceeds  ; 
"  Probably  it  is  the  difference  in  the  estimated  cost  of  the  sev- 
eral plans  which  has  produced  the  opinion  given  in  the  report,  in 
favor  of  the  Medford  waters." 

Let  us  see  how  far  this  statement  is  borne  out  by  the  report. 
On  turning  to  that,  you  will  find  that  the  several  plans  are  com- 
pared one  with  another  as  follows,  1st,  their  relative  cost  ;  2d, 
the  quantity  of  water  to  be  obtained  hy  each  ;  3d,  the  constant 
and  unfailing  certainty  of  their  operations  ;  4th,  the  purity  of 
such  water.  Under  this  comparison,  the  plan  recommended  was 
adjudged  to  be  superior  to  that  founded  upon  Long  Pond,  in  all 
but  the  second  point,  in  which  they  were  shown  to  be  equal. 
Hovv  can  it  be  said  then,  that  our  decision  was  made  upon  the 
relative  cost  alone,  when  it  was  shown  that,  in  our  opinion,  an 
equal  quantity  of  belter  water  could  be  obtained  with  greater 
certainty  by  the  plan  recommended,  than  by  that  rejected  ?  The~ 
difference  in  cost,  being  ^268,288,  in  our  opinion,  deserved, 
and  it  received  our  attention,  and  had  its  due  influence  upon  us, 
though  by  no  means  paramount,  or  indeed  equal  to'"  that  produced 
by  our  greater  confidence  that   the   supply,   by  the  plan   recom- 


45 

mended,  will  not  be  subject  to  interruption  by  any  event  which 
seems  to  us  in  the  least  degree  likely  to  happen. 

Mr.  Baldwin  next  says,  "  It  seems  that  at  the  end  of  the  first 
ten  years,  provision  must  be  made  for  an  additional  supply  for  a 
second  term  of  ten  years,"  and  again,  "  If  we  go  on  in  this 
piece-meal  way,  we  shall  ever  be  at  work,  and  never  fully  satisfy 
the  wants  of  the  citizens."  In  our  opinion,  they  must  be  very 
unreasonable  not  to  be  satisfied  with  a  barrel  of  water  a  day, 
each,  man,  woman  and  child,  and  this  provided  for  them  at  the 
cheapest  rate  possible.  We  thi.nk  they  ought  to  be  better  satis- 
fied with  this,  than  to  pay  a  greater  price  for  a  larger  quantity, 
which  they  do  not  want,  and  which  will  be  at  their  disposal  only 
at  the  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill.  It  would  no  doubt  be  inferred 
from  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Baldwin  makes  this  statement, 
that  if  the  plan  depending  upon  Long  Pond  were  adopted,  no 
future  "  piece-meal"  addition  would  be  required  to  it.  It  will 
be  seen  by  the  report  and  estimates,  however,  that  the  pipe  from 
the  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,  where  the  brick  conduit  from 
Long  Pond  is  laid  out  to  terminate,  will  bring  no  more  water  to 
Boston,  than  will  be  brought  by  the  pipe  from  Spot  and  Mystic 
Ponds,  and  that  were  that  plan  adopted,  at  the  end  of  ten  years, 
or  whenever  the  city  shall  require  more  than  3,000,000  gallons  a 
day,  an  additional  pipe,  3.88  miles  long  and  costing  ^189,279 
must  be  provided.  But  1-et  us  look  a  little  farther  into  the  future. 
When  the  population  shall  have  increased  to  240,000,  which  may 
be, in  30  or  40  years,  all  the  water  which  will  be  supplied  hj  the 
conduit  from  Long  Pond  to  Corey's  Hill,  or  all  the  water  of 
Long  Pond,  will  be  required  for  their  use,  and  an  additional  pop- 
ulation can  only  be  supplie-d  by  new  works,  perhaps  by  pumping 
from  Mystic  Pond.  It  appears,  therefore,  that  additions  will  be 
required,  to  the  works,  whichever  plan  may  be  adopted,  but  as 
Mystic  Pond  will  furnish  much  greater  quantity  of  water  than 
Long  Pond,  it  will  supply  the  increased  works  through  a  much 
longer  period. 

After  an  effort  to  show  that,  giving  their  full  prospective  value 
to  works  connected  with  Long  Pond,  they  will  not,  at  the  end 
of  ten  years,  exceed  in  cost,  the  plan  recommended  in  a  greater 
siim  than  $117,000  as  stated  in  the  report,  and  that  that  sum  may 
be  produced  at  the  end  of  ten  years  by  a  present  investment  of 


^72,000  continued  at  compound  interest,  a  fact  which  we  shall 
not  gainsay,  Mr.  Baldwin  proceeds,  "  If  Annerican  hydraulic 
lime  will  answer  the  purpose  for  building  the  brick  aqueduct,  and 
if- one  cask  and  a  half  is  sufficient,  as  some  masons  believe  it  is, 
for  laying  ],000  of  bricks,  then  in  this  item  alone,  67,500  dollars 
can  be  saved,  for  2^  casks  of  this  lime  to  1,000  of  bricks,  have 
been  allowed  in  the  estimate."  Of  these  two  hypotheses,  the 
first,  implying  the  use  of  American  liydraulic  lime,  was  admitted 
perhaps  with  too  great  liberality  or  favor  to  the  plan  of  bringing 
the  supply  from  Long  Pond,  in  the  estimate  given  in  the  report. 
The  second,  implying  that  the  estimate  provides  for  a  much 
greater  quantity  of  cement  than  will  be  required,  is  in  direct  con- 
tradiction to  the  best  evidence  obtained  from  practical  men  in  the 
course  of  our  examination  of  the  work  proposed.  Mr.  Baldwin 
knows  that  one  very  intelligent  and  experienced  mason  declared, 
repeatedly,  that  three  casks  of  hydraulic  lime  will  be  required  to 
lay  1,000  bricks  in  the  form  proposed.  Would  it  not  be  most 
unwarrantable  then,  to  assume  that  less  than  the  estimated  quan- 
tity will  be  sufUcient  ?  Would  it  not  be  much  more  reasonable 
to  reverse  the  conditions,  and  say  "  If  English  Roman  cement 
be  necessary  to  ensure  the  purity  of  the  water,  and  if  three  casks 
of  this  cement  are  required  to  lay  1,000  bricks,  the  estimate  will 
fall  short  of  the  expenditure  in  the  sum  of  $236,250.  Indeed 
we  are  not  without  some  slight  apprehensions,  as  stated  in  the 
report,  that  American  hydraulic  lime  will  be  slowly  dissolved  and 
make  the  water  both  hard  and  bitter.  A  very  strong  case  of  this 
kind  has  occurred  at  Lowell,  and  the  appearance  of  that  admira- 
ble work,  the  dry  dock  in  Charlestown,  is  not  calculated  to  allay 
our  apprehensions. 

On  a  review  of  the  description  and  estimates  of  the  aqueduct, 
as  proposed  from  Long  Pond,  we  can  find  no  reason  to  hope 
that  any  considerable  saving  in  the  expenditure  can  be  effected. 
No  unnecessary  materials  or  structure,  seem  to  have  been  provid- 
ed for.  The  work  as  laid  out  by  us  will  not  compare  in  solidity 
or  strength  with  that  now  constructing  for  the  supply  of  New 
York.  We  have  moreover  relied  upon  a  single  conduit,  never 
to  be  interrupted  by  repairs  for  a  period  exceeding  two  days,  al- 
though the  late  eminent  Sir  Thomas  Telford  in  his  project  for 
supplying  water  to  London  from  a  new  source,  thought  in  neces- 


47 

sary  to  provide  for  laying  two  such  conduits,  both  built  in  a  more 
thorough  manner  than  that  proposed  by  us,  and  each  independent 
of  and  separated  from  the  other,  not  choosing  to  rely  solely  upon 
a  single  work  of  this  kind.  We  do  not  mean  by  this  to  say  that  the 
work,  as  proposed  in  the  report  will  be  insufficient  for  the  object, 
but  that,  no  unnecessary  expenditure  is  contemplated  in  the  esti- 
mate, and  that  no  saving  in  cost  can  be  expected  upon  it. 

The  two  succeeding  paragraphs  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  paper,  tend 
to  cast  doubt  upon  the  conclusion  arrived  at  in  the  report,  upon 
authorities  there  stated,  that  60,000,000  lbs.  maybe  raised  1  foot 
high  by  the  steam  engine,  with  a  consumption  of  one  bushel 
of  coals.  The  foundation  of  this  doubt  is  somewhat  singular. 
He  believes  that  this  duty  h  reached,  (it  is  often  exceeded  by 
more  than  fifty  per  cent.)  in  Cornwall,  but  still  retains  his  doubts 
whether  we  here,  can  equal  it,  for  the  reason  that  the  London 
Engineers  have  not  yet  attained  to  it.  The  London  Engines,  as 
is  known  to  Mr.  Baldwin,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Wicksteed, 
engineer  of  a  London  water  company,  are  very  differently  con- 
structed and  wrought,  from  those  of  Cornwall,  and  it  seems  to  us 
that^the  reasonableness  of  our  conclusion,  that  we  can  approach 
somewhat  near,  at  least,  to  the  common  result  produced  in 
Cornwall,  by  using  the  same  instrument  which  is  there  used,  can- 
not be  successfully  impunged,  by  showing  that  other  persons  can- 
not produce  a  like  result  with  a  different  instrument.  In  the  pro- 
gress of  the  arts,  one  community  or  city  must  necessarily  be 
in  advance  of  another.  It  is  but  a  few  years,  not,  "twenty," 
since  the  Cornish  engines  attained  their  present  excellence,  an 
excellence  which  the  London  companies  are  now  about  to  imi- 
tate ;  as  Mr.  Weeksteed,  the  engineer  mentioned  in  the  preced- 
ing paragraph,  in  a  communication  now  in  our  possession,  and 
which  has,  we  believe,  been  read  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  says  "  we 
are  about  to  erect  a  Cornish  engine  at  Oldford,"  the  site  of  the 
East  London  water  works,  "  which  will  consume  not  more  than 
one  third  of  the  coals  we  now  use." 

The  next  paragraph  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  paper  is  as  follows. 
"  I  object  to  Mystic  Pond  as  a  source  of  supply.  This  Pond 
lies  below  the  level  of  high  tides,  these  tides  now  flow  into  and 
out  of  the  Pond,  and  a  dam  across  the  outlet  must  be  erected,  to 
shut  out  the  tide  waters  and  retain  the  fresh. 


48 

"  The  effect  of  building  such  a  dam,  will  be,  in  my  opinion, 
to  fill  up,  in  some  degree,  the  channel  of  the  river,  and  produce 
serious  consequences  to  the  inhabitants  of  Medford,  who  would, 
I  think,  successfully  resist  any  application  made  to  the  Legisla- 
ture for  authority  to  establish  it. 

"  The  free  passage  of  tlie  water  into  and  from  the  Pond,  gives 
such  a  scouring  power  to  the  current  of  llie  tide  in  the  river  be- 
low, as  to  carry  off  or  prevent  any  deposit  of  mud  or  silt,  wliich, 
but  for  this,  would  remain,  and  in  lime,  sensibly  contract  the 
channel  and  reduce  the  depth  of  water." 

We  look  in  vain  through  the  foregoing  statement,  for  any  thing 
w'hich  affects  the  quality  of  the  water  of  Mystic  Pond,  or  the 
security,  cost,  or  abundance  of  supply.  We  cannot  however  but 
lament  that  it  should  have  been  thus  made,  because  it  is  possible 
that  it  may  raise  groundless  appreliensions  in  the  minds  of  the 
citizens  of  Medford,  and  we  shall  therefore  give  it  more  attention 
than  we  should  otherwise  have  thought  it  necessary  to  bestow 
upon  it.  It  is  true  as  stated  at  length  in  the  report,  that  imme- 
diately before  the  high  water  of  spring  tides  during  the  dry  sea- 
son, a  current  passes  from  Mystic  River  into  the  Pond,  and  the 
quantity  of  water  which  passes  up  Mystic  River  from  the  sea, 
is  by  this  means  in  a  very  small  degree,  increased.  But  whether 
the  channel  of  the  river  below  the  Pond,  is  thereby  cleared  or 
scoured,  we  think  admits  of  great  doubt.  We  are  unable  to 
perceive  why  as  much  mud  and  silt  should  not  be  brought  up  the 
river  from  the  extensive  flats  north  of  Charlestown,  as  will  be 
carried  down  by  the  refiux  of  the  same  water.  In  our  view  the 
difference  either  way  must  be  altogether  inappreciable  ;  and  we 
think  this  view  is  warranted  by  the  custom  almost  universal,  of 
damming  the  tide  waters  upon  our  sea-board.  The  rivers  and 
large  creeks  of  this  Commonwealth,  for  example,  are  with  very 
few  exceptions  crossed  by  dams  near  their  mouths,  which  efTec- 
tually  bar  the  flow  of  the  tide  waters. 

