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| Middle Atlantic States | New York | New York City | Christopher
Colles |
As the several Inhabitants of this City are particularly interested in the following Affair, it is therefore judged proper to lay the same before them.
Copy
of a
PROPOSAL
Of Christopher Colles,
For furnishing the City of New-York with a constant Supply of
Fresh Water.
To
the Worshipful
The MAYOR, ALDERMEN, and COMMONALTY,
Of the City of New-York, in Common Council convened.
THE
numerous and important Advantages which great and populous Cities derive
from a plentiful Supply of Fresh Water, requires a general Attention; and
as this City is very deficient in this Article,
CHRISTOPHER COLLES,
HUMBLY offers his Services to erect a Reservoir on the open Ground near
the New Gaol, of One Hundred and Twenty-six Feet Square, and capable of
holding One Million Two Hundred Thousand Gallons of Water; which will be
of exceeding Utility in Case of Fire, which are Cities are liable
to. To erect a Fire-Engine in a good Brick or Stone House cover'd
with Tiles, capable of raising into the said Reservoir Two hundred
Thousand Gallons of Water in Twenty-four Hours. To lay Four Feet
deep through the Broad-way, Broad-Street, Nassau-Street, William-Street,
Smith-Street, Queen-Street, and Hanover-Square, a main Pipe of good Pitch
Pine of six Inches Bore, well hooped at one End with Iron; and through
every other Street, Lane and Alley in the City South West of
Murray's-Street, King George's-Street, Banker's-Street, and
Rutger's-Street, the like Kind of Pipe of Three Inches Bore, with a
perpendicular Pipe and a Cock at every Hundred Yards of Said Pipes, – a
proper Contrivance to prevent the same from Damage by Frost; and also on
every Wharf a convenient Pipe and Cock to supply the Shipping. The
Whole to be completely finished in a workmanlike Manner within two Years
from the Time of making the Agreement, for the Sum of Eighteen Thousand
Pounds New-York Currency, by
CHRISTOPHER COLLES
The
following Calculation shewing the Utility of the above Design, will, it is
imagined, be found upon Inspection as fair and accurate as the Nature of
such Things will admit.
It is supposed there are 3000 Houses that receive Water from the Tea Water
Men; that at the least, upon an Average, each House pays one Penny
Half-Penny per Day for this Water; this makes the Sum of £6750 per Annum,
which is 45s. for each House per Ann. According to the Design
proposed, there will be paid £6000 per Ann. for four Years, which is 40s.
each House: By which it appears, that even whilst the Works are paying
for, there will be a saving made to the City of £750 per Ann. and after
the said 4 Years, as the Tax will not be more than 10s. per Annum to be
paid by each House, it is evident that there will be saved to the City the
yearly Sum of £5250, for ever.
In this Calculation it is supposed that 40s. per Ann. is to be paid for 4 Years, but this is done only to provide against any unforeseen difficulties that may occur. It is imagined that the Sum paid 3 Years will effect the Business. The great Plenty of the Water, and its superior Quality, are Advantages which have not been before specified, but must appear of considerable Moment to every judicious Person.
NEW-YORK: Printed by HUGH GAINE, in HANOVER-SQUARE
Source: Proposal
of Christopher Colleges for furnishing the city of New York with a
constant supply of fresh water. (1774)
© 2018 Morris A. Pierce