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Monticello was built in 1772 by Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States (1801-1809)
In an 1805 memorandum, “General ideas for the improvement of Monticello,” Jefferson considers tapping a spring on the mountain and bringing it to Monticello “by pipes or to fall over steps of stairs in a cascade, made visible at Monticello through a vista.”
Extensive water system
improvements were made in 2016, generally following Jefferson's plan of a
gravity supply from Montaldo, the “high mountain” that rises 410 feet
above Monticello.
References
1805 Morning Chronicle (New York, New York), November 16, 1805,
Page 3.
This is the approbation given by Mr. Jefferson to the invention of the
Hydraulic Ram, which was offered by Mr. Lapaype, to the inhabitants of
Richmond, for the utility and ornament of that city; and of which he has
made also some experiments at this house at Monticello. Balt. Amer.
"I hereby certify, that I attended an experiment made with the Hydraulic
Ram of Mr. Lapoyde, that with a descending tube of 1 inch diameter and 4
feet long, it through from 1/2 to 1/16 of the water 22 feet above the
reservoir - and am satisfied, had it not been for the leaking pipes
affixed to it, it would have thrown the water much higher. I am well
satisfied of the effect of the machine, and pleased with the simplicity of
its construction, that I have had one made for myself to be placed under
the cove of the house, to catch the rain water from them, and throw up a
sufficient porition of it into the cistern on the top of the house as a
resource in case of fire. "Given my hand at Monticello, the 27th of
Sept, 1805. Thomas Jefferson
1805 From
Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham, 16 November 1805
Mr Poype having obtained from mr Montgolfier the inventor of the Hydraulic
ram permission to use his patent right to the advantage of mr Poype who
has need of it, I do not think myself at liberty to make any communication
of it’s construction to his prejudice. on the same ground I have not put
to use yet the one he permitted me to have made from his model. I
understood there would be a subscription in Richmond for employing mr
Poype in the setting up a number of them, which will give to the city the
benefit of the construction.
1815 Thomas Jefferson
to William Thornton, 9 February 1815
I have to thank you for the drawing of the beautiful hydraulic machine
with which you favored me in yours of Jan. 11. in simplicity and effect it
promises to go far beyond Montgolfier’s hydraulic ram.
2016 New Investments by Monticello Solve Jefferson’s Water Dilemma By Liz Russell, May 12, 2016
© 2015 Morris A. Pierce