[Report of committee appointed to inquire into possible water sources for the city]

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Common Council^ No. 7 — 1836.

In Common Council, June 30, 1836.
The Report which follows, and the accompany-
ing Resolves, were read, the Resolves ordered to
a second reading, and the whole Document to be
printed for the use of the members.

Attest, Richard G. Wait, Clerk C. C,

The Committee appointed to consider and report,
upon the subject of introducing a full supply of
Water for the use, comfort and safety of the
City, having authority to cause to be surveyed
any other sources than those which have al-
ready been surveyed, with power to employ

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such suitable persons, as they may judge neces-
sary to obtain information, to enable them to
make a full Report on the whole subject, have
attended to that duty, and respectfully

REPORT:

That their attention has been directed to three
sources for a supply of water ; the first was to ob-
tain a supply by sinking a large and deep shaft, or
well into the earth, from 600 to 1000 feet. By
those persons who favored this plan, it was expect-
ed, that an abundance of pure and soft Water
would thus be easily found, and which might be
distributed from Fort Hill or Copps Hill, to ev-
ery part of the City, with facility and economy ;
but your Committee after diligent inquiry, are
not satisfied, that this mode of obtaining water can
be relied upon with safety, as affording a suitable
supply, and it was accordingly rejected.

Another source was pointed out, not liable to
the same objection. This is Stoney Brook in
Roxbury, but after analization by Dr. Jackson, it
was pronounced to be " not sufficiently pure for
the purposes of the City." There now remained
one other source to be examined, viz. Horn Pond,
and other Ponds emptying into Mystic Pond, to-
gether with Spy and Fresh Ponds, in Cambridge.

Mr. Robert H. Eddy has been employed to
make surveys and estimates for Water, from these
places, he has labored successfully in this service,
and his Report will command attention from such,
as feel the deep solicitude upon this subject which

its importance seems to require. The first object
of the Engineer was to obtain a supply of Water,
equal to all the present wants of the City. Spot
Pond, the source relied upon, by Professor Tread-
well in his Report to the City Government, in the
year 1825, was examined again, and it occurred to
the Engineer, that the object might be effected,
by rearing an embankment, at a favorable point,
and thus secure a reservoir of sixty acres, in which
to retain the surplus Waters of Spot Pond, which
Waters, now run uselessly into the sea, they may
thus be preserved for the use of the City. He is
of opinion that Spot Pond may in this mode, be
made to yield an ample supply for all the purposes
of the City at prese'lit, and indeed for a long time
to come. This water is of the best quality, pure
and soft. Whenever the increase of public wants,
shall render a further supply needful. Mystic Pond
will be found to be an abundant source. The plan
and estimates will be found in the Report of Mr.
Eddy. Upon the reception of this Report, the
Committee directed that 1,000 copies should be
printed for the disposal of the City Council,
with a plan of what is denominated the " Water
Region,''^ and that to these should be added a
copy of the act of the Legislature incorporating
the Boston Hydraulic Company, which it will be
perceived, is intimately connected with this sub-
ject. This act of the Legislature, will be void,
unless the City Council, shall within four months,
from the time of its passage, declare by vote, their
assent thereto. Four months will expire on the

4

15th of August next. By the terms of this act,
privileges of great value are reserved to the City,
and it is for its government to determine, whether
the act shall be valid or not — whether the work
shall be done with, or without its participation.
Your Committee are of opinion, That the sources
relied upon in the Report of Mr. Eddy, are abun-
dant,— That the water is pure and fit for domestic
purposes, — That the plan of introducing this Water
is attended with no great obstacles, — and That the
expense, compared with the object, is not an un-
reasonable expense. Your Committee are further of
opinion, that it will be for the interest of the City,
that the assent required by the 14th section of the
act incorporating the Boston llydraolic Company,
should be given. It will be seen by the Report
that the Engineer's estimate to bring Water, in the
manner proposed, from Spot Pond to Boston, in-
cluding a reservoir at Bunker Hill, amounts to the
sum of $388,747,96, to this sum add for cost of
distribution in the City, say $300,000, making a
total of 688,747,96. li" we suppose the value of the
Real Estate in the City to be as assessed ^50,000,-
000, the expense of introducing an abundant and
unfailing supply of pure Water, to be employed for
the purposes of domestic consumption, the promo-
tion of health, protection from fire, and for orna-
ment, will be about 1^ per cent, on the present
value of the Real Estate of the City, exclusive
however of the sum which may be demanded for
watet' rights of Spot Pond. Wlien the number
of inhabitants shall be so much increased as to

demand a quantity of water greater than this source
can supply, the immense volume, which is now
passing from Mystic Pond into the sea, can be
turned into the Reservoir, and made to subserve
our purposes ; and this, as it is estimated by the
Engineer, at an additional expense of $218,000.
A majority of the Committee are of opinion that
the City, in its corporate capacity, ought not to
embark in this enterprize, but that it should be left
to individuals alone, or individuals in connexion
with the City. A minority of the Committee
were, however, of a different opinion ; believing
that so great and beneficial, are the objects pro-
posed, that the public welfare demanded certainty
and despatch in the execution of the business.
By the terms of the act incorporating the Boston
Hydraulic Company, the City can hereafter pur-
chase the whole of their interest on specified
terms, and this is deemed by your Committee, to
be an important feature in the act. The Report
of Mr. Eddy, the certified copy of the act incor-
porating the Boston Hydraulic Company, and a
petition from the Corporators of the Company will
be found with this Report. On the whole, your
Committee recommend the adoption of the sub-
joined resolutions.

For the Committee,

SAM. T. ARMSTRONG, Chairman.

June 30, 1836.

1 Resolved, That it is expedient for the City

2 Council to give their assent to the act of the

3 Legislature, passed on the 16th of April, 1836,

4 incorporating the Boston Hydraulic Company.

1 Resolved, That it is expedient for the City to

2 subscribe for one third of the stock in the Bos-

3 ton Hydraulic Company, under such restric-

4 tions and limitations, as the City Council may

5 hereafter prescribe.

1 Resolved, That the printed copies of the Re-

2 port of Mr. R. H. Eddy, be distributed as fol-

3 lows, to each member of the City Council ten

4 copies, and the remaining copies be placed at

5 the disposal of the Mayor and Aldermen.

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