160 tons $2; disinfection of vessels, steamers $8, ships $7. barks $6, brigs $5, schooners $3. Night boarding, $8; transportation of sick to yellow-fever hospital, $5; transporting sick to contagious hospital, Blackwell's Island, $20. The fee for vaccination is 25 cents per capita, less 10 per cent. The disbursements for 1886 were $21,332.14; and for 1887, $21,113.50.

Assessment and Taxation.-The annual report of the State assessors shows an increase in real and personal property from 1886 of $136,445,834. The assessment on real estate has increased over $468,000,000 since 1883, while personal property has increased in the same time $21,000,000. A large portion of the report is devoted to the equalization of New York County. The assessors say due complaint comes from the county of New York. New York complains of too high equalization, while fifty-nine counties complain that New York is too low. New York has been largely reduced and pays a much smaller State tax than formerly. In 1873 New York paid its highest per cent. of the State tax, namely, 51-845. In 1877 it paid 44-644, in 1882 it paid 47.150, and in 1887 2 per cent. less, while between these years its assessed value increased over $137,000,000. The census of 1870 fixes the value of real estate and personal property in the city at $3,484,000,000. Seventeen years later, after the addition of a large portion of Westchester, the total assessment was $1,381,000,000, or about 39 per cent. of the census value. Assuming that 50 per cent. of the census value was personal property, the realty owned in 1870 equals $1,742,000,000, or about $361,000,000 more than was assessed in 1887. Not considering the annexed district, the increase in New York since 1870 is estimated at $500,000,000; so that, if the census of 1870 approximately established the value of its realty, the returned assessed value should have been about $700,000,000 more. The increased assessment of real estate from 1883 to 1887 was $168,738,000. In 1887 the equalized value of New York County was $1,323,666,950, in 1874 it was $812,709,047, an increase of $510,857,903. In 1887 the equalized value of all other counties was $1,701,562,838, in 1874 it was $937,989,871, an increase of $763,572,967. In these years the equalized value of the city was increased by the State board about 62 per cent., while the value of the remaining counties was increased 81 per cent.

Bribery Trials. The principal criminal trial was that of Jacob Sharp, charged with bribing

members of the Board of Aldermen in 1884 to vote for the franchise of the Broadway Surface Railroad. This protracted trial took place in the summer, and resulted in the conviction of Sharp. The conviction was affirmed by the General Term of the Supreme Court on appeal, but in November the Court of Appeals reversed the lower courts and granted a new trial on the ground of errors in admitting testimony.

Political.-The autumn canvass was marked by the advent of the Progressive Labor party, and by a movement of Independent Democrats in combination with the Republicans to elect De Lancey Nicoll District Attorney over John R. Fellows, the regular Democratic nominee. Both were assistants in the office, and Mr. Nicoll was credited, in the public view, with having been the chief agent in the bribery prosecutions. The Progressive Labor party was forined by the Socialists, who had been refused admission to the Syracuse convention that nominated Henry George for Secretary of State. In November the regular Democratic ticket was successful. The vote for City Comptroller was: Democratic, 110,439; Republican, 65,291; United Labor, 33,278; Progressive Labor, 5,636; Prohibition, 1,068. For District Attorney the vote was: Fellows, 99,798; Nicoll, 77,556; United Labor, 32,747; Progressive Labor, 5,276; Prohibition, 709.

The New Croton Aqueduct.-This great public work originated in the following resolutions, adopted by the Senate of the State of New York, Jan. 9, 1883:

Whereas, With the return of business prosperity the rapidly-increasing growth of the city of New York causes a constant increase in the complaints which have prevailed for years past that, by the insufficiency the ordinary conveniences of domestic life, the public of the city's water-supply, the people are deprived of health is endangered, the security of property by fire is diminished, and the pursuit of commerce and manufactures is retarded; and, whereas, in a report dated Feb. 22, 1882, the Commissioner of Public Works submitted to the Mayor of said city a plan for a new aqueduct, prepared by the chief engineer of the Croton Aqueduct and other engineers; and, whereas, this body may be called upon to consider legislation to secure to said city an additional water-supply; therefore

Resolved, That the Mayor of the city of New York is hereby requested to select and appoint within five days from the passage of this resolution five citizens of said city, who in conjunction with himself shall without delay examine into the said plan and report to this body within twenty days as to the practicatime required for its execution, and such other views bility of the proposed plan, the probable cost, the and recommendations as they may deem proper.

