March 22, 1889.] 



SCIENCE. 



209 



and unqualified indorsement from ex-Chancellor Benjamin Wil- 

 liamson, ej^-Gov. J. D. Bedle, ex-Gov. Leon Abbett, Henry C. Pit- 

 ney, Garret A. Hobart, A. O. Keasbey, William Pennington, Henry 

 C. Andrews, ex-Chancellor Theodore Runyon, Barker Gummere, 

 and decisions of the courts of last resort of both States. Thus ar- 

 rayed, is the best legal talent in New Jersey. 



The formidable task of crossing the Hudson with absolute confi- 

 dence, he also solved, and in a most remarkable manner. Instead 

 of presuming on a plausible theory, many of which abound, Mr. 

 Bartlett set to work on the best theory, and worked it out at a cost 

 of nearly $200,000. This was done for the purpose of ascertaining 

 whether a certain opinion he held was correct or not. His opinion 

 was that the Hudson River Tunnel, at that time practically aban- 



tion of the city government. Upon receipt of the report, the board 

 passed a resolution authorizing the committee " to recommend Mr. 

 Bartlett's proposition to the favorable consideration of the commis- 

 sioners of the sinking-fund, and urge upon them the adoption by 

 the city of the proposition in accordance with the plans submitted, 

 in order to secure to the city an adequate supply of water for all 

 purposes, and to meet its present needs, and that the same be done 

 as promptly as possible." 



A board of engineers, composed of Clemens Herschel, A. Fteley, 

 and Capt. T. W. Symons, U.S.A., carefully examined the plans of 

 Mr. Bartlett, and made a report as follows: "We do recommend 

 as an entirely practicable and valuable project the general plan 

 which has been submitted by you for supplying a portion of New 



RAMAPO RIVER IN ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y., SHOWING THR VOLUME OF WATER FLOWI 



doned, could be made to serve the purpose of holding the conduits, 

 the great water-mains. In this way he built a large section of the 

 tunnel from the New Jersey end, and the fact was thoroughly de- 

 monstrated that the rest could be built the same way," and that the 

 water-way was secure. 



Accompanying the proposition of Mr. Bartlett and his associates 

 is an indorsement, confirming all that Mr. Bartlett says of his proj- 

 ect and its possibilities, by all the companies or societies which 

 have any controlling water-rights below the point of diversion in 

 the State. These are the Society for Establishing Useful Manu- 

 factures, the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, the Dundee Water 

 Power and Land Company, the Acquackanonk Water Company, 

 the West Milford Storage Company, and the Montclair Water 

 Company. 



A committee appointed by the New York Board of Fire Under- 

 writers to examine into the merits of Mr. Bartlett's plan reported 

 that in their judgment the plan was feasible, and, if adopted, would 

 be of great benefit to the city, and was entitled to the support and 

 indorsement of the underwriters, and to the favorable considera- 



York City from 



the drainage area of that part of the Passaic watershed that lies i n 

 the State of New York, and in the manner herein described, in- 

 cluding the use of a tunnel under the Hudson River for carrying 

 the necessary water-conduits across the river m a safe, durable, 

 and trustworthy manner. We summarize its principal advantages 

 as follows : I. It will furnish to the city of New York an independ- 

 ent supply of water from a new and independent source and by a 

 new and independent route ; 2. This supply will be delivered 

 directly into those portions of the city most remote from the pres- 

 ent source, and where the pressure is most inadequate ; 3. It can 

 be delivered under any pressure desired, up to three hundred and 

 fifty feet of head, and supply all high buildings and districts with- 

 out pumping, thus resulting in a great saving to individuals ; 4. It 

 will furnish most perfect fire protection, and consequently greatly 

 reduce the cost of insurance." 



A memorial of fire-underwriters to the commissioners of the 

 sinking-fund of New York, upon this subject, signed by the officers of 

 all the fire-insurance companies in the city, concludes as follows : — 



