176 



The Water Supply of Albany. 



the rain fall was carried off by the streams ; but from No- 

 vember to April inclusive, 77.6 per cent was so carried off. 

 This was in the year 1850 ; but in the very next year, 1851, 

 the streams carried off between May and October inclusive, 

 no less than 82.6 per cent." 



Had proper storing reservoirs been constructed, and the 

 suggestions of Mr. Mc Alpine been carried out for increas- 

 ing the supply by saving a large percentage of water which 

 is now lost by evaporations, no complaint as to quantity 

 would ever be heard of. Had ordinary care been taken to 

 protect the water shed, and small streams and tributaries 

 from pollution, no just cause of complaint as to the quantity 

 of the water need to have been made. 



The city, by purchase from Mr. Van Rensselaer secured 

 the full control of Patroon's creek and tributaries, includ- 

 ing the beds thereof, and a protection of 33 feet on each 

 side of the same, paying $150,000 therefor. With this 

 right of ownership, with the full control of all the works 

 protected by stringent laws, the Commissioners have 

 allowed individuals and corporations to encroach upon 

 the lower and most important water-shed, to such an 

 extent as to almost destroy the value of the same, convert- 

 ing a valuable water supply into a sewer for the drainage 

 of large districts, beyond the city limits. 



I present herewith a topographical map showing the 

 entire water-shed of our present works, with the encroach- 

 ments by individuals and the New York Central rail road, 

 which shows the necessity for immediate action in relation 

 to this matter and why an additional water supply is 

 imperatively demanded ; inasmuch as the Commissioners 

 now look to the river, the waters of which have become 

 contaminated with the poison of our sewers, augmented 

 with the filth of other cities, and ask for an appropriation 

 to carry out their scheme. This proposition of the Commis- 

 sioners has but one recommendation, that of " sufficiency 



