DOCUMENT No. 2.

BOARD OF ALDERMEN,

JANUARY 6, 1851.

The following annual report of the Croton, Aqueduct Department, was received, laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

D. T. VALENTINE, Clerk.

To the Honorable the Common Council

of the city of New York:

The Croton Aqueduct Department respectfully presents this their annual

REPORT:

During the year past, the department has settled and extinguished two more of the outstanding claims against the city, for damages growing out of the construction of the aqueduct; the first, a claim of Richard F. Carman, in which a suit had been commenced by him, compromised by the payment of ten thousand dollars, and each party paying their own costs, those of the city amounting to two hundred and ninety dollars; the other, a case of damage to the public highway, near Dobbs' ferry, alleged to have

been caused by the insufficient size of a culvert, constructed to pass a small brook under the aqueduct, occurring, as the department was informed by the claimants,-the Commissioners of Highways for the town of Greensburgh,—about six years since, and which, though often urged for payment, had been from time to time deferred, as of very doubtful validity; it was thought advisable to close it by giving the sum of one hundred dollars, rather than risk the result of a defence at law.

It is proper to add, for the information of the Common Council, and of the citizens generally, that there yet remain other claims, chargeable to " Aqueduct Construction Account," which (if sustained) will require large sums to cancel, probably not less than one hundred and twentyfive thousand dollars.

The other items of expenditure during the past season under the head above mentioned, consist of a small addition made to the house of the keeper at Croton dam, to be used as a kitchen; this was essential to the proper accommodation and comfort of the family, and was directed to be done by the Finance and Aqueduct Committees, upon personal inspection and enquiry, while on the ground, at the annual visitation of the Common Council; and the bridge over the river immediately below the dam, built last fall, but the bills not received in time to be inserted in the accounts appended to the last annual report. The iron railing on the wing walls, at the western end of the High-bridge, has been put up; the river between two of the piers dredged out, so as to furnish at all times of tide, a sufficient depth of water to any vessel likely ever to navigate the Harlem river; and commodious iron stairs have been erected down the rocks, at the foot of One hundred and

seventy-third street, to the bridge.

This new means of

visiting it, available by one of the finest drives on the island, and opening at various points on Harlem heights, and from the top of the stairs, a very extensive, and beautiful view of Long Island, and the Sound, will no doubt become a place of great attraction, not only to strangers, but to our own citizens.

In the design and erection of these stairs, the department has sought to exhibit the same character of massiveness, and solidity, which so especially mark all the prominent features of the aqueduct, throughout its entire length. Schedule A, in the appendix, contains a detailed statement of the appropriations and expenditures, under the head of " Aqueduct Construction Account."

Out of the appropriations made for "Aqueduct Repairs and Improvements," has been expended the sum of $12,697 31, the various items composing it appear in schedule B. When it is remembered that these outlays are spread over a continuous line of more than thirty-three miles of aqueduct, constructed through much of the distance upon steep declivities, where the top soil is subject at every rain to be more or less abraded, and washed away,that many of the supporting walls to embankments require annual examinations, and repairs of slight injuries, from the action of storms and frost,-that some of them have been raised, and others require raising, more effectually to retain the earth covering upon the arch of the aqueduct,—that new villages are being laid out at various points across the grounds purchased by, and belonging to the city,--houses and other erections going up, and trespasses of a most annoying character constantly occurring, compelling the erection of fences ;-it is thought that this expenditure will .

not be deemed too large. It has, however, been increased by an item not contemplated when the estimates for the year were submitted to the Common Council.

It was found that the new grade of the Fifth avenue, and the intersecting streets at the Distributing reservoir on Murray hill, required the excavation to be carried down below the foundation of the terrace walls on Fortieth and Fortysecond streets, and in a part of the avenue in front of the reservoir, rendering it necessary to take down and rebuild. these walls. The materials found in them, it was expected, would go far towards their reconstruction, but upon commencing the work, it was ascertained that they consisted only of facing courses of hammer-dressed stones, with a back filling of rubble, and were manifestly incapable of sustaining, for any long period, the embankment they were designed to protect ;--they are now in course of being rebuilt of suitable thickness and height, to enable the department to carry out the improvements contemplated in the finish of these terraces, which hitherto have exhibited an appearance of neglect, and nakedness, discreditable to the general character of the work.

Upon the completion of these walls, it is proposed to cope them with thick flagging, and put a plain iron railing on the top, surrounding the reservoir, of such height and construction as thoroughly to prevent intrusion; to ornament and aborn these grounds between the railing and the walls of the reservoir--a space of twenty feet in width--by the planting and cultivation of shrubbery and flowers. At the entrance on the Fifth avenue, a pleasing effect would be produced by the construction of two small basins, with a jet in the centre of each. These improvements made, the streets adjoining it planted with Elm trees-for the growth