In accordance with these resolutions, the

Mayor, Franklin Edson, appointed the following-named gentlemen as the committee: Orlando B. Potter, John T. Agnew, William Dowd, Amos R. Eno, and Hugh N. Camp, ber. The report of this committee to the Senwith Mayor Edson, ex officio, also as a memate of the State of New York, under date of March 7, 1883, presented the following resolutions, unanimously agreed upon :

1. That a new aqueduct should be built immedi ately of sufficient capacity to carry all the available the existing Croton Aqueduct carry any additional supply which the city may hereafter secure in that direction from other sources, and, when practicable, should be built in rock-tunnel.

water in the Croton water-shed, and together with

duct and all subsidiary dams and reservoirs should 2. That the work of construction of such an aquebe intrusted to an unprejudiced commission selected from our best citizens.

The committee on March 7, 1883, besides presenting the resolutions already given, made a full report to the State Senate in reference to the matter in their charge, in which the following occurs: "We are of opinion, as well from our own observation and knowledge as from the statements made before us, that the health, security, and growth of this city imperatively require an increased supply of pure and wholesome water, and that such measures should be immediately taken by the Legislature as will enable the city to secure and provide such increased and sufficient supply at the earliest day practicable. . . . The evidence before us leaves no doubt that the Croton watershed is the best source from which to obtain an increased supply of water, and that the yield of water from this source

DRIVING THE HEADING-DRILLS MOUNTED ON A COLUMN.

will be adequate to meet the wants of the city for at least twenty-five years, or until the consumption of water by the city shall exceed 250,000,000 gallons a day. This water-shed is within the jurisdiction of our own State. It has been more carefully studied and is better known than any other, its water is pure and wholesome, and a supply for a consumption up to 250,000,000 gallons per day can be obtained at less expense from this than from any other source." In reference to the existing water-supply for New York, the report goes on to say that the present Croton Aqueduct is in a condition with proper care to deliver 95,000,000 to 98,000,000 gallons a day, which it

has done since 1874, but could not be safely relied on to deliver more.

The existing water-supply of New York is drawn from the Croton river, a small stream in Westchester County, about forty miles from the city, and from natural lakes in the vicinity of the sources of the river. The water is brought to the city by means of the Croton Aqueduct, which was completed in 1842. This structure was built of stone, brick, and cement, arched above and below to form a sort of ellipse resembling a horse-shoe in shape, measuring 8 feet perpendicular and 73 feet horizontal. It slopes about 13 inches to the mile, and has a capacity of carrying 100,000,000 gallons a day. Croton Lake, which is at the head of the Croton Aqueduct, was formed by throwing a dam across the river, and so raising the water forty feet. Apart from Croton Lake there are two other artificial storage-reservoirs, while the lakes form such reservoirs naturally. They are known respectively as "Boyd's Corner" and the "Middle Branch" reservoirs. The capacity of all these reservoirs, artificial and natural, is 9,500,000,000 gallons. The aqueduct is carried to New York city across Harlem river on the granite bridge known as High Bridge. In Central Park is the retaining reservoir, capable of holding 1,030,000,000 gallons, and just below this is the receiving reservoir, which holds 150,000,000 gallons. A distributing reservoir on Fifth Avenue, between Fortieth and Forty-second Streets, has a capacity of 20,000,000 gallons, and is 115 feet above tide-water. Besides these there is a "high service reservoir" holding 11,000,000 gallons at High Bridge, connected with which is a tower containing a powerful pumping-machine, forcing the water into a tank holding 55,000 gallons at the top of the tower. The cost of all these buildings has been between $25,000,000 and $30,000,000, and the annual water-tax, which is used for repairs, amounts to about $1,500,000.

The committee held thirty-three meetings, at which they had before them many eminent engineers and citizens, and obtained a vast amount of information and evidence concerning the serious question in their charge. The important result of their deliberations was the preparation of an act for the creation of an aqueduct commission, which was subsequently presented to the Legislature, and was the basis of an act finally passed by the Legislature during 1883, known as the "Aqueduct act," whereby the Aqueduct Commission was created. Following is a copy of the title and first section of the act:

An act to provide new reservoirs, dams, and a new aqueduct with the appurtenances thereto, for the purpose of supplying the city of New York with an increased supply of pure and wholesome water. The people of the State of New York, in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Public Works of the city of New York, and James Mayor, the Comptroller, and the Commissioner of C. Spencer, George W. Lane, and William Dowd,

are hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to carry out the provisions of this act, in the manner hereinafter provided, for the purpose of supplying said city with an increased supply of pure and wholesome water. They shall be known as the Aqueduct Commissioners. Said commissioners (other than the Mayor, the Comptroller, and the Commissioner of Public Works) shall each receive a salary, to be fixed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the city of New York, not to exceed $8,000 per annum. They and their successors shall hold no other Federal, State, or municipal office except the office of notary public or commissioner of deeds.

