by the superintendent was that he "supposed it was made for the cows to drink." Now, if it had not been for this dairy business, there would have been no artificial pond over the conduit, and we could have walked over the entire ground and had an opportunity to examine the "quicksand ” which we had been searching for, but were unable to find. The character of the ground through which the conduit runs is the most splendid I ever saw. We found coarse gravel and sand, and easy, dry digging all along the route. We might search the country over, and I doubt whether we could find another locality every way so favorable, and the engineers showed great wisdom in their selection. We shall need the water of Sudbury river or some other river very soon. We shall also soon need a greater capacity for conducting the water. We shall need it long before a conduit can be completed on the new line. The Water Board say that the conduit is insufficient, and that they will soon have to run the conduit under a great pressure, and use the pumps in order to supply the demand. It will take several years to complete the conduit ready for use, and what are we to do for water during these long years while this immense piece of work is being completed? If we adopt the old route there would be a saving sufficient to pay every dollar of damage to mill property, from the head of the Sudbury down to tide water, and have enough left to build several parks. Yes, and put the Mystic in good order, too. The damage to mill property, of course, will be a matter of great importance. But this will be small in comparison with the unnecessary outlay which would be expended in the building of a conduit over the proposed new line. Let us not, however, underestimate the damage to mill property on the Sudbury, Concord and Merrimac rivers. It is thought by many that the owners do not hold claim to the surplus water running over their dams. This is a mistake. They claim that all the flood water passing over their dams belong to them, of their own right and title, and that

they have a right to control and utilize it at such times and in such a manner as they like, and that no State or city has a right to hold back its natural flow of water without returning full compensation. In many of the mills flood water-wheels are used. In Lawrence, at the highest stages of the water, the mills use wheels to utilize this flood-water in order to make up for the loss of back water, which is sometimes sixteen feet deep, thus reducing the head from thirty to fourteen feet effective head. In such cases it is not in the dry season only that they are short of power, for then they have a full fall of water. They will claim that the water has to be closely economized in high stages of water in many mills, on account of the diminution of the head and fall. Therefore, every gallon of water hitherto running over their dams, if held back and diverted from the original stream, must be considered in the bill of damages. It seems to me that the most reliable plan for estimating the damage is by computing the horse-power of the water taken from the privileges on the rivers affected by the taking of the water. From the best knowledge that can be obtained relative to the capacity of the river, including all the flood water, 50,000,000 gallons per day is estimated; this is overestimated in my opinion. Then 50,000,000 divided by 7.48 equals 6,684,492 feet, divided by 24 equals 278,520.5, divided by 60 equals 4,642 per minute. Now it is well known in all water mills, where there are ponds of ordinary size, that about double the water is used through the day that the stream ordinarily affords, drawing down the head a little, so that it will fill up during the night, and in this way double the quantity of water, and hence double the power, is obtained. Therefore, 50,000,000 gallons per twenty-four hours, or 4,642 cubic feet per minute of constant flow, as applied to the water-wheels in twelve hours, instead of twenty-four, would be 9,284 cubic feet per minute. This is what the mill-owner will claim. Now let us see how much power can be made avail

ble with this 50,000,000 gallons per day, or its equivalent used in twelve hours. Commencing at the first mill on the Sudbury, Brown's Mills or Simpson's, 9,284 multiplied by 62.5, multiplied by 6, divided by 33,000, multiplied by .80, equals 84.4 horse- power. Saxonville Mills, with same water and 23 feet head, 323.5 horse-power. Billerica Falls, 12 feet head, same water, 168.8 horse-power. Wamesit Water Power Company, 24 feet fall, 337.6 horse-power. Massie Falls, 8 feet fall, 112.48 horse-power. Middlesex Mills, 12 feet fall, 168.8 horse-power. Essex Company, Lawrence, 25 feet fall, 351.6 horsepower. These heads are all rated low to allow for drawing the pond. There are also two privileges further up the river, which will be flooded out by the water basins, namely, Charles Alden's Mill, Ashland, 9 feet head, and Cutler's Mills, Ashland, 7 feet head. Supposing the amount of water to be the same as taken from the other mills, we should have for Charles Alden's 126.56, and for Cutler's Mills 98.4 ; making a total of 1772.14 horse-power from the head of Sudbury down to tide-water. Now it seems to me that a principal, the annual interest of which being sufficient to pay the expenses of steam-power for this amount of power, would be fair and equitable. I find by consulting several reliable manufacturers using steam-power that the average annual cost of steam-power, including interest on cost of engine, repairs, insurance, etc., is $74.10 per annum per horse-power. Then if one horse-power cost this amount, 1772.14 horse-power will cost $131,315.57. The principal of which this is the interest at 7 per cent. is $1,875,936.77. This does not inIt is claimed by

clude land damages or cost of litigation. some that if a portion of the stream is taken the whole will have to be paid for. However this may be, there is no need of dispute upon that matter on the Sudbury river, for the amount of water allowed by the engineer, viz., 50,000,000 gallons per day, is all that flows in that river. This amount

of water gives at the Saxonville Mills 323.5 horse-power twelve hours per day the year round, while the proprietors claim only 325 horse-power (1.5 horse-power more) nine months in the year only, and frequently there is not water enough to supply the boilers and for washing purposes. Now, if the city of Boston pay the mill-owner a certain sum of money for damages, that gentleman puts the money out at seven per cent. interest, and finds the income will pay all the expenses of steam-power equivalent to the water-power they have taken away, he ought to be satisfied. However, lawsuits will undoubtedly grow out of it, bringing the whole water damage up to at least $2,000,000.

Estimate of Cost.

It is intended to use three siphons, only one of which is included in the Water Board estimate (page 38 and 39, Doc. 29). There are 15,800 feet not included, at $20 per foot,

15,800 X 20

$316,000

Water Board estimate (too low) (page 47, Doc.

Four storage basins, dams, etc., not included,

(page 46, Doc. 29; also page 34, Doc. 29). Interest on $4,000,000 three years, at six per

495,000

cent.

720,000

$11,195,254

Interest on $3,000,000 one year, at six per cent.

180,000 $5,170,000

After spending a great deal of time in the investigationof this subject, I am confident that the plan of taking the Sudbury river is the most feasible and economical of all others, if the water is brought in over the Cochituate route. But I trust we shall look in other directions for a water supply before we burden the city with the needless expenditure proposed by the Cochituate Water Board. Whatever we do, let us first look after the purity of the water in Lake Cochituate and Mystic river; guard against drawing down the water and allowing vegetation to grow into the lake. Its tendency towards the pollution of the water is acknowledged by the City Engineer, and many others of high authority.