634 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



about $5,000 will be supplied by a small tax of fifty cents per 

 lot, levied equally on all grounds improved, or unimproved within 

 the city limits (the collection of which is to cease when the re- 

 ceipts from water rents are sufficient to pay the current ex- 

 penses), the balance will be raised by an addition to the general 

 tax. And it is confidently believed, that within two years, the 

 receipts will exceed the expenditures, and enable the commis- 

 sioners to make investments in securities to form a sinking fund, 

 out of which to pay the water debt as the bonds severally become 

 due. 



The law authorising the construction of waterworks, made it 

 "the duty of the commissioners to cause all such surveys and exa- 

 minations to be made as w^ould enable them to decide upon and 

 recommend a suitable plan for a general system of sewers for the 

 whole district proposed to be supplied with water.'' These sur- 

 veys and examinations were made as directed, and after mature 

 consideration a plan was drawn up and submitted to the munici- 

 pal government for its consideration. 



That body, after careful examination and inquiry, adopted the 

 plan, and by an orcUnance directed that all sewers hereafter au- 

 thorised in the city, shall be constructed under the direction of 

 the water commissioners, and in conformity with the plan submit- 

 ted and adopted. This contemplates a canal at the foot of Bergen 

 hill, in rear of Jersey City, to be connected at one end with Hud- 

 son river, and at the other with the Morris canal, and into which 

 water from the river will be admitted and retained by gates at 

 high water level; the sewers are to be made in the streets, run- 

 ning from the canal to the river, with lateral branches in the 

 cross streets; and each main sewer to have a fall in its whole 

 length of four and a half feet. With this arrangement the water 

 in the canal will be let into the sewers at the time of low water 

 in the river; and as at spring tides there will be a difference of 

 level of six feet between the water in the canal and that in the 

 river and bay, all the sewers may be perfectly cleansed as often as 

 required; and, in the language of the late Nicholas Dean, Esq., 

 " will leave Jersey City nothing to desire in the important matters 

 of public health and individual convenience.'''' 



I remain your very obedient servant, W. 



