Report on the Water Supply of Albany. 227 



lake is now nearly empty, and the supplying streams are 

 running dry. There is great reason to fear that if the 

 rain-fall of the next few months is not unusually abundant, 

 we shall be exposed to serious deficiency of water at a 

 season when it would be most detrimental to health, and 

 when the danger of fires is greatest. And while this 

 danger is so pressing, a large quantity of surplus water 

 from Tivoli lake, and which could be available at small 

 expense, for present and future use, is allowed to run 

 into the river. 



For immediate and temporary relief, we believe that 

 the deepening of the shallow parts of Rensselaer lake, 

 thus increasing its capacity without materially enlarging 

 its area, would be one important step both in increasing the 

 supply and improving the quality of the water. 'No time 

 should be lost in carrying out this suggestion, in order to 

 secure its completion before the commencement of the 

 autumn rains. 



The water of Patroon's creek should all be utilized ac- 

 cording to the original intention and plan of improving 

 and increasing the water supply of Albany at the time 

 this water was purchased by the city, and steps should be 

 at once taken to secure this object, by which all the sur- 

 plus water of Tivoli lake shall be transferred to the higher 

 reservoir. 



We would also earnestly recommend that the experi- 

 ment be made of sinking a large and deep well near the 

 northern limits of the city, in the gravel on the west side 

 of the McAdam road, or in some similar situation. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



James Hall. 

 G. W. Hough. 

 Thomas Hun. 

 Le Roy C. Cooley. 



