iMERICAN INSTITUTE. 631 



having oeen as high as 60,000,000 or 65,000,000 lbs. of water 

 raised one foot with 90 lbs. of Cumberland coal. 



The Distributing Reservoir. — This is situated on Bergen hill, 

 about two miles from the Jersey City ferry. Its form is oval, 

 being 897 feet in length, and 722 feet in breadth, with an average 

 depth of about 15 feet. The top water line is 128 feet above 

 ordinary high water in the harbor of New- York, and extends over 

 an area of nearly twelve acres. The average depth of water, 

 when filled, is about 12 feet. The upper or northern part is 

 principally formed by excavation, and the lower or southern part 

 by an embankment wliich, on the loAvest ground has a breadth at 

 its base of something more than 100 feet, and is about 20 feet in 

 height. The slope of tlie embankment on the outside is 1 per- 

 pendicular to 1-J horizontal, and on the inside 1 perpendicular to 

 2 horizontal. The inside is protected by a slope wall of stone 

 extending from the top water line to a level 1 1 feet beloAV it, or 

 14 feet below the top. The outside is sodded, and the top, which 

 is 16 feet in width, has a gravelled w^alk of 10 leet bordered 

 by sods at the sides, which on the inside reach to the stone 

 w^all. 



The capacity o f this reservoir is about 45,000,000 hnperial 

 gallons, and of this and the receiving reservoir together 55,334,- 

 229 — a quantity sufficient to supply a population of 100,000 

 persons with 30 gallons each for nearly 19 days. 



At the southeasterly side is the gate-house, through which the 

 influent and effluent pipes pass, and in which are placed stop- 

 cocks for regulating the flow of the water; and near to this, 

 within the reservoir, is the screen-house, a low brick structure, 

 without a roof, in which are fixed wire screens, for })reventing 

 fish and floating substances from entering tlie effluent, or distri- 

 buting pipes, and being carried to the mouths of tlie service pipes 

 where they would become troublesome to the water-tenants. A 

 36 inch influent pipe is laid througli tlie embankment at this 

 reservoir, as was done at Belleville, and also a 26 inch effluent 

 pipe in addition to the one now used, and arrangements made for 

 connecting new lines of influent and effluent pipes when required, 

 without interfering at all with the operation of those already in 

 use. Provision is also made for taking the water into the city 

 without allowing it to pass into the Bergen hill reservoir — an 

 arrangement which will permit alterations, or repairs to be made 

 in that, when necessary, without interrupting the regular supply 

 to consumers. 