At the time of the passage of this act, Franklin Edson was the Mayor, Allan Campbell was the Comptroller, and Hubert O. Thompson was the Commissioner of Public Works of the city of New York, and these three gentlemen,

duct, and dams and reservoirs and other appurtenances as contemplated, set forth and described in section 2 of chapter 490 of the act of the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled "An act to provide new reservoirs, dams, and a new aqueduct, with the appurtenances thereto, for the purpose of supplying the city of New York with an increased supply of pure and wholesome water, and the said Commissioner of Public Works is hereby directed to include, set forth, and embody in said plan or plans:

1. Such a system or systems of water-supply as will when perfected secure all the water that can be obtained from the Croton Lake and river and its tributaries for the use of the city of New York, with a proper and suitable aqueduct and reservoirs for the same, to the end that an increased storage and supPly of water can be provided for the present aqueduct at the earliest time practicable, and for the new aqueduct to be constructed at an early day. 2. A plan for the immediate construction of a res

with James C. Spencer, George W. Lane, and William Dowd, the three citizens named in the law, became by the foregoing section "The Aqueduct Commissioners." The body was permanently organized Aug. 8, 1883, when the Mayor was elected President of the Commission, William Dowd, Vice-President, and Jas. W. McCulloch, Secretary. The following resolution, which was adopted at this meeting, sets forth in a general way the views of the commissioners at the time as to the proposed sources of water-supply, and system and plans, and the line of the aqueduct :

Resolved, That the Commissioner of Public Works be and he is hereby requested to submit to the Aqueduct Commissioners, as soon as practicable, a plan or plans, together with maps, specifications, estimates, and particulars, for the construction of a new aque

ervoir or reservoirs and dams for the storage and retention of the water-supply of the cast branch of the Croton river and its tributaries at a point near Brewster's Station, and known to the said commissioner and the engineer of the Department of Public Works as the Sodom reservoir.

3. A plan and surveys and maps of the proposed line of the aqueduct that will provide for two routes or lines in the northerly portion thereof, one of which will reach or terminate at the Croton river below the Croton Dam and near the proposed site of a dam known as the "Quaker Bridge Dam," and the other route to reach or terminate at the Croton Dam, and near, yet above, the terminus of the present aque

duct.

On Aug. 15, 1883, Benjamin S. Church was unanimously appointed Chief Engineer of the Aqueduct Commission. On the 24th of the same month the Board of Estimate and Apportionment fixed the salaries of Commissioners

Lane, Spencer, and Dowd at $8,000 per annum. The principal work of the commissioners during 1883 included the hearing and consideration of plans and specifications with regard to the work about to be undertaken. The expenditures of the commission at the close of that year amounted to $22,747.90. On December 30 Commissioner George W. Lane died suddenly. The vacancy was filled by the appointment of Christopher C. Baldwin, who entered upon his duties Jan. 9, 1884. On the 23d of January the engineer corps for the aqueduct, as recommended by the chief engineer, was organized, including the following names: Alphonse Fteley, Principal Assistant and Executive Engineer; Henry S. Craven, Engineer of Construction; Edward Wegmann, Jr., and Frederick W. Watkins, Assistant Engineers of Construction; Frederick S. Cook, Assistant Engineer in charge of the Draughting Department; Cæsar Leonhard. Assistant Draughtsman; and Henry M. Patterson, Chief Clerk. Joseph Davis was appointed Consulting Engineer. On Aug. 24, 1884, the Supreme Court appointed E. Ellery Anderson, Henry F. Spaulding, and Robert Murray, .Commissioners of Appraisal for property taken for aqueduct purposes within the city and county of New York. On Dec. 3, 1884, the aqueduct work was divided into six divisions, each division in charge of a division engineer, as follows: the first division, commencing at Croton Dam, in charge of Charles S. Gowen; the second division, commencing near Sing Sing and extending southerly, John B. McIntyre; the third division, commencing near Tarrytown and running south, J. M. Wolbrecht; the fourth division, commencing near Irvington, Alfred Craven; the fifth division, commencing north of Yonkers, E. Sherman Gould; and the sixth division, including the Twenty-fourth Ward of the city of New York, in charge of Frederick W. Watkins. Bids for the construction of each section of the aqueduct from Harlem river to the Croton Dam were publicly opened and announced. The work was divided between the following contractors: Heman Clark, O'Brien & Clark, and Brown, Howard & Co. The expenditures for the purposes of the aqueduct commissioners during 1884 amounted to $185,730.63.