The  Charles  is  thus  dammed  at  Watertown,  and  a  flow  of 
water  to  the  depth  of  three  feet  at  spring  tides,  cut  off.  The 
Neponset  is  crossed  by  two  dams  at  Milton  Bridge,  which  stop 
the  influx  of  the  neap  tides,  even.  The  rivers  at  Salem,  Bev- 
erly, and  Ipswich  are  all  crossed  by  dams  cutting  off  the  flow  of 
tidewater.     Can  it  be  that  this  practice  has  been  persevered  in 


49 

from  the  earliest  times,  without  complaint  from  those  interested 
in  navigation,  if  any  injury  was  produced  upon  the  channels  and 
harbors  ?  With  all  this  before  them,  we  believe  that  the  citizens 
of  Medford  will  regard  all  consequences  which  can  be  produced 
by  a  dam  across  the  outlet  of  their  Pond,  as  too  trivial  to  excite 
uneasiness.  As  for  any  "  successful  resistance  to  an  application 
to  the  Legislature  for  authority  to  establish  it"  which  Mr.  Bald- 
win thinks  will  be  made  by  the  citizens  of  Medford  ;  we  beg  to 
refer  you  to  the  116th  Chapter  of  the  Revised  Statutes.  You 
will  there  find,  "  That  any  person  may  erect  and  maintain  a 
water  mill,  and  a  dam  to  raise  water  for  working  it,  upon  and 
across  any  stream  that  is  not  navigable,  upon  the  terms  and  con- 
ditions, and  subject  to  the  regulations  herein  after  expressed." 
These  terms  and  conditions  are  essentially,  that  the  person  build- 
ing the  dam  shall  not  place  it  upon  another  man's  land  without 
consent  from  the  owner.  That  it  shall  not  produce  injury  to 
another  mill  upon  the  same  stream,  and  that  the  owner  shall  be 
liable  in  damages  for  all  land  flowed  by  it.  More  than  this  the 
Legislature  specially  granted  in  the  year  1S36  to  the  Boston 
Hydraulic  Company,  incorporated  for  supplying  the  City  of  Bos- 
ton with  water,  the  right  to  take  any  Ponds  or  lands  covered 
with  water  north  of  Charles  River,  and  within  12  miles  of  the 
City  of  Boston,  and  "  The  said  corporation  may  erect  dams  at 
the  outlets  of  any  Ponds  which  said  corporation  may  take  pursu- 
ant to  the  provisions  of  this  act."  This  company  has  never 
taken  possession  of  these  rights,  and  surely  the  Legislature  will 
not  now  deny,  to  the  City  of  Boston,  the  same  privileges  which 
were  then  granted  to  a  private  company. 

Mr.  Baldwin's  last  objection  is  made  to  the  "  color  and  charac- 
ter" of  the  water  of  Mystic  Pond.  He  grounds  this  objection 
upon  the  facts  that  a  portion  of  the  water  is  remotely  derived 
from  Concord  River  through  the  Middlesex  Canal,  and  that  there 
are  several  mills  upon  the  other  water  courses  which  empty  into 
the  pond.  For  that  portion  of  the  supply  vi'hich  comes  from  the 
Canal,  as  it  is  for  the  most  part  filtered  in  its  passage  from  the  , 
Canal  to  the  pond,  we  lament  that  it  is  not  more  abundant.  With 
regard  to  the  influence  of  mills  in  rendering  waters  impure,  w^e 
have  alreadly  expressed  our  opinion  in  the  report,  when  giving 
an  account  of  the  water  of  Charles  River.     It  is  by  no  means 

7 


60 

pleasant  to  dwell  upon  the  sources  of  impurity  to  which  all  wa- 
ters, which  can  be  procured  in  civilized  life,  are  exposed,  whether 
in  ponds,  rivers,  wells,  or  even  springs.  The  mills  mostly  saw  and 
grist  mills,  upon  the  streams  connected  with  Mystic  Pond  are 
we  believe,  very  harmless  things.  There  is  no  evidence  of  con- 
tamination produced  by  them,  either  in  the  appearance  of  the 
water  or  in  its  analysis.  We  need  not  repeat  that  the  analysis 
shows  the  water  to  be  more  pure  than  that  of  Long  Pond,  which 
receives  in  the  dry  season  the  drainage  from  an  extensive  swamp 
or  meadow.  While  therefore  we  believe  that  the  water  of  Mys- 
tic Pond  ought  not  to  be  rejected  for  want  of  purity,  we  may  re- 
mu]d  you  that  Spot  Pond,  from  which  in  the  plan  recommended, 
the  greater  part  of  the  water  will  for  many  years  be  derived,  is 
the  most  pure  and  unexceptionable  of  all  the  sources  examined 
by  us. 

Having  thus  examined,  we  beheve  all  the  objections  of  Mr. 
Baldwin,  and  made  such  remarks  upon  them  as  seemed  to  us  neces- 
sary, we  leave  the  subject  to  those  who  alone  have  authority  to 
decide  upon  the  whole  question. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

DANIEL  TREADWELL, 
NATHAN  HALE, 
Boston,  Dec.  8,  1837. 


61 


PAPER  MARKED  A. 

Quantity  of  Water  of  Spot  Pond. 

With  the  consent  of  the  proprietors  of  the  pond,  an  apparatus 
was  placed  at  the  outlet,  for  measuring,  at  pleasure,  the  quantity 
of  water  flowing  from  it,  during  a  given  number  of  seconds  ;  and 
an  agent  was  employed  to  make  such  measurement  three  limes  a 
day,  from  May  4th,  to  October  2d.  Since  the  last  named  date, 
the  measurement  has  been  made  but  once  a  day. 

The  water,  after  flowing  from  the  pond,  through  the  gate  or 
over  the  wasteway,  is  received  into  a  smaller  pond  or  reservoir, 
at  some  distance  below  the  gate,  and  from  this  reservoir  it  is  dis- 
charged over  a  fall  of  considerabl-e  height,  before  coming  to  the 
mills  of  Messrs.  Odiorne  and  the  other  works.  At  this  fall  a 
trough  is- placed,  into  which  the  water  is  received  through  a 
notch,  36  inches  in  width,  with  an  even  horizontal  bottom  ;  and 
a  guage  or  scale  on  which  the  inches  and  parts  are  accurately 
marked,  is  placed  in  the  roservoir,  in  such  manner  as  to  indicate 
at  all  times,  the  height  of  the  surface  of  the  water,  above  the 
bottom  of  the  notch. 

The  trough  is  placed  at  such  a  slope  that  the  water  flows  rap- 
idly through  it,  and  is  discharged  into  the  brook  below.  Beneath 
this  trough,  a  cubical  box  or  cistern  is  so  placed,  that  the  whole 
current  of  water  may  be  discharged  into  it,  by  a  sudden  removal 
of  a  section  of  the  trough.  By  replacing  the  section  of  the 
trough,  the  current  is  again  suddenly  discharged  into  the  brook 
below.  The  cavity  of  this  box  measures  six  feet  on  each  side, 
and  consequently  it  contains  216  cubic  feet.  A  scale  is  fixed 
on  the  inside  of  it,  by  which  the  depth  of  water  in  it,  at  any  time, 
may  be  readily  observed,  and  the  quantity  accurately  determined. 
It  is  also  provided  with  a  gate,  for  the  discharge  of  the  water  at 
pleasure. 

All  the  water,  therefore,  which  is  discharged  from  Spot  Pond, 
either  over  the  wasteway,  or  through,  the  gate,  flows  regula'-ly 
through  this  trough,  and  may  be  at  any  time  discharged  for  any 
number  of  seconds  into  the  box  ;  the  time  being  noted  by  the  ob- 
server, by  means  of  a  minute  or  half  minute  glass.  The  height 
to  which  the  water  rises  on  the  scale,  shows  the  quantity  of  wa- 
ter discharged  during  the  time. 

The  agent  has  recorded,  not  only  the  quantity  of  water  thus 
drawn  off"  at  each  observation,  "but  also  the  height  of  water  in 
the  reservoir  at  the  time,  above  the  bottom  of    the   notch,    from 


52 

which  the  quantuy  of  the  flow  may  be  computed  by  a  well  known 
rule. 

Our  observations  upon  Spot  Pond  commenced  March  31st, 
1S37,  when  the  Pond  was  nearly  full,  about  2  inches  below  the 
top  of  the  wasteway.  There  was  drawn  from  it  from  March 
31st  to  November  3d,  217  days,  upon  an  average,  4.75  cubic 
feet  a  second,  and  this  draft  lowered  the  water,  4  feet  8  inches. 
The  whole  quantity  of  v/ater  as  measured  which  ran  out  during 
this  time  was  89,056,800  cubic  feet,  which  is  equal  to  1,829,932 
gallons  a  day  for  365  days  or  one  year. 

Taking  the  area  of  the  Pond  when  at  its  mean  height  at  240 
acres=10,454,400  feet,  this  quantity,  89,056,800  cubic  feet, 
would  have  filled  it  8.51  feet  high.  It  was  drawn  down  4.66 
feet,  and  this  basin,  240  acres  large  and  4.66  feet  deep,  contain- 
ed 48,717,504  cubic  feet.  Hence  of  the  whole  quantity  89,- 
056,800  cubic  feet  drawn,  48,717,504  cubic  feet  were  given  by 
lowering  the  Pond,  and  the  remainder  40,339,269  cubic  feet 
were  supplied  by  rains  and  springs  ;  and  in  addition  to  this  a  quan- 
tity equal  to  the  whole  evaporation,  which  was  not  measured. 

The  question  now  comes,  will  the  Pond,  if  the  gate  should  be 
shut  down,  and  no  further  draft  made  from  it,  fill  from  rains  and 
springs,  before  the  31st  of  March,  1838,  to  the  point  at  which  it 
stood  on  the  same  day  this  year  .''  that  is  4  feet  8  inches  above 
its  present  level .''  For  if  it  will  so  fill,  then  the  yield  of  the 
Pond  for  the  year  may  be  taken  at  1 ,829,932  gallons  a  day  for 
the  whole  period. 

By  the  observations  made  in  April  and  May  last,  we  found 
that  the  Pond  received  during  those  two  months  an  accession  of 
37,807,755  cubic  feet  which  is  only  oO  per  cent,  less  than  the 
whole  quantity,  48,717,504  cubic  feet,  required  to  fill  the  Pond. 
The  quantity  of  rain  which  fell  in  April  and  May,  according  to 
the  observations  of  .Dr.  tiale  in  Boston  was  8.82  inches  ;  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Hobbs  at  Waltham  10.96  inches, — mean  9.89 
inches  which  is  considerably  above  the  rain  of  the  same  months 
in  ordinary  years.  But  as  the  snow  had  nearly  all  disappeared 
on  the  1st  of  April,  it  is  difiiicult  to  conceive  of  the  Pond  having 
received  an  accession  of  more  than  two-thirds  as  much  water 
during  April  and  May,  two  months,  as  it  ordinarily  receives  in 
November,  December,  January,  February  and  March,  five 
months.  This  hypothesis  is  strengthened  by  the  observations 
made  for  several  years  at  Jamaica  Fond,  as  published  in  the  re- 
port by  L.  Baldwin,  Esq.,  which  show  the  increase  of  that  Pond 
upon  an  average  often  years,  to  be  about  three  times  as  much  in 
February  and  March,  as  it  is  in  April  and  May. 

If  then  we  conclude  that  the  accession  of  water  to  the  Pond  in 
the  months  of  November,  December,  January,  February  and 
March,  five  months,  be  50  per  cent,   more  than  the  accession 


55 

during  the  last  April  and  May,  two  months,  we  shall  have  37,- 
807,745+18,903,877=56,711,632  cubic  feet,  or  7,994,128 
cubic  feet  more  than  enough  to  fill  the  Pond.  We  have  seen 
that  if  the  pond  be  filled  only,  under  the  conditions  before  stated, 
the  yjeld  for  the  year  will  be  1,829,932  gallons  a  day.  As  the 
year  has  been  unusually  dry,  we  feel  warranted  in  taking  the  aver- 
age produce  to  be  2,100,000  gallons,  the  minimum  1,600,000, 
and  the  maximum  2,600,000. 


