ANCIENT AND MODERN WORKS. 5 



devoted to its consideration, that no attempt will be made 

 here to introduce original conclusions, owing to the unlikeli- 

 hood of the author being able to add anything worthy of re- 

 ceiving consideration. 



Introduction of Metallic Reservoirs in the United States. 

 The historic record of the introduction of metallic reservoirs, 

 if procurable, would be of much general interest, but unfor- 

 tunately such information is of the most meagre and unsatis- 

 factory character; of more or less doubtful authenticity. 



The oldest complete water system installed in the United 

 States is believed to be that erected at Bethlehem, Pennsyl- 

 vania, in 175461, by Hans Christopher Christiansen, at which 

 point two stand-pipes have at different times been constructed. 

 The first of these, a tank 40 X 24 ft. with a capacity of 225,000 

 gallons, having served its term of usefulness, was abandoned, 

 and a new steel structure replaces it. 



Mr. R. E. Neumeyer, superintendent, writes that for some 

 time he has been engaged in procuring data as to the history 

 of this plant, and this he intends giving publicity later, which, 

 it is to be hoped, he wilL 



In a recent volume of the Engineering News there appears 

 a brief article mentioning a stand-pipe erected in the city of 

 New York, by or through the instrumentality of Aaron Burr, 

 in connection with the launching of the Manhattan Company, 

 a banking house, chartered 1799, and in existence at this time. 

 The tank is described as about 35 ft. in diameter by 15 ft. 

 in height, composed of segmental courses of iron castings, 

 with flanged and bolted joints. Each segment is 2\ ft. wide 

 by 5 ft. high, re-enforced by a web, midway, the flanges at 

 the joints being also re-enforced by web angles. An orna- 

 mental effect is obtained by beads forming panels on each 

 half of the outer facings of the segmental castings. Four 

 iron hoops are placed around the tank, and the structure is 

 supported by a masonry tower some 15 or 20 ft. in height. 





