Illustrations of the Croton AqueductTower, F. B. (Fayette Bartholomew)
History
Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
Tower, F. B. (Fayette Bartholomew)
Croton Aqueduct (N.Y.)
From Saw-Mill River the Aqueduct passing through one tunnel soon
reaches Tibbit’s Brook, which it crosses by means of a foundation
wall about 30 feet high and a culvert of 6 feet span, and continues
along the south side of the valley of this brook, thence to the Harlem
River which it crosses at one mile from McComb’s Dam. This crossing is
thirty-three miles from the Croton Dam, and about ten miles from the
City-Hall.
The distance across this valley is about a quarter of a mile, and the
surface of the River is 120 feet below the bottom of the Aqueduct.
In all the examinations which were made with a view of bringing
water from Westchester County, the crossing of this River, or _arm
of the sea_, was regarded as the most formidable work that would be
encountered; various plans were proposed, and in presenting these plans
the project was such as to call into requisition much talent and skill.
An Aqueduct Bridge built of stone, having arches resting upon piers and
abutments, was proposed so as to continue the Aqueduct across with its
regular inclination.
An Inverted Syphon of iron pipes was proposed; the pipes to descend to
a level near the surface of the River, and passing along upon a stone
embankment rise again and connect with the Aqueduct: in this stone
embankment an arch was to be built of sufficient dimensions to allow
free passage of the water of the River.
[Illustration: XVII
_F. B. Tower._ _J. W. Hill._
CROTON AQUEDUCT AT HASTINGS.]
Another plan was proposed which, though novel in its application
to such purpose, was worthy of consideration: this was to build a
Suspension Bridge of wire cables reaching across the valley, supported
at intervals upon suitable stone piers. This, maintaining the regular
inclination of the Aqueduct, would support iron pipes. The design
was a bold one, yet instances where such bridges have been constructed
for road-ways afford examples of the feasibility and permanency of the
structures, and prove that the application of that principle for this
purpose was not a visionary project.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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