PAPER  MARKED  B. 

Quantity  of  Water  of  Long  Pond. 

The  discharge  from  Long  Pond^  as  near  as  we  could  measure 
it,  on  the  1 7th  of  April,  when  we  first  examined  its  outlet,  was 
22.90  cubic  feet  a  second.  Again,  on  the  1st  of  June,  the  dis- 
charge, by  our  estimate,  was  43.33  cubic  feet.  This  great  dis- 
charge, was  produced  by  the  removal  of  a  plank  forming  a  part  of 
the  stopwater,  sometime  between  the  17th  of  April  and  the  1st 
of  June,  and  by  it  the  water  of  the  whole  pond  was  drawn  off  to 
the  depth  of  11  inches.  We  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the 
day  on  which  the  stopwater  was  removed,  but  as  the  flovi'  on  the 
1st  of  June  was  20.43  feet  per  second  greater  than  on  the  17th 
of  April,  and  as  the  pond  in  the  mean  time  was  drawn  down  1 1 
inches,  it  seems  reasonable  to  attribute  the  increased  flow  on  the 
1st  of  June,  to  the  retnoval  of  the  plank,  and  to  assume  that  if 
the  pond  had  not  been  drawn  down,  the  average  flow  would  not 
have  varied  materially  from  what  it  was  computed  to  be  on  the 
17th  of  April,  viz.  22.90.  We  may  assume,  moreover,  that  the 
accession  of  water  to  the  pond,  during  the  months  of  February 
and  March  is  equal  to  that  of  April  and  May.  We  have  then, 
for  these  four  months,  120  days,  an  accession  to  the  pond,  of 
22.90  cubic  feet  a  second,  237,427,000  cubic  feet. 

By  our  observations,  made  from  the  27th  of  July  to  the  30th 
of  September,  66  days,  the  discharge  from  the  pond  was  39,- 
337,920  cubic  feet,  and  the  surface  of  the  pond  subsided  8  in- 
ches under  this  draft.  This  8  inches,  or  26,136,000  square 
feet,  the  area  of  the  pond,  gives  17,424,000  cubic  feet.  Hence, 
of  the  whole  quantity,  39,337,920  cubic  feet  drawn,  17,424,000 
cubic  feet  were  taken  from  the  stock  of  the  pond  and  the  remain- 
der, 21,913,920  cubic  feet,  were  derived  from  rains  and  springs 
flowing  into  the  pond  during  the  time  of  the  draft.  This  21,- 
913,920  cubic  feet  in  66  days,  is  equai  to  3.85  cubic  feet  a  sec- 


64 

ond,  and  we  may  take  the  yield  of  the  pond  during  the  months 
of  July,  August,  September  and  October  to  be  3.85  cubic  feet 
a  second,  or  for  the  122  days,  40,582,080  cubic  feet.  Then  if 
we  add  to  this  the  quantity,  237,427,000  cubic  feet,  which  it 
has  been  beforj  shown  may  be  collected  in  the  pond,  during  tiie 
months  of  February,  March,  April,  and  May,  we  have  278,000- 
980  cubic  feet,  .furnished  to  tire  pond  in  eight  months,  viz.  Feb- 
ruary, March,  April  May,  July,  August,  September,  and  Octo- 
ber. This  is  equal  to  13|  cubic  feet  a  second,  nearly,  for  the 
242  days  comprised  in  these  eight  months.  It  must  therefore 
be  apparent,  that  if  we  draw  from  the  pond  but  13|  feet  a  sec- 
ond, during  February,  March,  lipril,  and  May,  a  surplus  may 
be  retained  sufficient  to  provide  for  an  equal  draft  through  July, 
August,  September,  and  October.  During  the  remaining  months 
of  the  year,  namely,  June,  November,  December  and  January, 
we  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  pond  will  re(;eive  13^ 
cubic  feet  a  second  from  rains  and  springs,  consequently  a  draft 
from  it  to  that  extent,  will  neither  increase  nor  diminish  its  stock. 
We  have  in  this  v^^ay  13|  cubic  feet  a  second  provided  during 
the  year. 

To  reserve  in  the  pond  the  quantity  99,926,784  cubic  feet,  re- 
quired to  be  drawn  off  during  July,  August,  September  and  Oc- 
tober, it  will  be  necessary  to  raise  the  dam  at  its  outlet,  so  that 
the  pond  be  flowed  3.82  feet  above  its  lowest  point,  or  about  18 
inches  above  the  right  of  flowage,  possessed  by  the  present  own- 
ers of  the  outlet.  Although  the  flow  from  the  pond  may  be 
made  equal  to  13|  cubic  feet  a  second,  or  8,640,000  gallons  a 
day,  as  herein  shown,  we  do  not  rely,  after  making  an  allowance 
for  waste  by  leakage,  on  obtaining  more  than  11  feet  a  second,  at 
the  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,  and  our  aqueduct  is  calculated  to 
deliver  this  quantity,  which  is  equivalent  to  7,128,000  gallons  a 
day. 


PAPER  MARKED  C. 


In  pumping  to  a  height  of  117  feet,  at  a  distance  of  3|  miles, 
in  addition  to  the  force  required  to  raise  the  water,  we  must  pro- 
vide for  an  additional  force  in  overcoming  the  friction  of  the  hor- 
izontal pipe.  The  amount  of  this  force  depends  upon  the  size 
of  the  pipe.  We  assume  it  in  this  case,  as  equal  tO  a  column 
of  water  33  feet  high,  and  it  will  be  hereafter  seen  that  this  will 
be  near  the  quantity  required  in  practice. 


65 

The  fall  at  Bemis'  Mills  is  5  feet  nearly,  and  at  May's  Mills 
6  feet  when  the  tide  is  out,  making  about  11  feet  fall.  To  pump 
2,500,000  gallons  =  333,333  cubic  feet  a  day  =  3.86  feet  a 
second  150  feet  high,  will  require  ^:=13. 6  feetX3. 86=52. 5 
feet  to  produce  an  equilibrium  between  the  wheels  and  pumps. 
Add  50  per  cent,  for  loss  in  giving  motion,  and  we  have  73.75 
feet  a  second. 

It  will  require  then  7S|  feet  of  water  a  second,  at  a  fall  of  11 
feet,  during  the  24  hours,  to  produce  the  necessary  power  to 
pump  3.86  feet  150  feet  high. 

The  flow  of  water  at  the  Waltham  Mills,  is  estimated  by  Dr. 
Hobbs,  for  the  four  driest  montlis,  July,  August,  September, 
and  October,  at  from  40  to  60  cubic  feet  a  second. 

We  cannot  therefore  rely  upon  more  than  half  the  quantity  re- 
quired during  four  months  of  the  driest  season,  and  if  we  assume 
that  during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  there  will  be  water  enough 
for  pumping  the  whole  supply,  we  may  estimate  the  cost  of 
erecting  works,  and  pumping,  as  follows: 
Cost  of  pumping  by  water  and  steam. 

Water  Rights, $70,000  GO 

Canal  to  unite  the  two  falls  with  guard   gates,   &c.        30,000  00 
Four  water  wheels  and  pumps,  $8,000  each,        -       32,000  00 

Buildings, 20,000  00 

Steam  Engine  and   pumps,  capable  of   pumping 

2,500,000  gallons  in  20  hours  -  -  -  35,000  00 
Building, 10,000  00 


Yearly  expense  for  water  works, 

Superintendent,              -         -  -  $1,000  00 

3  men  at  $500  each,     -         -  -  1,500  00 

Wear  and  tear,    -        -         -  -  1,500  00 


$197,000  OO 


$4,000  00 
Steam  works  to   pump   1,250,000 

gallons  a  day  for  4  months. 
Coal,  25  bushels  a  day,  making  85 

chaldrons  in  122  days,  at  $10  a 

chaldron,         .         .         _         - 
Engineer  per  year, 
Firemen  for  4  months, 
Wear  and  tear,  -         -         -         - 

$2,825  00 
Making    the   whole   yearly    expense   2825  +  4000=$6825, 
which  is  equal  to  a  present  outlay  of  $136,500,  which  added  to 
the  above  sum  of  $197,000,  makes  the  sum  of  $333,500. 


$850 

00 

600 

00 

375 

00 

1,000 

00 

56 

Cost  of  pumping  by  steam  alone. 

Engines,           -" ^70,000  00 

Buildings,         -         -         -         -         -         -         -  20,000  00 

Watertight,-         -         -         -         -         -         -  15,000  00 

Yearly  expenses   as   in   a  subsequent  estimate  E. 

$ll,808=a  present  capital  of         -         -         -  236,160  00 

$341,160  00 

We  see,  therefore,  that  the  plan  of  pumping  by  water,  as  far 
as  it  can  be  obtained,  and  making  up  the  deficiency  by  eteam, 
has  but  a  very  small  advantage  over  that  of  pumping  wholly  by 
steam,  even  if  we  assume  that  the  water  power  will  be  sufficient 
for  the  whole  supply  during  eight  months.  There  is  some 
doubt,  however,  whether  the  water  power  will  be  sufficient  for 
the  eight  months,  and  this  added  to  the  perplexity  to  the  city 
government  in  the  greater  complication  of  works,  leads  us  to 
prefer  steam  power  alone. 


ESTIMATE  MARKED  D. 

Cost  of  supply  from  Charles  River. 

Cost  of  Reservoirs  on  Corey's  Hill. 

Reservoir    on  Corey's    Hill,  in  two    basins  50  feet    surface 
width  each,  and  864  feet  long — 10  feet  depth  of  water. 
Excavation  36,288  cubic  yds. 
Extra  for   puddling  5,100—41,388 

yds.  a  20  cts.  -  -  .  -  8,277  60 
Puddling  4780  cubic  yds.  a  50  cts.  2,390  00 
Slope    walls  21X4 X 864  for  sides, 

3,068  perch  a  $2  00  -         -        6,136  00 

Berm  and  back  drain  8,640  yds.     - 

20  cts.  -  -  -  -  -  1,728  00 
Discharging  pipe  200  feet,    6  inch 

and  2  cocks,      ...         -  472  80 

Land  for  above  reservoirs  together 

v/ith    land    over    which  the  pipe 

shall  pass,  -         -         -         -       3,949  60        22,954  00 

Damage  to  water  rights'  at  Charles 
River,  being  the  right  to  take 
water  for  the  supply,  above  the 
lower  falls  in  Watertown,  -  15,000  00 


Amount  carried  forward^  ^37,954  00 


57 

Amount  brought  forward,  $37,954  00 

Main  pipe  from  Reservoir  on  Co- 
rey's Hill,  to  Reservoir  on  Bea- 
con Hill, 

Two  branches  of  pipes  40  feet  long 
each,  22  inches  diameter,  with 
stop  cocks  for  drawing  v;ater 
from  Reservoirs  to  main,  cost 
laid, 1,226  24 

Main  pipe  from  Corey's  Hill  over 
the  Miil-dam,  and  across  the 
Common  and  up  Tremont  and 
Beacon  streets,  to  Reservoir  on 
Beacon  Hill  ;  distance  20,485 
feet.  Length  of  pipe  including 
laps  at  the  joints  21,690  feet, — 
diameter  21^  inches,  weight  per 
foot,  208  63-100  lbs.  at  3|  cts. 
per  pound,         -         -         -         -    158,380  33 

Digging  trench  6  feet  deep,  4|-  feet 
wide,  20,485  cubic  yards,  at  18 
cts.  a  yard,        .         -         -         -        3,687  30 

Filling  trench  and  restoring  road  af- 
ter the  pipe  is  laid,  14  cts.  a  foot 
in  length,  ....        2,867  90 

Lead  for  filhng  joints  120,500  lbs. 

at  61  cents.       ...         -        7,832  50 

Laying  pipe,  including  filling  lead, 

^2  00  a  joint,  2,410  joints,         -        4,820  00 

Extra  for  crossing  the  sluices  on  the 
Mill-dam,  and  for  culvert  on  the 
Brighton  road,  -         -         -         -        9,193  00 

5  Stop  cocks  at  $^212  each — set- 
ting and  lead  $10  37  each,  -        1,11185 

Air  cocks,  -         -         -         -  160  00      189,279  17 


Main  pipes  21  inches  diameter  from 
Steam  works  at  the  lower  dam  in 
Watertown  to  Reservoir  on  Co- 
rey's Hill,  distance  16,910  feet 
(34  miles)  $8  57  a  foot,  includ- 
ing cost  of  pipe,  lead,  excava- 
tion, and  all  expenses  of  laying 
the  same,  ....    144,918  00 

4  Stop  cocks  and   laying  the  same,  888  GO      145,806  00 

Amount  carried  forward,  373,039  17 


58 

Amount  brought  forward,  373,039   17 

Two  steam  engines  (each   76   horse 

power)  48  inches  cyhncler,  9|  feet 

stroke,  with   2    pumps,    IS    inch 

cyhnders,  8    feet    stroke   to  each 

pump,     which    will    deliver  with 

ordinary    use,    2,500,000  gallons 

of  water  a  day  to  the  Reservoir 

on  Corey's  Hill  at  §i35,000  each,  70,000  GO 

Buildings    for    steam    engines    and 

pumps   including  coal  houses  and 

shops,  and  tools  for  small  repairs,  20,000  00 

Canal  to  take  the    water,  from    the 

river  to  the  engine  pumps,  -         -  800  00 

Guard  Gate  and  Strainer,       -         -        1,200  00  2,000  00 


$465,039   17 

Instead  of  crossing  the  Mill-dam  as  proposed  in  the  above 
estimate  the  supply  may  be  brought  by  another  line,  passing  from 
Corey's  Hill  through  Roxbury  and  over  Tremont  Street  to  Bea- 
coKi  Hill.  This  from  its  greater  length  will  require  that  the  pipe 
be  22  inches  'diameter,  and  the  cost  as  shown  in  the  following 
estimate. 