On Jan. 7, 1885, William R. Grace, Mayor, and Rollin M. Squire, Commissioner of Public Works, became aqueduct commissioners, in place of Franklin Edson, late Mayor, and Hubert O. Thompson, late Commissioner of Public Works, and William R. Grace, Mayor, was elected President of the Commission. During 1885 and 1886 the work was laid out and allotted, and decisions reached on plans and specifications, notably in regard to the Sodom and Muscoot dams; also the plan of a siphon tunnel under the Harlem river was adopted, and the construction of the same ordered to be made. The expenditures on account of the aqueduct for 1885 amounted to $2,265,

147.58. On Jan. 28, 1886, resolutions were adopted fixing the southern terminus of the new aqueduct at the northern side of the Central Park Reservior, and the Commissioner of Public Works was requested to prepare and submit plans for a gate-house at 135th Street and Convent Avenue, and one at the northern side of Central Park Reservoir, and for a pipeline between said gate-houses. On May 5, 1886, the reservoir previously known as the "Sodom Dam and Reservoir was ordered to be named and thereafter known as "The East Branch Reservoir," and the following resolution was adopted in regard to the southern terminus of the new aqueduct :

Resolved, That the point in the city of New York to which an additional supply of water shall be brought under the direction of this commission be, and the of the reservoir in Central Park (known as the New same is hereby fixed, at a point on the northerly side Reservoir"), and adjacent thereto, which point is hereby located as the southern terminus of the "New Aqueduct."

On May 17, 1886, a certified copy of an act (Chap. 337 of the Laws of 1886) amending the act of 1883, under which the commissioners exercised their powers, was received by the commissioners from the Secretary of State, by which amending act Oliver W. Barnes, Edgar L. Ridgway, and Hamilton Fish, Jr., were appointed commissioners, while the Mayor and Comptroller of the city of New York, under this amendment, ceased to be commissioners, and the annual salaries of the commissioners were reduced from $8,000 to $5,000. Commissioner James C. Spencer was then unanimously elected President of the Commission, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of the Mayor, and has since been annually elected as such president.

On July 21, 1886, the commissioners determined to divide the work on the line of the new aqueduct into two districts, to be known as the northern and southern districts, and five divisions, to be numbered from one to five respectively, each district to be intrusted to a principal and assistant engineer, and each division to a division and assistant engineer. On July 28, 1886, John C. Sheehan was appointed Secretary of the Commission in the place of James W. McCulloch, the latter being appointed special assistant to the chief engineer. The expenditures of the aqueduct commissioners during the year 1886 amounted to $5,029,684.21, and the total expenditures from Aug. 8, 1883, to Dec. 31, 1886, amounted to $7,503,310.32.

The committee appointed by the Senate in 1883, in connection with the portions of their report which formed the basis of the principal proceedings toward the construction of the new aqueduct, included in that report the following statement of their views, and the causes which induced them: "The statistics of rainfall in the Croton water-shed, in connection with the ascertained fall of the river at Croton Dam, show that this water-shed is capable of

furnishing at least 250,000,000 gallons a day from the natural Croton water-shed. The flow of Croton water is extremely variable, varying from 10,000,000 to 2,000,000,000 gallons a day, and in order to secure a constant supply at all times it is necessary to impound this water in reservoirs located in the Croton watershed or elsewhere in the line of the aqueduct. At present there are storage reservoirs as follows: Boyd's Corners, Middle Branch, Lake Mahopac, and other small lakes, representing in all a total capacity of 8,586,000,000 gallons. For such years of drought as 1880 and 1881, in order to be certain of a supply of 100,000,000 gallons of water a day, it is believed that,

city of 32,000,000 gallons of water, is proposed very far down in the Croton valley. By the other plan, smaller reservoirs are proposed on Croton river, and its main branches at and above the present Croton Dam. . . . The plan referred to contemplates the construction of this dam at Quaker Bridge, which, when completed, would be the largest work of the kind in the world."

The act authorizing the expenditures for account of the aqueduct included in section 32 of said act the authorization to issue bonds, to be called "additional water stock." Of the amount already mentioned expended up to Jan. 1, 1887, the sum of $49,057.64 was paid

in accordance with the plans of the Department of Public Works already made, additional storage reservoirs of a capacity of at least 4,000,000,000 gallons should be built at once. As the city increases in population and manufactures, the supply of 100,000,000 gallons a day will not be sufficient, and it is deemed advisable that further provision should be made, either now or as fast as the same shall be needed, for the storage of such a quantity of water in the Croton water-shed as will secure all the available water therefrom. We have considered two plans for the storage of water, not entirely different, and of which one may serve to supplement the other. By one of these plans a very large reservoir (3,635 acres, including the present Croton Lake), known as the Quaker Bridge Reservoir, and of a capa

for land and land damages, after having been adjusted by agreement between the aqueduct commissioners and persons interested in the land taken, used, or occupied, and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. The sum of $202,537.65 was paid on the order of the Supreme Court in proceedings reported from the Commissioners of Appraisal in connection with the acquiring of property and property rights for aqueduct purposes. The aggregate amount of $6,495,324 was paid contractors on the contracts for construction work on the certificates of the aqueduct commissioners. The total expenditures of the aqueduct commissioners during the year 1887 amounted to $7,242,293.75. The total expenditures from August 8, 1883, to January 1, 1888, amounted to $14,745,604.27.