CITY OF BOSTON.

MR. PRESIDENT:-If we admit the exigency for taking possession of Sudbury river and flowing it back into Farm pond, and that it is necessary to take possession of the watershed territory, and all the ponds and tributaries leading to the river, is it then, actually necessary to build a conduit from Farm pond on a circuitous route through South Natick, a distance of sixteen and a half miles, one and a half miles of which run through rock tunnel, and one and three-fourths miles over marshes and rivers, by means of siphons and conduits supported on arches? Does it not seem like another Hoosac Tunnel undertaking? It is stated that five millions of dollars is the estimated cost; but they have left out a large portion of the cost. It does not include 15,800 feet of forty-eight-inch pipe for siphons, which, it is claimed, are necessary for the completion of the work. Then the sum of $375,000 is put down for the damage on land and mill property. Whether this is meant for the whole or a part of the damage we do not know. It may be construed either way. The estimated cost given us by the Water Board cannot be relied upon, with the exception of that for the brick work and a few of the minor parts. So far as it concerns the excavation, tunnel work, and laying the siphons and arches, it is all guesswork, and the judgment of any practical mechanic is as likely to be correct as that of the Water Board; for the material to be displaced cannot be seen or estimated upon until the work is completed. Should the scheme be adopted, we may consider ourselves fortunate if the cost of the works

when completed does not figure up over 8,000,000 of dollars, without including one dollar for damages to mill property, etc. The estimated cost of Chestnut-Hill reservoir was $901,364. [See page 212, "History Boston Water Works."] The cost has been about two and a half millions. They did not guess within one half. The estimated cost of the Cochituate Water Works was $2,651,643. The commissioners said they knew of no reason why the expense should exceed the estimate. [See statement, page 64, "History of Boston Water Works."] But we find that it cost about $5,000,000 or more. There are no signs of retrenchment, and the present scheme will be a pattern of the others. On page 37, Document No. 29, it is stated that the conduit crosses a tributary to the lake, and preparations will be made to discharge water into the lake. A conduit will probably be wanted for that, which will be another extra bill of expense. But if it is necessary to let the water into the lake, why not stop the conduit there? If they let the water into the lake, they must make another from the lake to the reservoir to let it out, otherwise it will be of no benefit. There is another bill of $2,000,000. In fact, Mr. President, I can see but one result, — an immense, perpetual bill of expense. The engineer already contemplates abandoning the siphons, and substituting level conduit, which, if done, will involve another bill of over half a million. We have at the present time a conduit running from the lake to the reservoir which has an internal area of twenty-four square feet. This cost $817,717.73. [See page 266, "History of Boston Water Works."] Another conduit could be built, a little larger, within a few feet (or safe distance), parallel with the present one, and set higher up in the lake, for one and a half millions of dollars. Then one-half of a million would pay for land and other contingencies and increasing the size of the mains and pumping works on the Mystic, so that all the surplus water could be added to the Cochituate. Then the