Main  through  Roxbury. 

2  branch  pipes  40  feet  each=80  feet 
of  22  inch  with  lead  and  laying, 
leading  from  Reservoir  to  main,     -      1,226  24 

25,051   feet  pipe,    22  inch  diameter 

a  $7  56,    -         -         -    '     -         -  189,385  56 

Digging  tranches  4^x6=23,660  cu- 
bic yds.  a  18  cts.         -         -         -      4,258  80 

Refilling  trenches  41x6=23,660  cu- 
bic yds.  a  14  cts.         -         -         -      3,312  40 

Lead  for  2,783  joints  72  lbs,  each, 

a  6|-  cts. 13,024  44 

Laying  pipe  at  ^2  00  per  joint,         -      5,566  00 

2  bridges  on  Tremont  Road   ^1,500 

1  Culvert  in  Brookline  $1,500      -      3,000  00 

5  stop  cocks  $1,11 1   85 — Air  cocks 

$16D  00, 1,271   85   $221,045  29 


The  cost  of  this  line  is   $31,7C6  more  than  the  line  over  the 
Mill-dam.     If  it  be  followed   however,  a  saving  of  $21,287  for 


69 

the  distribution  at  the  south  part  of  the  city  and  for  South  Bos- 
ton, as  specified  in  the  estimate  for  distiibutiou,  as  having  been 
accidentally  omitted  in  the  general  summary  in  the  body  of  the 
report,  will  be  made.  We  retain  the  line  across  the  IMill-dam, 
however,  in  the  Report. 


PAPER  MARKED  E. 

Cost  of  Pumping. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  an  engine  called  "  httle 
engine,"  us^d  at  the  united  mines  in  Cornwell. 

Cylinder,  30  inches  diameter.  Length  of  stroke,  9  feet.  It 
moves  two  pumps,  one  of  12  inches  diameter,  the  lift  being  31 
feet,  and  one  of  14  inches  diameter,  the  lift  being  205  feet. 
Consequently,  the  load  on  both  pumps  is  15,219  pounds.  The 
length  of  stroke  in  the  pumps  is  71  feet,  and  the  number  of 
strokes  made  in  April  1835,  was  444,620,  or  10.29  a  minute, 
without  any  allowance  for  rest.  Hence  it  raised  15.219X7|= 
1 14, 142iX444, 620=50, 750, OSS, 350  pounds  1  foot  high,  dur- 
ing the  month.  The  consumption  of  coals  was  764  bushels  ; 
therefore,  each  bushel  raised  66,426,751  pounds  1  foot  high. 

Should  the  plan  of  pumping  from  Charles  River,  or  Mystic 
Pond  be  adopted,  we  are  of  opinion  that  two  engines  should  be 
erected,  each  capable  of  raising  2,500,000  gallons  in  20  hours. 
This  would  sufficiently  ensure  one  of  the  engines  being  always 
in  order,  so  that  a  failure  of  supply  to  the  city,  would  very  rare- 
ly, if  ever  happen.  In  order  to  raise  this  water  from  Charles 
River  to  the  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,  the  engine  must  not  only 
overcome  the  resistance  of  the  head,  117  feet,  but  likewise  the 
friction  of  the  horizontal  or  inclined  pipe,  3i  rnlles  long,  from 
Watertown  to  Corey's  Hill.  The  quantity  of  this  resistance 
from  friction,  will  depend  upon  the  size  of  the  pipe.  With  a 
pipe  of  21  inches  diameter,  as  given  in  the  estimate,  if  the  pres- 
sure in  the  pump  be  equal  to  a  column  150  feet  high,  or  33  feet 
above  the  reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,  into  which. the  water  is  to 
be  discharged,  our  formula  gives  a  discharge  of  nearly  5  cubic 
feet  a  second,  or  2,700,000  gallons  in  20  hours.  It  will  be 
enough  for  the  present  purpose  then,  to  take  the  engines  to  work 
against  a  column  150  feet  high.  We  have  then,  2,500,000  gal- 
lons, equal  to  20,000,000  pounds  to  be  raised  150  feet  high  each 
day,  or  3,000,000,000  pounds  raised  1  foot.  Taking  the  duty 
of  the  engine  at  60,000,000  pounds  to  each  bushel  of  coal,  we 
have  50  bushels  per  day  for  the  whole  consumption. 


60 

The  engines  should  have  cylinders  of  48  inches  diameter,  9| 
feet  stroke,  with  two  pumps  each,  IS  inches  diameter,  8  feet 
stroke.  The  area  of  both  pumps  being  3.54  feet,  iO  strokes  a 
minute,  would  produce  the  effect  required.  We  estimate  the 
cost  of  each  engine  with  the  pumps  complete,  at  ^35,000. 

We  have  seen  that  the  consumption  of  coal  will  be  50  bushels 
a  day,  making  507  chaldrons  a  year,  the  price  of  which  may  be 
very  safply  taken  at  ^10  a  chaldron.  The  cost  of  fuel  then  will 
be  $5,070  a  year. 

A  very  liberal  allowance  for  attendance  will  be.  One  princi- 
pal engineer  or  superintendent,  with  a  salary  of  $1,000  a  year, 
and  five  men  as  engineers  and  firemen,  at  $1  50  a  day  each, 
making  in  all  $^,738  a  year. 

The  cost  of  providing  new  parts  for  the  engines  and  pumps  as 
they  shall  wear  out,  and  for  such  repairs  as  will  not  be  done  by 
the  workmen  constantly  employed,  whose  pay  is  in  the  preced- 
ing item,  together  with  the  cost  of  oil  and  insurance,  may  be 
taken,  safely,  at  $3,000  a  year. 

We  have  then, 
Coal,  -         -         -         -         .       $5,070  00 
Superintendent,     -         -         -  1,000  00 

Engineers  and  Firemen,  -         2,733  00 

Wear  and  tear,  insurance,  &c.         3,000  00 

$11,808  00  annual  expense  for 
pumping. 


ESTIMATE  MARKED  F. 

Cost  of  supply  from  Mystic  Pond. 

Dam  at  the  outlet  of  the  pond,       -       $2,000  00 

Canal,  Gates,  and  Strainer,  to  take 
the  water  from  the  pond  to  the 
pumps,  -----  2,000  00 

4,000  00 

Reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  250 

feet  square,  10  feet  deep,  -        13,000  00 

Land  at  Mystic  Pond,  and  for  re- 
servoir at  Walnut  tree  Hill,  to- 
gether with  land  on  which  the 
pipe  shall  pass  to  Boston,  -  5,500  00        18,500  00 


Amount  carried  forward,  22,500  00 


61 

Amount  brought  forward,  22,500  00 

Main  pipe,  18  inches  diameter,  from 
tile  engine  station,  near  Mystic 
Pond  to  tlie  reservoir  on  Walnut 
tree  Hill,  distance  8,250  feet, 
at  $7  33  a  foot,  including  lead, 
trenching,  and  all  expenses  of 
laying, 60,472  00 

Main  pipe,  22  inches  diameter, 
from  Walnut  tree  Hill,  to  reser- 
vair  on  Beacon  Hill,  distance 
39,707  feet,  at  ^9  02  per  foot 
laid,  including  lead,  trenches,  lay- 
ing the   pipe  and  refilling  trench,     358,157  00 


Stone    bridge    to    carry    the    pipe 

across  Charles  River,  -  -  14,000  00 
Arches  and  additions  required  to 

cross  over  the  sluice  gates  of  the 

Mill-dam,  .  .  -  .  8,493  00 
Two  Culverts,     -         -         -         -         1,000  00 


418,629  00 


23,493  00 


Two  Steam  engines  (76  horse 
power  each)  cylinders  48  inches 
diameter,  9^  feet  stroke,  with  2 
pumps,  each  18  inches  diameter, 
8  feet  stroke,  which  will  deliver 
with  ordinary  use,  2,500,000  gal- 
lons of  water  a  day,  to  the  re- 
servoir o^  Walnut  tree  Hill, 
^35,000  each,         -         -  -       70,000  00 

Buildings  for  steam  engines  and 
pumps,  including  coal  houses  and 
shop,  and  tools  for  small  repairs,        20,000  00 


90,000  00 
$554,622  00 


ESTIMATE  MARKED  G. 

Cost  of  supply  from  Spot  Pond  united  with  Mystic  Pond. 

Main  pipe,  22  inches  diameter  from 
Spot  Pond  to  Reservoir  on  Wal- 


62 


nut  tree  Hill,   distance,  16,789 

feet,  3^^  miles  at  $9  02  a  foot, 

including  lead  for  joints  trench- 
ing and  laying  pipe  and  refilling 

trench, $152,436  00 

Rock    cutting    in   trench   near  the 

Pond,     -         -         -         -         -  1,007  00 

Dam  and  apparatus  for  taking  water 

from  Spot  Pond,     -         -         -  1,200  00 

Stone  bridge   to  carry  pipe  across 

Medford  River,       -         -  -  5,000  00 

Reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  250 

feet  square,  JO  feet  deep,  -  13,000  00 
Main  pipe,  1 5  inches  diameter,  from 

pumping  v^orks  at  Mystic  Pond 

to  Reservoir  on  Walnut  tree  Hill, 

distance  8,250  feet,  (l^miles.) 

at  $4  32  per  foot  laid,  including 

cost  of  lead,  trenching  and  laying,  ,35,640  00 
Steam   engine,    (76    horse  power,) 

cylinder    48     inches    diameter, 

stroke  9|  feet,  with  2  pumps,  IS 

inches  diameter,    8  feet  stroke, 

capable  of  delivering  2,500,000 

gallons  of  water  a  day  to  the  Re- 
servoir on  Walnut  tree  Hill,  -  35,000  00 
Building     for    steam     engine    and 

pumps,  including  coal  house  and 

shop  and  tools  for  small  repairs,  10,000  00 

Main  pipe,  22  inches  diameter,  from 

Walnut   tree   Hill  to   Reservoir 

on  Beacon  Hill,  distance  39,707 

feet,  7^  miles  at  $9  02  per  foot 

laid,    including    lead    for  joints, 

trenches,  laying  the  pipe  and  re- 
filling trench,  -  -  -  -  358,157  00 
Stone   bridge  to    carry  pipe  over 

Charles  River,  -         -         -        14,000  00 

Arches  and   additions  required  to 

cross  the  sluiceways  at  the  Mill- 
dam,  -----  8,493  00 
Two  culverts,  ...  -  1,000  00 
Land  for  Reservoir  on  Walnut  tree 

Hill,  and  at  the  engine  house  in 


Amount  carried  forward ,  .  ^634,933  00 


63 

Amount  brought  forward,  $634,933  00 

Medford,  together  with  land  over 
which  the  pipe  shall  pass,  added 
to  our  assumed  value  of  Spot 
Pond, 80,000  00        80,000  00 

$714,933  00 


Yearly  cost  of  pumping  650,000  gallons  a  day  for  six  years, 

but  which,  for   the   purpose  of  distributing  the   expense  through 

the  whole  period  often  years,  vv^e  take  at  390,000  a  day  for  ten 

years. 

Engineer,  who  will  remain  always 
at  the  works  and  keep  the  engine 
in  order  at  all  times  for  use,        -  !]^S00  00 

The  supply  will  be  furnished  by  the 

engine  working  constantly  for  48  ■ 

days,  but  it  will  perhaps  be  more 

convenient  to  work  in   the   day 

time  only,   for,   say,    100   days. 

