274 TRINIDAD. 



latter valley at about three miles from town, and a main pipe 

 of 12 inches bore, reduced to 10 inches, brings the water to the 

 lowest end of the town and the wharves. It is then distributed 

 through every street by sub-main and branch pipes, varying 

 from six to two inches in diameter; hydrants are also disposed at 

 every 500 feet, more or less, for protection against fire. There 

 are 276 such hydrants, and they can be made to throw water 

 over the highest houses. The local supply is calculated at 

 2,500,000 imperial gallons per day, or 77 gallons per individual, 

 the population being 31,858 inhabitants. There are, at present, 

 3,802 service pipes, supplying about 3,700 houses. The length 

 of line from the reservoirs to the town is three miles ; general 

 fall, 122 feet. A dam and a reservoir have also been built at 

 the entrance of the Fonds Amandes glen, with the object of pro- 

 curing for the town a further supply of water from the St. Ann's 

 valley. The pipe is eight inches in diameter, reduced to six, and 

 supplies water to several private residences in the ward, to 

 three public fountains, to two tanks in the Government pastures, 

 to the Governor's residence, to the lunatic asylum, and to 

 several houses along the Circular Road. The main pipes from 

 the two reservoirs are made to communicate by a connecting 

 pipe through the small savanna. General supply from St. Ann's 

 about 300,000 gallons. 



The colonial hospital, a wash-house with 137 troughs, and 

 two large public bath-houses are supplied with water from the 

 water-works. When constructed, they were intended to afford 

 a continuous supply to the inhabitants; large baths were 

 erected in several private lots, also jets d'eau; from these 

 causes, and mainly from the carelessness of the people, the waste 

 is very great indeed, and the more to be regretted, as, in case 

 of fire, the water may fail — not an improbable occurrence, as 

 already proved. 



Port-of -Spain became the capital of the island in the year 

 1783; to that time San Jose de Oruna was the seat of the 

 Government. In 1757, Governor Don Jose de la Moneda, 

 finding it impossible to procure a house in San Jose, removed to 

 Port-of- Spain, which, from that date, virtually became the chief 

 town; it was in 1783, however, that Governor Chacon pro- 

 claimed it the capital of the island. On the 24th of March, 

 1808, under the government of Sir Thomas Hislop, it was 



