Illustrations of the Croton AqueductTower, F. B. (Fayette Bartholomew)
History
Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
Tower, F. B. (Fayette Bartholomew)
Croton Aqueduct (N.Y.)
In addition to the information furnished by the Engineers employed,
the Water Commissioners received communications from other sources
suggesting plans for supplying the city with water.
It was suggested that water might be obtained from the Passaic Falls,
at a distance of about eighteen miles from the city, in New-Jersey. The
objections to this project were, that it would be going into another
state, that an Aqueduct bridge over the Hudson River would obstruct its
navigation, and iron pipes laid across the bed of the river would be
exposed to injury from the anchors of the shipping. Another plan was
proposed which contemplated a permanent dam across the Hudson River
extending from the city to the Jersey shore. This dam was proposed to
be built about 2 feet above the level of high tide, thereby keeping all
the salt water below; and above the dam would be the fresh water for
supplying the city, which must be pumped up into a reservoir by means
of water-wheels, which would be operated by the overfall of water when
the tide was low, but when the tide was up within 2 feet of the top of
the dam there would not be sufficient fall to propel the wheels. Locks
were to be inserted in the dam, of a sufficient number to accommodate
the vessels on the river. The river, at the place where it was proposed
to locate the dam, is over a mile in width, and in the channel the
depth below the surface to proper foundation for such a structure,
would probably be 50 feet. The difference of tides is about 5 feet,
which added to the height of dam above high tides, would give 7 feet
of the top of the dam exposed to the pressure of the water on the up
stream side when the tide is low.
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