This   will  require   2  firemen  or 

assistants  to  the  engineer  at  $1  50 

each  per  day,  -          -         -         -  300  00 

Coal  to  raise  390,000  gallons  a  day, 
or  142,350,000  a  year,  150  feet 
high,  79  chaldrons  at  $10  00  per 
chaldron,  -         .         -         -  790  00 

Wear  and  tear,  beyond  that  which 
will  be  made  good  by  the  engi- 
neer constantly  employed,  and 
paid  as  above,  together  with  oil, 
and  small  expenses,  and  insur- 
ance,     -         -         -         -         -  1,000  00  2,890  00 


$2,890  00 


PAPER  MARKED  H. 

Showing  the  durability  of  Iron  Pipes. 

Extracts  from  minutes  of  Evidence  taken  before  the  select  Com- 
mittee of  the  House  of  Commons^  on  the  supply  of  ivater  to  the 
Metropolis  in  1821. 


Evidence  of  William  C.  Myjne,  Esq.,  Engineer  to  the  New 
River  Company. 

Q.  Have  there  been  any  experiments  made  at  any  time  re- 
specting iron  pipes,  that  ascertain  the  extent  of  their  dura- 
bility ?  A.  None  have  worn  out  yet,  they  have  been  down  30 
or  35  years.  I  have  seen  parts  of  pipes  that  have  been  SO  years 
under  ground,   perfectly  good. 

They  corrode  in  some  places,  but  not  in  others,  that  depends 
upon  the  soil  in  which  they  are  put  ?     Yes. 

Have  you  seen  any  instance  of  decay  in  the  iron  pipes  ? 
Nothing  worth  mentioning. 

Have  you  ever  known  any  expense  incurred  in  repairing  iron 
pipes  .''  There  is  a  small  expense  :  there  is  a  contraction  and 
expansion  takes  place  with  every  change  of  the  season,  and  when 
they  were  screwed  together  they  become  one  rod,  and  pulled 
themselves  asunder  every  winter  ;  now  passing  into  each  other 
with  socket  joints,  the  effect  of  expansion  is  not  perceivable. 

They  are  not  screwed  together  now  .''  No  ;  the  contraction 
on  nine  feet  is  so  small,  it  does  not  affect  the  joint. 


Evidence  0/ Thomas  Simpson,  Esq.,  Engineer'  to  the  Chelsea 

Company. 

Q.  How  long  will  a  wooden  pipe  last,  according  to  your  ex- 
perience .''  A.  Accoi'ding  to  my  calculation,  upon  an  average 
fifteen  years. 

What  experience  have  you  had  of  iron  ?  Forty  years,  and  I 
have  taken  up  and  relaid  iron  that  had  been  down  forty  years 
before. 

Have  you  found  any  corrosion  in  those  pipes  ?  None  whatever. 

And  is  the  water  as  good  coming  through  iron  pipes  .''    Quite. 

You  have  had  experience  of  iron  pipes  eighty  years  ?  I  have 
taken  up  a  pipe  that  had  been  forty  years  in  the  ground,  and  put 
it  down  a2:ain. 


\_  The  following  papers  were  delivered  in,  and  read.] 

February  24th^  1S21. 

In  respect  to  the  durability  of  cast  iron  pipes  in  the  streets  of 
London,  I  believe  there  exists  no  difference  of  opinion  ;  all  the 
persons  vvith  whom  I  have  conversed  being  confident  that  they 
will  be  as  perfect  at  the  expiration  of  100  years  as  they  were  in 
the  first  instance,  but  how  far  the  joints  will  remain  perfect,  and 
the  pipes  answer  all  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  intended, 


65 

is  a  very  difficult  point  to  determine,  from   their  having  been  in 
use  so  short  a  time. 

From  the  experience  I  have  had  I  consider  the  capital  ex- 
pended in  the  pipes  to  remain  unalterahle,  having  seen  some 
which  had  been  in  use  eighty  years,  so  perfect  that  no  corrosion 
was  visible,  but  the  contraction  and  expansion  of  the  metal,  with 
the  temperature  of  the  water  with  which  they  are  filled,  is  con- 
stantly acting  on  the  joints,  the  effects  produced  from  which,  in 
my  opinion,  will  be  equal  to  a  complete  relay  in  every  thirty 
years  ;  for  it  must  be  considered,  that  as  all  such  repairs  must 
be  executed  without  interfering  with  the  supply  of  the  town,  it 
must  therefore,  be  done  under  every  disadvantage. 

It  is  also  necessary  to  observe,  that  the  velocity  with  which 
the  water  passes  through  the  pipes,  materially  affects  their  future 
efficiency.  In  all  pipes  that  I  have  seen,  immediately  connect- 
ed with  engines,  I  have  observed  no  material  incrustation,  there 
being  nothing  more  than  a  thin  film  on  the  surface,  resembling 
what  is  produced  in  the  interior  of  a  tea-kettle,  but  in  pipes, 
where  the  velocity  is  not  so  great,  a  material  incrustation  takes 
place,  and  more  particularly  with  Thames-water. 

In  the  New  River  water  works,  I  have  seen  a  sixteen  inch 
pipe  taken  up,  which  had  been  down  about  twenty  years  ;  it  was 
reduced  from  incrustation,  at  least  one  inch  in  the  diameter. 

In  Kensington  Gardens,  I  understand  a  five  inch  service  pipe 
was  laid  down  of  iron,  in  the  year  1751,  and  it  was  in  1819 
taken  up  from  inefficiency,  being  reduced  to  about  three  inches 
in  diameter  in  many  parts  of  its  length,  which  consequently  af- 
fected the  utility  of  the  whole.  A  similar  circumstance  happen- 
ed at  Windsor  palace. 

These  are  the  only  instances  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  but 
if  such  should  be  the  case  with  all  the  pipes  in  the  streets  of 
London,  there  will  not  only  be  an  annual  expenditure  in  coals 
(or  other  ways)  to  overcome  the  temporary  resistance  arising 
from  such  incrustation,  but  also  a  complete  relay,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cleansing,  once  in  about  fifty  years. 

1  must  also  observe,  on  the  capital  employed  in  cocks,  which 
is  by  far  the  most  perishable,  a  considerable  part  of  them  being 
made  of  v^^rought  iron,  from  the  experience  I  have  had,  the 
screws  will  all  require  to  be  renewed  within  seven  years,  and 
the  doors  fresh  faced,  which  may  be  considered  as  being  equal 
to  a  complete  renewal  of  that  portion  of  the  capital  in  every  ten 
years. 

(Signed)     WILLIAM  CHADWELL  MYLNE. 

February,  1821. 


66 

In  my  evidence  of  Friday,  the  16lh  instant,  in  answer  to  a 
question  respecting  the  duration  of  iron  pipes,  I  stated  "  that 
iron  pipes  would  not  require  repairs."  This  question  I  under- 
stood related  to  the  lime  that  iron  pipes  would  last,  without  a 
reierence  to  the  repairs,  and  1  beg  to  state  there  will  be  an  ex- 
pense attendant  on  the  repairs  of  iron  pipes.  With  respect  to 
their  duration,  I  have  not  had  sufficient  experience  to  fix  a  peri- 
od, but  what  I  have  taken  up,  did  not  appear  to  be  diminished 
in  substance. 


The  following  are  three  particular  instances  of  the  construc- 
tion of  the  orifices  of  iron  pipes,  which  came  under  my  observa- 
tion : — 

In  the  year  1789,  in  consequence  of  the  great  difficulty  ex- 
perienced in  supplying  Windsor  Castle  with  water,  I  was  order- 
ed by  the  surveyor  general  of  his  Majesty's  office  of  works,  to 
ascertain  the  cause,  if  possible.  The  engine  which  supplies  the 
castle  is  working  by  the  fall  of  the  river  Thames,  and  the  pumps 
are  supplied  from  a  spring.  Upon  examination,  I  found  the  leaden 
coHveyance  pipe  for  the  engine  to  the  castle,  very  defective,  and 
recommended  two  and  a  half  inch  iron  pipe  to  be  substituted, 
which  was  done.  In  the  year  1816,  the  same  deficiency  of  sup- 
ply took  place  as  in  1789,  but  not  from  the  same  cause.  I  had, 
from  my  observations,  experienced  the  incrustation  of  iron  pipes, 
and  concluded  the  pipe  was  almost  stopped  ;  and  having  recom- 
mended the  pipe  to  be  taken  up,  I  ascertained  the  orifice  was  lit- 
tle more  than  one  inch  in  diameter,  the  incrustation  being  nearly 
equal  all  round  the  internal  surface  of  the  pipe. 

In  the  year  1791  it  was  found  necessary  to  take  up  and  relay 
a  twelve  inch  iron  main  (of  flanch  pipes,  which  were  originally 
laid  down  in  the  year  1746)  from  the  Chelsea  water  works  en- 
gine to  the  Reservoir  in  Hyde  Park,  in  consequence  of  the 
joints  being  perished.  The  incrustation  on  the  internal  surface 
of  this  main  was  in  irregular  lumps,  and  upon  an  average  about 
half  an  inch  thick  ;  the  diameter  of  the  pipe  being  contracted  to 
nearly  eleven  inches. 

In  the  year  1819  the  difficulty  of  supplying  the  Reservoir  in 
Kensington  Gardens,  near  the  palace,  had  increased  to  such  an 
extent,  that  it  became  absolutely  necessary  to  ascertain  the  cause  ; 
and  having  taken  the  proper  steps,  I  found  the  pipe  was  con- 
tracted by  incrustation.  The  pipe  was  originally  five  inches 
diameter  ;  and  from  the  Chelsea  water  work  books  was  laid  by 
government  in  the  year  1751.  The  pipe  was  contracted  to  three 
inches  diameter,  and  the  incrustation  covered  the  internal  surface 
in  irregular  lumps. 


67 

From  the* foregoing  observation  an  inference  may  be  drawn, 
that  the  incrustation  on  the  internal  surface  of  iron  pipes  will,  in 
the  course  of  fifty  years,  so  contract  the  orifices,  that  it  will  be 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  pipes  to  be  taken  up,  cleawed  and 
relaid,  during  which  process  some  of  them  may  be  injured.  It 
had  long  been  discovered,  in  the  instance  of  the  pipe  which  sup- 
plies the  Reservoir  in  Kensington  Gardens  from  the  Chelsea 
water  works  main,  that  great  difficulty  had  arisen  in  making  the 
service,  and  the  cause  was  unknown  until  the  pipe  was  examined, 
so  that  the  incrustation  had,  it  must  be  presumed,  originated 
some  years  before  that  period.  It  is  necessary  to  observe,  that 
by  the  progressive  incrustation  and  consequent  contraction  of  the 
orifices  of  the  pipes,  the  friction  of  the  water  passing  through 
them  will  be  increased,  and  either  a  greater  power  or  longer  time 
will  be  required  to  force  the  same  quantity  of  water  through  iron 
pipes  at  the  end  of  fifty  years,,  than  was  originally  allowed.  Upon 
this  computation  it  may  be  stated,  that  the  progressive  requi- 
site increase  of  power  or  of  time,  will  occasion  a  corresponding 
increase  of  expense,  which  in  the  fiftieth  year  may  amount  to 
fifty  per  cent,  more  than  was  found  sufficient  in  the  first  year.  It 
is  also  necessary  to  observe,  that  this  process  of  incrustation  in 
iron  pipes  is  calculated  upon  a  supposition  that  the  River  Thames 
water  only  is  used  in  the  pipes.    ~ 

(Signed)     THOMAS  SIMPSON, 
Inspector  General  to  Chelsea  Water  Works. 

February  24:th,  1821. 


Thomas  Simpson,  Esq.,  continued. 

Q.  You  were  the  inventor  of  the  spigot  and  fosset  joint  ? 
A.     I  was. 

How  long  ago  did  you  lay  them  down  .''  I  tried  some  experi.- 
ments  six  or  seven  and  thirty  years  ago,  and  then  I  laid  a  long 
main  for  Chelsea  water  works. 

And  you  have  never  found  them  want  repair  ?  Those  that 
were  laid  down  for  the  Chelsea  water  works  were  taken  up  and 
relaid  after  twenty-seven  years,  but  the  first  that  I  laid  down, 
had  been  laid  down  six  or  seven  and  thirty  years,  and  I  never 
knew  them  fail  yet. 

