CITY OF BOSTON. CITY HALL, COCHITUATE WATER BOARD OFFICE, TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON : In compliance with the provisions of the City Ordinance, the Cochituate Water Board herewith submit their annual report for the year ending April 30, 1872, together with the reports of the Clerk of the Board, City Engineer, Water Registrar, the Superintendents of the Eastern and Western Divisions, and the Engineer especially employed by this Board upon the question of New Supply, to which they would refer the City Council for detailed statements of the progress and condition of the Water Works during the year. A perusal of these reports will show the works to be in a very satisfactory condition. The average level of the water in the Lake for the year ending January 1st, 1872, was 650 feet above the level of the bottom of the conduit, showing an average loss of 446 feet from the previous year. 100 100 The short supply of water for the year ending May 1, 1871, and the remarkable drought during several succeeding months, caused great anxiety, and the means for securing an additional supply engaged the time and attention of the Board. In the month of October last, it was determined to employ an Engineer to make surveys, prepare plans and estimates for a scheme of works to furnish an additional supply of pure water. The Board were especially fortunate in securing for this work the services of Mr. Joseph P. Davis, an engineer of large experience and acknowledged ability. Mr. Davis entered upon the discharge of the duties assigned in the month of November, and as the result of his investigations it was decided to petition the Legislature for the passage of an act authorizing the city to take water from Sudbury River. The Legislature gave early attention to the application, passed an act, which received the approval of the Governor on the 8th day of April, 1872. A copy of the act will be found on page 129. The City Council immediately made an appropriation to enable us to commence the work, and it is confidently expected that within thirty days from this date we may be able to make a temporary connection between Sudbury River and Lake Cochituate, which will relieve our present needs. After making this connection, the engineer will proceed with the work of surveys for permanent works to connect Sudbury River, not only with Lake Cochituate, but also with Chestnut Hill reservoir. The augmented territory of the city, and the constantly-increasing demand for pure water, renders it imperative that a new conduit to convey water from Sudbury River, or Lake Cochituate, to Chestnut Hill reservoir, should be constructed at any early day. The capacity of the present (and original) conduit has been nearly, if not fully, reached. In constructing a new conduit we should recommend that its capacity be much greater than that of the one now in use. The engineer has made a detailed report of his labors up to this time, which may be found on pages 114 to 122. The plan showing the proposed temporary connections has been lithographed, and is submitted herewith. (See pages 122-123.) CONSUMPTION OF WATER. The average daily consumption of water for the year ending December 31, 1871, was 13,945,500 gallons; a decrease, as compared with the previous year, of upwards of one million gallons per day. With a city rapidly increasing in population, and growing daily in business both of mercantile and mechanical character, this statement may seem strange, but it is easily accounted for in the fact that the community were fully aware of the diminished supply of water, and regulated its use accordingly. The income from water rates has been $788,252-50, , being an increase over the previous year of $53,461, and the estimated income for the year ending April 30th, 1872, is $800,000. The expenses have been as follows: For the current expenses $277,120 11 Expended in Wards 13, 14, 15, and 16, 345,372 58 Deduct excess of receipts over expenses this year 26,711 34 Amount carried forward, $383,054 10 Amount brought forward, Cost of works May 1, 1871 10,571,896,64 Less amounts transferred May 1, 1871, from water debt to city debt $383,054 10 1,352,000,00 $9,219,896 64 Making the net cost to May 1, 1872 $9,602,950 74 The amount transferred from the water debt to the city debt as noted above materially diminished the sum of interest which has usually been charged annually to the cost of the works, and as the result of operations, the net gain of receipts over expenditures for the current year has been $26,711 34, which is very satisfactory when compared with former years. EASTERN DIVISION. This division comprises that portion of the works lying east of the Brookline reservoir, including the distributing pipes and reservoirs in the city, and is under the superinten dence of Mr. E. R. Jones. During the year there has been laid one hundred and thirty three thousand eight hundred and thirty feet of main pipe, equal to twenty-five and one third miles (about one mile more than was laid the previous year), making the total amount laid since the commencement of the work two hundred and nineteen and three-fourths miles. Connected with these mains are two thousand four hundred and thirty-three fire hydrants; of this number nine hundred and seventy-seven are of the Lowry pattern. The number of service pipes laid during the year has been two thousand two hundred and seventy-five, measuring seventy-three thousand five hundred and fifteen feet, or about 14 miles. Total number of service pipes, May 1st, thirty-four thousand nine hundred and seventy. In June last water was turned into the forty-eight-inch pipes, connecting Chestnut Hill reservoir with the main lines. A few defects have been discovered in this line of pipe, only one of which was of a serious character. This was no doubt attributable to an imperfect casting; fortunately the breakage was early discovered, the water shut off at the Chestnut Hill gatehouse, and comparatively small damage sustained. Pipes are now being laid from Washington street, Ward 16, through Bowdoin and Church streets, to connect with pipes already laid in Hancock street; when completed this line of pipes will be supplied with water from the stand-pipe at the Highlands, and thus houses upon and in the immediate vicinity of Telegraph Hill, South Boston, will be connected with the "high service. During the coming season connections will be made by means of large-sized pipes through which the Mystic water (by the opening of gates in Charlestown) can be carried to the top of Beacon Hill, if any emergency should arise which would render it temporarily desirable. This arrangement will be mutually beneficial to the City of Charlestown as well as ourselves. HIGH SERVICE. The high-service supply, which was last year connected with Beacon Hill, proves entirely satisfactory. A considerable portion of territory in Ward 16 will need to be supplied by a connection with the high service; and at a day not far distant it will be necessary to add to our pumping facilities. DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIRS. . The Beacon Hill reservoir has not been in use during the past year, as the district which it formerly supplied is now |