EDWARD ELS WORTH. 243 



of sinking these wells was formerly a great obstacle to 

 their employment, but with the new machinery, and 

 boring implements developed by the growth of the 

 petroleum industry in this country, the cost of sinking 

 an artesian well has been greatly reduced, and can be 

 calculated to a nicety. 



The failure of an artesian well generally results in 

 striking water which is unfit for domestic use — water 

 impregnated with some chemical or mineral substance. 

 In our Southern Atlantic and Gulf states, in those por- 

 tions where the surface and ground waters are generally 

 unfit for use, large sums have been expended in sinking 

 Artesian wells, but I do not recall an instance where sat- 

 isfactory drinking water has been obtained. Reliance 

 has to be placed upon river water and careful filtration 

 of the ground and surface waters. 



Whether our own city could obtain a satisfactory sup- 

 ply of water from such a source is a question which has 

 often been asked. And I see no reason why the ques- 

 tion may not be answered affirmatively. 



So far as I know, but one attempt to secure such a 

 supply of water has ever been made, viz., at the Vassar 

 Brewei'y, within a few years. That well w^as sunk to the 

 depth of about 500 feet, and yields to-day a supply of 

 pure water, sufficient for the manufacturing purposes of 

 the brewery. 



Lastly we come to the river supply. 



Why was the Hudson River selected as the source of 

 supply for our city ? 



This question, in view of recent criticism, deserves per- 

 haps more careful consideration than can be given in the 

 brief time remaining to me. Suffice it to say generally, 

 that the Hudson River was selected as the best available 

 source, after careful, long continued examination and 

 test of every other source within reach of the city. I 

 have already stated why the Fallkill creek was not 



199 