Was  this  experiment  on  a  large  scale  ?  No  ;  the  first  I  tried 
was  with  some  joints  we  could  not  make  stand  in  any  other  way  ; 
and  we  run  them  in  lead  and  it  has  not  failed. 

Is  it  upon  a  large  scale  ?     No,  it  was  one  joint  I  tried. 

You  still  use  the  oakum  behind  the  lead  .''     Yes. 

You  tried  one  joint  at  first  ?     Yes  ;    it  answered  for  seven 


68 

years  and  never  leaked  ;  and  then  I  ventured  on  laying  a  main, 
perhaps,  1,500  or  1,600  yards,  for  the  Chelsea  water  works. 

How  long  ago  was  that  ?  They  had  been  down  twenty-seven 
years  ;  they  were  taken  up  two  years  ago,  and  relaid  in  Pall 
Mali. 

This  main  was  down  about  twenty-seven  years  ?  Yes  ;  about 
1,500  yards  long. 

New  joints  were  put  to  them  when  they  were  relaid  ? 

They  were  relaid  in  Pall  Mall,  then  they  were  joined  in  the 
same  manner  with  lead. 

When  you  took  them  up  you  found  no  defects  in  the  joints  .'' 
None  whatever. 

And  they  had  been  down  twenty-seven  years  ?     Yes. 

Your  experiment  of  thirty-seven  years  does  not  go  beyond  one 
joint  ?     Two  or  three  joints,  perhaps,  I  tried  the  experiment  on. 


William  tRnderson,  Esq.,  E7igineer  to    Grand  Junction    Com- 
pany. 

Q.  You  have  spoken  of  the  decay  of  a  particular  pipe  which 
had  begun  to  oxydate  or  rust ;  was  it  owing  to  its  being  in  cal- 
careous or  siliceous  earth  ?  A.  No,  I  think  not  ;  but  it  was  the 
inside  of  the  pipe  that  oxydated. 

It  is  probable  that  iron  pipes  might  not  decay  in  argillaceous 
earth  ;  have  you  ascertained  how  it  will  be  in  calcareous  earth  ? 
No,  I  have  not ;  it  is  more  from  the  interior  of  the  pipe  that  we 
expect  decay. 

Have  you  had  many  instances  of  the  bursting  of  a  pipe  ?  We 
have  had  a  few. 

That  is  an  accident  which  occasionally  happens  to  iron  pipes  ? 
Yes  ;  but  it  is  occasioned  by  frost  when  it  does  take  place,  from 
the  contraction. 

In  point  of  fact,  have  you  had  many  pipes  burst  .''  We  have 
had  a  few. 


(J^ote  by  Commissioners.) 

The  expense  of  relaying,  will  not  probably  exceed  20  per 
cent,  on  the  whole  first  cost  of  the  pipes,  laid,  and  as  this  will 
not  require  to  be  done,  according  to  the  above  evidence,  under 
at  least  40  years,  it  is  too  inconsiderable  to  form  any  serious  ob- 
jection to  iron  pipes. 


69 
PAPER  MARKED  I. 

Boston,  September  2,  1S37. 

Daniel  Treadwell,  ^ 

James  F.  Baldwin,  /  Commissioners,  ^c. 


2S,  ) 


Nathan  Hale,  Esquire 

Gentlemen, 

The  President  and  Directors  of  the  Middlesex  Canal  have 
considered  your  communication,  dated  August  22d,  in  which 
this  question  is  proposed  :  "  What  sum  of  money  will  be  taken 
by  the  proprietors  of  the  Canal,  as  a  compensation  for  all  dam- 
age they  may  sustain  from  the  Water  of  Long  Pond  being  di- 
verted from  its  present  course  ?" 

This  pond  is  the  main  source  of  Concord  River  ;  the  river  is 
the  source  of  the  canal  throughout  its  length.  The  total  diversion 
of  the  water  of  the  pond  would  probably  deprive  the  canal  of 
nearly  all  its  water.  A  partial  diversion  would  sometimes  pro- 
duce nearly  the  same  effect,  that  is,  in  dry  seasons,  when  there 
is  not  a  drop  to  spare,  if  the  canal  be  kept  in  use.  One  of  your 
number  is,  perhaps,  better  informed  than  this  board  is,  on  this 
subject. 

As  the  inquiry  goes  to  the  full  extent  of  the  whole  value  of 
the  canal,  in  some  views,  it  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to 
state  a  sum  as  a  compensation.  It  would  be,  first,  necessary  to 
know  precisely,  what  quantity  of  water  your  proposed  object 
would  divert  ;  and  then  to  know  what  effect  that  diversion  might 
have  on  the  canal's  interest. 

Acting  only  representatively,  this  board  cannot  speak  with  any 
authority  as  to  the  views  of  the  proprietors,  this  subject  not  being 
within  the  commonly  delegated  powers.  But  speaking  individ- 
ually, the  members  beg  leave  to  say,  that  anything  within  their 
power,  tending  to  accomplish  the  valuable  purpose  of  your  com- 
mission, will  be  most  willingly  undertaken  by  them. 
Most  respectfully,  gentlemen, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

PETER  O.  THACHER, 

President  of  the  Corporation  of  Middlesex  Canal. 


70 

ESTIMATES  MARKED  J. 

Cost  of  supply  from  Long  Pond. 

Aqueduct  from  Long  Pond  to  Corey's  Hill  in  Brookline. 
Aqueduct  of  brick,  as  shown  fig.  1  on  plan,  Iron  pipe  across 

Charles  River  and  Brighton  valleys. 

Open  Canal  next  Pond,  2,000  feet=lS,5I8  cu- 
bic yards,  a  20  cents. $3,703  60 

Earth  work  in  the  25  sections,  exclusive  of  mud 
cutting  for  base  of  embankments,  all  the  em- 
bankments and  excavation  for  pipes  as  follows. 


Price. 

Cubic  Yards. 

Cost. 

Earth  cutting,  at  10  cts. 

1,493 

149  SO 

u                  u    15    a 

38,552 

5,782  SO 

u                  u    1(5    u 

91,253 

14,601  '28 

tc                   u    17    li 

129,420 

22,001   40 

u                 u    18   «'■ 

420,740 

75,733  20 

"              "   19  " 

15,291 

2,905  29 

"               "  20  " 

15,336 

3,073  20 

Rock  cutting  "  §1  25 

12,199 

15,248  75 

- 

139,495 

22 

Mud  cutting  for  base  of  Embankments,  the  Em- 

bankments and  excavations  for  pipes 

5  as  follows, 

Mud  cutting,  &c.  at  15  cts 

.  56,013 

8,401  95 

li                    a     cc   26     " 

2,275 

364  00 

((                    ((     a  17     a 

33,007 

5,611   19 

li                  cc    ((  20     " 

32,349 

6,469  80 

20,846 

94 

Back   filling   over   brick 

work   in 

earth  cutting,   - 

- 

18,615  50 

Back  filling  in  rock  cutting 

) 

400  00 

Back  filling  in  pipe  sections, 

258  60 

_ 

19.274 

10 

Brick  Work. 

Form,  cylindrical,  thickness  8  inches,  interior  diam- 
eter, 4.60  feet — 14.44  feet  circumference  on 
inside — mean  circumference  16.54  27,250 
bricks  to  iOO  feet  lineal.  Open  area  of  cross 
section  16|  feet. 

Bricks  delivered  at  Worcester  rail 

road,  per  1,000        ...  |8  GO 

Carrying  on  rail  road,  and  carting 

per  1,000        -        .         -         .  1  00 


Equal  to  9  00 


*&mount  carried  foricardj  $183,319  86 


71 

Amount  brought  Jonoard,  5^183,319  86 

Hydraulic  lime  2|  casks  to  1,000  bricks, 
Cost  in  Boston  per  cask, $3  00 
For  delivery  on  line,  16 

3   16  per  cask. 
5^3,16  X"2|  =  $7,90  for   lime    to 

1,000  bricks,  -         -         -         -  7  90  ■ 

Laying   bricks  and    tending, 

per  1,000         -         -  $3  33 

4  cubic  ft.  sand  to  1,000  bricks 

per  1,000        -         -         -       15 
Puddling  about  brick   work, 

per  1,000        -         -         -       22 

3  70 


Whole  cost  per  1,000  bricks,  $20  60 

Equal  to — ^^561  36|  per  100  feet,  which  multi- 
plied by  52.8=$29,640per  mile,  15  miles  and 
1,600  feet,  ..-..-  $453,581  00 

2  sections  of  pipe  across  the  valleys, 
30  inch  diameter,  2,470  feet,  = 
(including  slopes  and  laps,)  2,692 
feet,  at  H   30i  per  foot,  -         -     $30,433  00 
Lead  for  299  joints,  at   127   lbs. 

each=37,973  lbs.  lead  at  6^  cts.         2,468  24 
Laying   and  leading   299  joints  at 

$2,00=  ....  598  00 

—       33,499  24 

Guard  Gates  and  Strainer,  -  -  1,200  00 
Bridge  over  Charles  river,  -  -  11,108  00 
Other  bridges  and  culverts,    -         -         6,160  00 


18,468  00 

Water  rights,  land  and  land  damages,  -         -      110,000  00 

8  openings  for  letting  off  water,   at 

$718  each,      -         -         -         -  5,744 

15  Ventilating  Pipes,  at  $20,        -  300  6,044  00 

Branches  and  Gates   at   mouth   of    Aqueduct   for 

discharging  into  the  2  portions  of  Reservoir,    -  1,436  00 


Whole  cost  of  Brick.  Aqueduct  from  Long  Pond 

to  Corey's  Hill, $806,348   10 

If  built  of  stone  as  shown  at  fig.  2  on  plan. 
Open  Canal  next  pond,  2,000  feet,  =  18,518  cu- 
bic yards,  at  20  cents,  -----         3,703  60 

Amount  carried  forward,  $3,703  60 


72 


Amount  brought  forward, 
Earth  work  in  the  25   sections,   exchisive  of  mud 
cutting  for  base  of  embankments,   all   the   em- 
bankments and  excavation  for  pipes,  as  follows, 

Price. 

Earth  cutting,  at  10  cts. 


|3,703  60 


"  "    15 

"  "    17 

u  u    IS 

"  "   19 

u  u  20 

Rock  cutting,  $1  25 


Cubic  Yards. 

2,380 

72,327 

1^12,477 

190,554 

561,431 

30,190 

28,027 

14,330 


Cost. 

238  00 

10,849  05 

25,996  32 

32,394  18 

101,057  58 

5,736  10 

5,605  40 

17,912  50 


Mud  cutting  for  base  of  embankments,  the  em- 
bankments, and  excavation  for  pipes,  the  same 
as  for  brick  structure,    _         -         -         -         - 

2  sections  of  pipe  across  the  valleys,  30  inch  di- 
ameter, 2,470  feet,  (including  slopes  and  laps) 
2,692  feet,  at  $11   301  per  foot,     $30,433  00 

Lead  for  299  joints,   at    127   lbs. 

each,  =  37,973  lbs.  at  6|  -  2,468  24 

Laying  and  leading  299  joints,   at 
$2  00  each,     -         -         -         - 


Guard  Gates  and  Strainer,    - 
Bridge  over  Charles  River, 
Other  Bridges  and  Culverts, 

Back  filling  over  stone  work  in  earth 
cutting,  .         _         _         _ 

Back  filling  over  stone  work  in  rock 
cutting     -         -         -         -         - 

Back  filling  in  pipe  sections, 


598  00 

1,200  00 

11,108  00 

6,160  00 


18,615  50 


400 

258 


00 
60 


Stone  Work. 

Form — rectangular — side  wahs  4  feet  a  part,  2^ 
feet  high  and  IJ  feet  thick,  with  a  semicircular 
arch  covering,  2  feet  radius,  area  of  cross  section 
161  feet.  Bottom  formed  of  3  stones  1  foot 
thick.  Those  under  the  side  walls  3|  feet  long. 
Middle  one,  2  feet  long. 

Bottom  and  side  walls,  per  foot  lineal,  16.50  cu- 
bic feet. 

Arch  do.  12.95  cu- 

bic feet. 


199,789  13 


20,846  94 


33,499  24 


18,468  00 


19,274   10 


t&mount  carried  forward, 


$295,581   01 


73 

Amount  brought  forward,  $295,581  01 

Bottom  and  side  walls,  at  ^3  00  per  perch,   1   98 

pr.  foot  in  length. 
Arch  at  $4  00  per  perch,  2  07 

pr.  foot  in  length. 

