we anticipate, it will fully meet the wants of those residing in that locality, as the head will be increased over one hundred feet; the average level being nearly to the base of the cupola of the State House.

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DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIRS.

The maximum high-water mark at the Beacon Hill reservoir is 121.53, and the average height of water has been 118.13, being feet less than the previous year. When this section of the City is supplied from the pumping works, the Reservoir and land can be sold, or kept as a storage reservoir to equalize the pressure on the Low Service.

The maximum high-water line at the East Boston reservoir is 107.60, and the average the past year has been 99.06, being a gain of 7.04 feet over the previous year, but with the Mystic water there will be a still further gain. The work on this reservoir was completed and the water let in on August 1. The expense of the repairs have been much larger than was anticipated; the work was done, however, in a very thorough manner, and there are no signs of any leaks.

An appropriation was made last year for the erection of an iron fence around the Reservoir at East Boston, but in consequense of White and Brooks streets requiring grading, and the committee on paving not being able to proceed with it, the work has been necessarily delayed. A contract has been made, and a large portion of the iron castings completed, and it will be erected as soon as the grading of the streets is done.

On the first day of October, a contract was made with the Mys. tic Water Board for the supply of East Boston and Deer Island wtih the Mystic water, and on January 1 the gates of the Cochituate main leading to East Boston were closed, and those of the Mystic opened at the connection with our main which had been previously made in Charlestown square; since which time the citizens in that locality have had an increased supply, and

at a much higher head. In our many interviews with the Mystic Water Board, preparatory to making the contract, we were met in a very liberal spirit, and a desire on their part to accommodate us in those arrangements that we considered were important for us to adhere to, and the most friendly feeling exists between the members of the two Boards.

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The maximum high-water mark in the South Boston reservoir is 122.86, and the average height has been 111.74 feet, being a gain of over the previous year. over the previous year. When a second main is laid to this reservoir, a necessity which has been spoken of in former reports, the head will be largely increased, and the inhabitants secured from the danger of being deprived of water by any accident to the present main now across the Dover Street bridge.

WESTERN DIVISION.

This division, which is under the charge of Mr. Albert Stanwood, comprises the Lake and that portion of the works lying between the Lake and the Gate House at Brookline reservoir.

The surroundings of the Lake are generally in good condition. There are a few places where it is necessary to build slope walls to prevent the washing away of the banks; but owing to the high state of the water, it has been impossible to continue the work the past season, and for the same cause the filter dam at Pegan brook has not been constructed.

On November 9, a leak was discovered in the east pipe chamber, at Charles River, caused by the settling of the earth. Repairs were made at once to make it safe, and a constant watch was kept during the winter for fear the frost might start it again. To have this building thoroughly secured, it will be necessary to move it back one hundred feet, or more, and this change cannot be made until the completion of the Chestnut Hill reservoir. As at present, we have no means of keeping up the supply in the City during its construction.

TELEGRAPH.

It has for several years been desirable, if not essential, for the Board to have a telegraph constructed along the line of the Works, by which communications could be made. The Water Works in the principal cities had adopted it and found it of great convenience, and the necessity of having a more rapid and convenient method of communication with our Works was obvious, particularly during the construction of the Chestnut Hill Resevoir, by which messages could be sent to the Board and to the pipe yard, than by sending them by a special messenger, which was attended both by expense and delay.

Impressed with the importance, the Board appointed a committee in 1868, who reported in favor of erecting a telegraph line upon poles extending from the engineer's office, Chestnut Hill, to the pipe yard in Federal street, and from thence to the City Hall (a distance of about six miles); and laying an insulated wire through the conduit to the lake, a distance of fifteen miles, which was adopted by the Board, and an appropriation of $6,500 was obtained from the City Council for this purpose. The first section of the line was constructed in the spring of 1869, and has been found of great advantage in sending messages from the Chestnut Hill reservoir to the pipe yard, and also to and from the City Hall. During the summer, the line has been successfully laid in the conduit from the Intermediate gate house at Chestnut Hill to the lake, and has been useful and reliable in sending messages between those points.

As soon as the water is let into the large reservoir at Chestnut Hill, the line will be connected with the Brookline reservoir, and thus a communication will be established throughout the whole line, and the office of the Board at the City Hall.

The laying of an insulated wire in the conduit instead of erecting it upon poles has not been elsewhere adopted; but the advantages are, that while the expense is no greater the line is

not subject to injury, by accident or design, and it avoids the necessity of obtaining the right from towns to encumber the highways with poles, the cutting away of interfering branches of trees on private property, and the damage to the line by storms. The durability of the wire insulated with gutta percha, and always immersed as it is in water, is, as far as we know, unlimited.

The instruments used are those made by Edmands & Hamblet, and are very simple and reliable. They are operated by electromagnets, with keys corresponding to an alphabet and figures upon a dial, and require so little skill that any one can use them without difficulty. No battery is required, and the expense of the line is confined to the occasional repairs to the wire on the poles.

In case of accident to the conduit, it can be communicated at once, and all information desired sent without loss of time; and when the entire line is completed, which it is contemplated will be within the amount originally appropriated, the Board have reason to believe that it will prove a valuable addition to the Works.

The interior of the Brooklyn gate house has been painted, and the influent chamber and the bank walls pointed, and the new gates have been put into the 36 and 30 inch main just outside of the gate house on a line with the 40-inch gate. The necessity for these additional gates has been felt for many years, but no favor. able opportunity occurred until last fall, when the connections were made at Boylston street with the new 48-inch main from the Chestnut Hill reservoir.

On April 21 and 27 the water was shut off from the conduit for the annual examination. On the first day that portion between the Lake and Newton Lower Falls was inspected, and on the 17th that between the Falls and Brooklyn reservoir. That portion of the latter between Newton Centre and the Chestnut Hill reservoir, a distance of nearly three miles, was