AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 625 



dam between Paterson and Acquackanonck, and raise it to the 

 required height by water power furnished by the river. 



Rockland lake, and Greenwood lake or Long pond, were 

 also proposed as sources of supply, both of which are sufficiently 

 elevated to render pumping unnecessary. But to each of these, 

 and sundry other projects, which were brought to the notice of 

 the commissioners, objections were found sufficiently serious to 

 cause their rejection, and the plan of raising the water by a steam 

 engine, directly from Passaic river, at Belleville, was, after 

 extensive and careful examinations, surveys and estimates, con- 

 sidered by the board the one best adapted to furnish to the in- 

 habitants of Hoboken and Jersey City a permanent supply of pure 

 and wholesome water at a reasonable cost. 



The commissioners, as directed by law, made a report of their 

 proceedings to the legislature in January, 1852, and presented a 

 copy of the same to the municipal authorities of Hoboken and 

 Jersey City, the township of Van Vorst having, during the year 

 preceding, been annexed to and made part of the latter corpora- 

 tion. In their report the commissioners, after describing and 

 discussing the merits of the various plans which had received 

 their consideration, recommended the construction of works in 

 conformity with the plan approved, the estimated cost of which 

 was $653,359. 



The people of Hoboken, however, after seeing and deliberating 

 upon the commissioners' report concluded that it would be 

 inexpedient for them, at that time, to be concerned in the con- 

 struction of works so large and expensive as those proposed ; 

 and declined uniting with the citizens of Jersey City in asking 

 the legislature to grant authority for that purpose. The citizens 

 of Jersey City, though disappointed at the determination of 

 their neighbors to withdraw from any share in the prosecution 

 of the enterprise, were not discouraged, but determined if assist- 

 ance could not be obtained, to proceed with the work alone. At 

 their request the legislature passed " An act to authorize the 

 construction of works for supplying Jersey City, and places 

 adjacent, with pure and wholesome water;'' and for that purpose 

 to borrow, on the credit of the city, the sum of $600,000 at a 

 rate of interest not exceeding six per cent per annum, and for a 

 term not exceeding fifty yeai'S. The construction of the works 

 was, by the act, placed under the direction of five commission- 

 ers, three of whom, (J. D. Ward, D. S. Gregory, and M. B. 



[Am. Inst.] 40 