Cost  pr.  foot  in  length,  ^4  05 

Cost  of  stone   work  laid  per  100  feet  at  4  05 

pr.  foot,  is  $405  00. 
Cost  of  ditto  per  mile,  is  $21,384 
Puddling  clay   31    cubic    feet — Gravel    14   cubic 

feet  per  foot  in  length. 
Cost  of  clay  75  cts.  a  cubic  yard=86  cents  and 
gravel  33  cts.  a  load=17  cts.  a  foot  lineal — 
making  $1,03  a  foot  lineal.  Mixing  clay  and 
putting  it  about  the  stone  40  cts.  a  foot.  Put- 
ting gravel  into  trench,  and  packing  about  the 
stone  12  cts.,  making  40+12=52  cts.  Mak- 
ing for  puddling  per  foot  $1,55 — per  100  feet 
($155.X52.8)  per  mile=  -       $8,184  00 

To  which  add  stone  work  per  mile,        21,384  00 

Gives  cost  of  stone   structure  per 

mile,       -         -         -         -         -     $29,568  00 
15  miles  and    1,600   feet  of  stone  • 

Aqueduct  at  $29,568  00  pr.  mile,  452,480  00 

8  openings  for  letting   off  water   at 

$718  00  each,  -         -         -  5,744  00 

15  ventilating  pipes  a  $20  00  each,  300  00 

Water  rights,  land  and  damages,    -       110,000  00 
Branches    and   gates    at    mouth  of 

aqueduct  for  discharging  into  the 

2  portions  of  Reservoir,  -  1,436  00      117,480  00 

Whole  cost  of  stone  aqueduct  from  Long  Pond 

to  Corey's  Hill, $865,541  01 


Reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,  as  in  estimate  marked  D. 

Excavation,      ...-..-  $8,277  60 

Puddling, 2,390  00 

Slope  Walls, 6,136  00 

Berm  and  back  drain, 1,728  00 

Discharging  Pipe, 472  00 

Amount  carried  forward,  $19,003  60 

10 


74 


Amount  brought  forward,  ^19,003  60 

Land  for  reservoir,  only,       -         -         2,000  00 


Main  pipe  from  Reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill  to  re- 
servoir on  Beacon  Hill^  as  in  estimate  marked 
D.,     -------        - 

Recapitulation. 

Brick  Aqueduct,  -         -         -         - 

Reservoir  on  Corey's  Hill,     -         - 
Pipe  from  Corey's  Hill  to  Boston, 


21,003  60 


189,279  00 


^806,348   10 

21,003  60 

189,279  00 


;l,016,630  70 


PAPER  MARKED  K. 

Distribution  in  the  City. 
Reservoir  on  Beacon  Hill. 

100  feet  X  100  in  clear  and  10  feet  deep. 
Excavation  7,260  cubic  yds.    a   10 

cts.  over  value  of  earth,    -         -  f726  00 

Wall  for  foundation  of  outs' "le  wall 

13  feet  deep  ^^=7    feet   thick 

=  38,948  cubic  feet  at  20  cts.  7,789  60 

Foundation  walls  for  bottom  of  Re- 
servoir.     19  walls  2  feet  thick — 

100  feet  long,  30,400  cubic  feet 

at  20  cts.  .         -         -         -         6,080  00 

Bridging  or  bottom   stone    10,000 

cubic  feet  at  30  cts.  -         -         3,000  00 

Outside  main  walls  hewed  bed  and 

build    4  X  10  X  424=  16,960 

cubic  feet  at  50  cts.  -         -         8,480  00 

Brick  bottom  2  courses  90  thousand 

"     sides  67       " 


157     m. 
^20  per  m  laid, 
Roof  of  Wood  (Slated,)      - 
Land  for  Reservoir,     - 

Amount  carried  forward, 


at 


3,140  00 
3,124  00 
39,200  00     $71,539  60 


$71,539  60 


75 

Amount  brought  forward,  ^71,539  60 

Reservoir  on  Fort  Hill. 

65  feet  clear.  To  hold  50,000 
cubic  feet,  15  feet  deep. 

'1  Concentric  division  or  pier  Wall. 

Excavation   3,540   yds.  at  20  cts. 

above  the  value  of  the  earth,        -  $708  00 

Bricks  245,500  at  $20  laid  in  ce- 
ment,        4,910  00 

Plastering  bottom  and  sides,  -  500  00 

Covering    with    earth   5  feet   deep 

712  yds.  at  15  cts.  -         -  $106  80  6,224  80 

Iron  Pipes. 

20  inch  main  pipe  from  Beacon  to  Fort  Hill. 
2,400   feet=2,541    including   laps 

at  $6  53  per  foot,    -         -         -     $16,592  73 
Lead  for  282  joints  at  60  lbs.  each 

16,920  at  6|    -         -         -         -         1,099  80 
Laying  pipe  at  $2  00  per  joint      -  564  00" 

Digging   trench    and    refilling    and 

paving  at  30  cts.  lineal  foot,       -  720  00 

3  stop  cocks   at   $200 — $600,  and 

lead  and  setting  $38  94,  -         -  638  94.       19,615  47 

Whole  length  of  streets,  253,477  feet,  '  - 

Less,  not  built  upon,      30,000    " 

223,477    " 
944  feet  of  12  inch  main  at  $3  48  per  ft. 

of  pipe,  -----         3,285  12 
2,520  lbs.  lead,  at  6|  cts.  per  lb.  -  163  80 

Laying  105  joints,  at  $2,     -  -  210  00 


11,954  feet  10  inch  main,  at  $2  69  32,156  26 

21,264  lbs.  lead,  at  6^  cts.  per  lb.  1,382  16 

Laying  1,329  joints,  at  $2,  -         -  2,658  00 

4,876  feet  8   inch  main,  at  $1  73,  8,435  48 

7,046  lbs.  lead,  at  6^  cts.     -         -  457  99 

Laying  542  joints,  at  $1   50           -  813  00 

22,754  feet  6  inch  main,  at  $1   36,  30,945  44 

25,290  lbs.  lead,  at  6|  cts.  -         -  1,643  85 


3,658  92 
36,196  42 
9,706  47 


Amount  carried  forward  J  $146,941  68 


76 

Amount  brought  forward  J  ^146,941  68 

Laying2,529  joints,  at  $1,50,      -  3,793  50 

• 36,382  79 

82,056  feet  4  inch  service  pipe,  at 

82  cts. 67,285  92 

73,080  lbs.  lead,  at  6|  cts.  -         -  4,750  20 

Laying  9,135  joints,  at  $1,25,       -  11,418  75 


214,712  feet  3  inch  service  pipe, 

at  60  cts.     .         -         -         .  128,827  20 

119,370  lbs.  lead,  at  61  cts.           -  7,759  05 

Laying  23,874  joints  at  $1,25       -  29,842  50 

Digging  and   covering  38,650  feet 

of  the  12,  10,  8  and  6  inch  pipes 

at  30  cts.  per  foot,  -         -         -        11,595  00 
285,765  feet  4  and  3   inch  service 

pipe,  less  41,059  laid  by  side  of 

main,  244,715  feet  at  25  cts.     -      $61,178  75 

Stop  Cocks. 
2  of  12  inch  at  $88  each  $176 
Lead  and  setting  16 

5  feet  4  inch  pipe                     4  $196 

27  of  10  inch  -         -         -         -  2190 

12of8     "      -         -         -         -  812 

54of6     "      -         -         -         -  2964 

194  of4  "      -         -         -         -  7961 

448  of  3  "      -         -         -         -  15,460 


83,454  87 


166,428  75 


72,773  75 


29,583  00 


Fire  Plugs. 
One   to    500  feet  of  street,  447  at 
$19,  1,00  each  for  setting,  $20,00 
each 8,940         8,940  00 


Whole  cost  of  distribution  $544,504  84 

Conveying  water  to,  and  distributing  it  at  South  Boston. 

Main    pipe    from    Washington    street,    through    Northampton 
street,  and  over   the   South   Boston   Turnpike,  to  Broadway  in 
South  Boston. 
12,456  feet  8  inch  main,  at  $1   73 

per  foot,  -         .         -         _       21,548  88 

26,296  lbs.  lead,  6|  cts.  per  lb.     -          1,709  24 
Laying  1,384  joints,  a  $1    50,        -         2,076  00 


Amount  carried  ferward,  $25,334   12 


77 


Amount  brought  forward^  ^25,334  12 

Trenching  and  refilling  11,880  feet, 

at  20  cts.  a  foot,       -         -         -         2,376  00 


8,226  feet  of  4  inch  service  pipe,  at 

82  cts.,             _         .         -         -  6,745  32 

9,140  lbs.  lead,  at  6^  cts.     -         -  594  10 

Laying  914  joints,  at  $1  25,  -  1,142  50 
Trenching  and  refilling,   at  25  cts. 

per  foot,            -         .         -         -  1,980  00 


^-27,710  00 


8,226  feet  of  3  inch  service  pipe,  at 

60  cts. •  4,935  60 

6,398  lbs.  lead,  at  6|  cts.      -         -  415  87 

Laying  914  joints,  at  ^l   25,     ^    -  1,142  50 
Trenching  and  refilling,  at  25  cts. 

foot,            -         .         .         -  1,980  00 


10,461   92 


8,473  97 
Stop  Cocks,         -         -         -       ,  -         1,000  00  1,000  00 

|47,645  89 
Additional  pipe  for  the  supply  of  the  south  part  of  the  City 

and  South  Boston, 

551  feet  12  inch  main,   at  ^3  48 

per  foot,  ....       ^1,917  48 

1,769  lbs.  of  lead,  at  6|  cts.  per  lb.  115  00 

Laying  61  joints,  at  $2  00,  -    -  122  00 


8,179  feet  of  8  inch  main,  at  .$1   73 

perfect,  ....       14,149  67 

17,271  lbs.  of  lead  at  6|  cts.   per 

lb. 1,122  61 

Laying  909  joints,  a  $1   50,  -         1,363  50 


^2,154  48 


16,635  78 
Digging  8,325  feet  in  length,   with   refilling   and 

paving,  at  30  cts.  afoot,         -         -         .         -         2,497  50 


$21,287  76 


(The  plan  of  distribution  having  been  originally  made  on  the 
supposition  that  the  supply  would  be  brought  through  Tremont 
Street,  this  estimate  for  additional  pipes,  which  will  be  required 
in  case  the  supply  is  introduced  by  way  of  the  Mill  Dam,  was 
accidentally  omitted  in  the  recapitulation  of  the  estimate,  con- 
tained in  the  report  at  page  39.  In  the  same  recapitulation 
there  was  an  error  in  the  estimate  for  lead,  being  $5,627,  in  ex- 
cess. Correcting  the  amount  as  there  given,  then  the  distribu- 
tion will  stand,  including  South  Boston,  ,$673,214,  instead  of 
$657,554.) 


78 
PARTICULARS  OF  ANALYSES  OF  WATERS. 


Roxhury  Laboratory^  May  24th,  1837. 
To  James  F.  Baldwin,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir — Agreeably  to  my  promise,  I  hasten  to  give 
you  in  brief,  the  resuhs  of  my  analyses  of  the  six  specimens  of 
water  which  have  been  received  by  me.  Some  experiments  on 
the  vegetable  matter  contained  in  several  of  the  samples  are 
in  progress,  and  some  time  will  necessarily  elapse  before  its  na- 
ture can  be  fully  ascertained.  Enough  information  relative  to 
these  specimens  to  enable  you  to  make  a  choice  of  your  source 
of  supply  from  them,  it  is  hoped,  is  contained  in  the  following. 
I  defer  to  a  future  time  a  more  detailed  account  of  their  chemical 
qualities. 

With  much  respect, 

(Signed)         A.  A.  HAYES. 
Specimen   No.    1.      [Punkapaug    Pond.]      A   slightly  turbid 
water,  of  a  light  yellowish  tint,  and  faint  earthy  odor,  which  dis- 
appears by  exposure  to  air. 

100,000  lbs.  of  this  water  give  by  proper  processes,  2,964' 
pounds  measures  of  mixed  gases,  composed  of 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  _         .         -         -  1988 

Nitrogen  "  -         -         -         -  904 

Oxygen  "  -         -         -         -  72         2964 

This  mode  of  stating  by  bulks  is  preferred  to  the  more  usual 
mode  by  cubic  inches,  on  account  of  the  ease  with  which  the 
mind  perceives  the  relation  of  the  dissolved  gas  to  the  volume  of 
water  assumed. 

100,000  lbs.  of  this  water,  by  slow  evaporation,  gives  a  light 
brown,  earth  hke  matter,  which  dried  at  212°  F.  weighs  3.00 
lbs. 

