192 The Philippine Journal of Science wis 



to a grade of 1 in 5,000 and extended a distance of approximately 

 4,800 meters to the reservoir (El Deposito) on the highest point 

 of the table-land of San Juan del Monte. An inverted syphon 

 of 26-inch cast-iron pipe, 385 meters long, was to be inserted 

 where the line crossed a deep ravine. The reservoir was to 

 consist of two covered basins, hewn from the same rock material 

 as at Santolan, in catacomb form, with a combined capacity of 

 56,000 cubic meters (16,000,000 United States gallons) to the 

 overflow line of 33.51 meters, city datum. 



Ventilation was to be provided by 207 shafts, which were to 

 keep the water cool and free from vegetable matter. The res- 

 ervoir was to contain about one and one-half days' reserve, 

 in wet seasons about two days' supply. 



From these basins the water was to flow in a line of 26-inch 

 cast-iron pipe along a purchased right-of-way to the city, the 

 first branch — at the Rotonda in Sampaloc — being about 3- kilo- 

 meters from the reservoir, and the distribution taking place in 

 smaller mains, opening into 280 fire hydrants and 390 public 

 hydrants. 



It would have seemed advisable, under modern conditions, 

 in a western country to have commenced operations at once, 

 but dilatoriness was characteristic of the Spanish regime in 

 the Philippines, and in this instance there was no exception to 

 the rule. The home government did not affix its official ap- 

 proval to the scheme until June 10 and October 15, 1875, and 

 work was not actually started until 1878, over nine years after 

 Palacios had begun on the plans. 



This delay was due to two causes. In the first place, there 

 were various official channels through which the project had to 

 pass before it was ready for execution, and, in the second place, 

 there was considerable difficulty in determining the source from 

 which the money for upkeep, construction, administration, and 

 operation was to be drawn. 



Every engineering detail under discussion, however small, had 

 not only to be considered by the department of public works, 

 but had also to be indorsed in Madrid before action could be 

 taken by the city, and the same process had to be followed in 

 matters of finance, except that the insular treasurer and the 

 insular auditor took the place of the department of public 

 works. Even when structural and financial problems had been 

 settled, the general public had to wait a further -three years for 

 the report of the committee of ways and means before the work 

 was inaugurated, and although the city had sought to commence 



