Illustrations of the Croton aqueduct

Preface

The views which I have given of the important points on the line of the Croton Aqueduct, are from sketches taken for my own satisfaction ; but the interest so generally taken in the work, has suggested to me the propriety of presenting them to the public in this form. Having been engaged in the Engineer Department during the whole of the construction of the Aqueduct, my acquaintance with it would enable me to present more of its details ; but I have given those of the construction of the Aqueduct, and a general outline of the structures connected with it, trusting that a more detailed description may emanate from John B. Jervis, Esquire, who, as Chief Engineer, gave Plans and Specifications for the work during its construction.

A description from such source, accompanied with detailed plans of all the appurtenances of the Aqueduct, with the results of experiments on the flow of water in the Aqueduct, would be a useful contribution to the cause of science, a valuable work to Engineers generally, and particularly so to younger members of the profession.

The history which I have given of the preliminary measures leading to the accomplishment of this work, has been obtained, mainly, from printed documents of the Common Council. I have also had conversations with per-

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sons who were intimately concerned in some of those measures, and trust that I have made the history sufficiently full to embrace the leading steps which were taken.

The accounts of the Aqueducts of ancient Rome, and those built by the ancient Romans in other parts of Europe, also that of the Aqueducts of modern Rome, of Italy, France, &c, have been mostly obtained from the French work of J. Rondolet, in which the aecount of the Aqueducts of ancient Rome is translated from the Latin of Frontinus.

For the account of the Aqueducts of Mexico and South America, I am indebted, in a great degree, to " Bradford's Antiquities of America" and " Ewbank's Hydraulics."

F. B. Tower.