When  this  matter  is  heated,  the  vegetable  remains   are  burnt, 
and  there  remains  of  solid  matter,  but  1.20  lbs. 
1.20  lbs.  by  careful  analysis,  afford 
Of  Sulphate  of  Lime   (Gypsum)         -         0.32  lbs. 
Sulphate  of  Soda  (Glaubers  Salt)  )       „  ^-. 
Chloride  Sodiura  (Common  Salt)   ) 
Muriate  Magnesia  (Bittern)  0.08 

Silicious  earth  with  clay,  0.27 

Unconsumed  coal  and  trace  of  Ox- 
ide of  iron,  0.24  1.20  lbs. 


No.  2.     [Neponset  River.]     The  color  of  this  specimen  was 
nearly  the  same  as  No  1,  its  odor  was  less  distinctly  earthy. 


79 

100,000  lbs.  contain  of  mixed  gases,  2,386  pounds  bulk. 
Consisting  of  Carbonic  acid  gas,  289 

Nitrogen  "  2025 

Oxygen  "  72 

Of  saline  matter,  dried  at  212°  F.  5.24  lbs.  wben  ignited  for 
destroying  vegetable  matter,  2.47 

Containing  Sulphate  of  Lime,  0.34 

Sulphate  of  Soda  and  )  k  .n' 

Chloride  of  Sodium    ) 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  -  0.40 

Silicious  earth,  clay  and  magnesia,  1.31 

2,47 
No.  3.     [Spot  Pond.]     Nearly  colorless,  no  odor. 
100,000  lbs.  contain  of  mixed  gases,  2892  pound  bulks. 

Consisting  of  Carbonic  acid  gas,  1084.6 

Nitrogen  "  1355.6 

Oxygen  "  451.8 

Of  matter  well  dried  at  212°  F.  1.80  lb.  which  becomes  of 
dry  saline  matter,  1.01  fbs.  consists  of 

Sulphate  of  Soda,  0.252 

Sulphate  of  Lime,  0.060 

Carbonate  of  Lime  and  silicious  earth,         0.635 
Chloride  of  Sodium,  0.063  1.010 


No.  4.  [Charles  River.]  Nearly  colorless,  has  no  percep- 
tible odor,  is  more  brisk  and  sparkling  than  either  of  the  speci- 
mens. 

100,000  lbs.  give  by  repeated  trials,  3,741  pound  bulks  of 
mixed  gases,  which  were  decomposed  into  Oxygen,     2040 

Nitrogen,   1701 

A  trace  of  carbonic  alid  only,  can  be  observed,  the  excess  of 
Oxygen  is  an  unusual  fact.  3.32  lbs.  result  from  the  evaporation 
of  100,000  lbs.  at  212°  F. 

This  weight  is  reduced  by  heating  to  1.80- lbs.  consisting  of 
Sulphate  of  Soda,                                      0,06  X  2  =  0.12  lbs. 
Chloride  of  Sodium,                                  0.29  X  2  =  0.58 
Carbonate  of  Lime,  .                               0.42  X  2  =  0.84 
Siliceous  earth,   clay  and  trace  )  ni'^v? 0  26 

iron  and  magnesia,  )  ' 


For  50,000  90  1.80 

N^.  5,  [Long  Pond.]  Resembles  No.  4,  in  physical  prop- 
erties. 

100,000  lbs.  contain  of  mixed  gases,  2,169  pound  measures 
of  foreign  and  saline  matter,  dried  at  212°  F.  3.033  lbs.  at  red- 
ness, 2.108  lbs. 


80 

By  weight  of  each  Ingredient, 

100,000  lbs.  by  pound  bulks,   Sulphate  oC  Lime,  0.193 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  361               Chloride  of  Sodium,  0.533 

Nitrogen             "1627              Carbonate  of  Lime,  0,266 

Oxygen               "     181   2169    Silicious   earth,  clay,  )  i   ino 

and  magnesia,         ) 

Sulphate  of  Soda,  0.016 

2.108 

No.  6.     [Farm  Pond.]     In  color  is  darker  than  well  water,  it 

has  no  odor  or  taste. 

100,000  lbs.  afford  of  mixed  gases  3,000  pound  measures,  or 

Nitrogen  gas,  2,710.     Carbonic  acid,  in  very  small  proportion  is 

present.     Its  bulk  could  not  be  ascertained.     Oxygen  gas,  290. 
100,000  lbs.  evaporated   to  dryness  at   212°  F.,   leave   5.36 

lbs.     The  vegetable   matter  being  consumed,  4.46  lbs.   of  light 

earthy  matter  remains. 

This  separated  into  its  constituents,  gives  of 
Carbonate  of  Lime,  -    1.20 

Sulphate  of  Soda,  0.30 

Chloride  of  Sodium,  0.56 

Silicious  earth  and  clay,  2.40      4.46 

Each  sample  of  water  operated  on  weighed  over  7  lbs.  avoir. 
In  cases  of  doubtful  accuracy,  two  trials  were  made,  and  separate 
portions  of  water  were  at  all  limes  used  for  discovering  what 
substances  were  contained.  I'he  extreme  purity  of  the  speci- 
mens has  much  retarded  the  experiments. 

(Signed)  A.  A.  H. 


Boston,  February  5,  1837. 

Chemical  examination  of  water  from  an  Artesian  Well  of 
South  Cove  Hotel,  Boston. 

The  water  in  question  was  brought  to  me  by  Mr.  N.  Ham- 
mond. It  was  observed  to  be  white  and  milky  when  first  brought 
to  me,  from  the  presence  of  particles  of  marly  clay,  suspended 
in  the  water.  In  the  course  of  24  hours,  this  subsided  to  the 
bottom  of  the  bottles,  and  the  clear  water  was  poured  off,  for 
chemical  analysis.  By  the  usual  process  of  testing,  I  found  it  to 
contain 

Chloride  of  Sodium,  or  common  Salt. 

Chloride  of  Calcium,  or  muriate  of  Lime. 

Sulphate  of  Lime,  or  Gypsum. 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  dissolved  by  carbonic  acid. 

Carbonate  of  Iron,         "         "         "         " 

Animal  matter. 


81 

A  pint  of  this  water  evaporated  to  dryness,  in  a  glass  basin, 
left  seven  grains  of  saline  matter  of  a  brown  color.  During  the 
evaporation,  a  very  thin  crust  of  carbonate  of  lime,  formed  on 
the  inner  surface  of  the  glass.  The  saline  contents  of  this  water 
are  such  as  are  commonly  found  in  the  water  of  superficial  wells 
in  Boston.  I  do  not  know  how  much  influence  the  crust  formed  on 
boiling  this  water  will  have  on  the  Locomotive  Engine  boilers, 
but  suppose,  unless  some  means  are  devised  to  clean  them  occa- 
sionally, they  will  become  encrusted  with  calcaseous  matter,  just 
as  our  tea  kettles,  in  this  city,  become  encrusted,  by  this  depos- 
ite  from  the  common  well  water.  It  is  easy  for  you  to  calculate 
by  the  proportion  contained  in  one  pint  of  this  water,  how  much 
will  be  deposited  by  this  water  used  in  an  engine  per  diem. 
The  crust  formed  by  boiling  one  pint  is  equal  to  about  one  grain 
of  carbonate  of  lime,  and  if  the  water  is  evaporated  to  dryness, 
each  pint  will  deposite  7  grains  of  saline  matter,  about  half  of  which 
amount  may  be  re-dissolved,  on  introducing  fresh  water  into  the 
boiler. 

Your  ob't  serv't, 

(Signed)      CHARLES  T.  JACKSON. 
JVo.  21  Green  Street. 


Result  of  a  chemical  analysis  of  the  water  from  an  Artesian 
Well  in  the  work  shop  of  the  Worcester  Rail  Road  Corporation. 

The  water  which  was  the  subject  of  these  experiments  was 
quite  turbid,  from  the  suspension  of  a  grayish  white,  minutely 
divided  matter,  resulting  from  the  decomposition  of  micaceous 
rocks.  When  the  suspended  matter  had  subsided,  a  clear,  color- 
less, and  tasteless  water  was  obtained.  There  was  present  the 
usual  quantity  of  gaseous  matter,  the  nature  of  which  could  not 
be  ascertained,  from  the  specimen  sent  having  been  exposed,  but 
no  noxious  gas  was  found. 

10,000  lbs.  of  this  water,  contain  of  foreign  substances,  exclu- 
sive of  all  water,  only  7^^  lbs.  or  less  than  ^^  lbs.  1,000  lbs. 

If  10,000  lbs.  were  boiled  in  a  clean  vessel  till  no  moisture 
remained  Sj^  lbs.  would  be  left,  as  a  portion  of  the  water  is 
chemically  combined  with  the  saline  matter. 

7jqq  lbs.  of  the  dry  ingredients  of  this  water,  are  resolved  by 
analysis  into 


82 

Chloride  of  Sodium,  (common  Salt,)         -         -       5.15 
Chloride  Magnesium,  (bittern,)  _          -          .         ,57 

Chloride  of  Lime,  (muriate  of  Lime,)         -         -          .19 
Sulphate  of  Soda,  (Glaubers  Salts,)  -  ^       -  .96 

Carbonate  of  Soda,  (Sal  Soda,)        -         -         -         .84 

Silica,  (earth  of  flints,) .08 

Alumina,  (pure  clay,)      -----  .03 

7.82 

The  chemical  composition  of  this  water  is  such  as  to  remove 
all  doubt  of  its  being  affected  by  surface  water,  and  denotes  that 
its  source  is  distant  from  the  ocean.  It  contains  a  portion  of 
carbonate  of  soda,  a  substance  which  very  rarely  occurs  in  waters. 
This  salt  is  of  an  alkaline  nature  and  gives  to  the  water  a  degree 
of  softness,  which  renders  it  suitable  for  washing  clothing,  and 
more  valuable  for  culinary  purposes  generally,  than  rain  water 
from  the  roofs  of  buildings. 

As  a  drinking  water,  it  is  preferable  to  the  well  waters  of  the 
country,  and  very  far  superior  to  those  of  the  city,  indeed  it  is 
quite  unusual  to  find  a  water,  containing  saline  ingredients  of  so 
little  injury  to  its  qualities.  Its  composition  indicates,  that  its 
action  on  metallic  bodies  in  the  way  of  corrosion,  will  be  very 
slight,  and  if  precautions  are  taken  to  avoid  using  any  but  the 
transparent  water,  the  depositions  which  are  produced  when  some 
waters  are  used  in  boilers,  will  not  take  place  with  this  to  any 
considerable  extent.  When  10  hhds.  have  been  vapourized  in  a 
boiler,  a  suspended  earthy  matter,  weighing,  if  dry,  one  fifth  of  a 
pound,  will  be  obtained. 

Respectfully, 

(Signed,)  A.  A.  HAYES. 

Roxbury  Laboratory^  June  1,  1837. 


Daniel  Treadvvell,  Esq., 

Water  Commissioner,  ^c. 

Dear  Sir  : — In  answer  to  your  inquiry  respecting  the 
ater  of  the  Artesian  Well,  at  the  depot  on  South  Cove,  I  state 
at  it  never  has  been  pure  enough  to  use  in  Locomotive. En- 
aes,  it  is  quite  muddy  and  contains  too  much  salt.  The  latter 
found  incrusted  on  the  outside  of  the  boiler,  wherever  a  leak 
curs.  The  effect  on  the  engines  is  to  cause  them  to  foam, 
chnically  to  prime,  the  water  passes  with  the  steam  through 
S  cylinders  and  out  at  the  exhaust  pipes  in  such  wise  that  the 
.wer  is  completely  nullified.  This  I  attribute  principally  to 
3  salt,  as  we  find,  that  when  the  water  has  been  allowed  to 
;tle-)  and  becomes  comparatively  clear,  an  Engine  will  run  well 


83 

15  or  16  miles,  and  then  all  at  once,  spout  out  the  water,  doubt- 
less owing  to  the  fact  that  the  water  in  the  boiler  has  become 
more  highly  charged  with  salt,  in  consequence  of  the  evaporation. 
Many  persons  have  supposed  that  this  water  (the  supply  of 
which  is  copious  and  drawn  from  a  depth  of  132  feet)  would 
improve  by  use,  but  thus  far,  it  has  grown  worse,  being  now, 
much  thicker  than  at  first.     The  principal  sediment  is  clay. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  ob't  serv't, 

J.  F.  CURTIS,  Superintendent. 
December  Isf,  1837. 

P.  S.     The  superintendent  of  the  machine  shop  states  that 
when  first  pumped  it  is  offensive  to  the  smell. 


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