for future use, and this use should be kept in view in determining upon the capacity of the reservoir, the design of the chambers, and the character of the work. Its office, in the works of the future, will be to regulate the supply to Beacon Hill, Roxbury Highlands, and a portion of Dorchester. "Estimates are hereinafter given, first, for a new engine with its buildings, and supply and force mains; second, for a new reservoir, designed to serve a temporary purpose, and having a capacity of 4,500,000 gallons; third, for a new reservoir, designed to form a part of the future high-service system, and having a capacity of about 6,000,000 gallons. "It will be noticed that the land damages are the most important items of the last two estimates, but it should be borne in mind that the value of this land is increasing from year to year, and that if not now taken for the purpose proposed, it probably will be eventually. "In conclusion, I would recommend that a new reservoir, having a capacity of at least six millions of gallons, be built on Parker's Hill, and connected with the stand-tower by a twenty-four inch line of pipes, and would suggest that, until this work is completed, the following precautionary measures be taken: "First, to make such connections at the Beacon Hill and South Boston reservoirs as will permit of quickly putting them in communication with the high-service pipe mains. "Second, to keep these reservoirs well filled with water. "Third, to employ men familiar with the location of the gates and street mains, whose duty shall be to attend every alarm of fire in the high-service districts, and who shall be given proper instructions, in reference to opening communication with the reservoirs, and to shutting off portions of the highservice area when the exigency of the case requires. "The following are the approximate preliminary estimates of cost: Reservoir on Parker's Hill; capacity about 4,500, 000 gallons Line of twenty-inch pipe to stand-tower Land damages. "Add ten per cent. "Total "THIRD ESTIMATE. $ 53,000 31,000 75,000 $159,000 15,900 $174,000 Reservoir on Parker's Hill; capacity about 6,000, 000 gallons Line of twenty-four inch pipe to stand-tower Land damages. $73,500 39,500 100,000 $213,000 Application has been made to the Legislature for an act authorizing the construction of a reservoir upon Parker's Hill. The season will be so far advanced before the necessary appropriations can be made, and the work put under contract, that it is improbable that the reservoir can be made ready for use before another summer. The following is a statement of the cost of pumping for the year 1872: Approximate cost per million gallons raised one foot high, 34 cents. CONSUMPTION OF WATER. The table on pages 47 and 48 gives the average daily consumption of water for each month since 1848. The daily average for the year 1872 was 15,063,400 gallons, which is in excess of the average for 1871 by about 8 per cent. The greatest consumption was in November, for which month the daily average was 17,591,400 gallons. The great fire of Nov. 9th began at about quarter past seven in the evening, and was not brought under control until the afternoon of the 10th. The consumption of water in the city for all purposes, from 6 A. M. of the 9th to 6 A. M. of the 11th, or for 48 hours, was 43,500,000 gallons. The average use for domestic purposes, just previous to the fire, was 12,500,000 gallons in twenty-four hours; hence, it appears that fully 18,500,000 gallons were used by the Fire Department in the thirty-five hours from 7 P. M. Nov. 9th, to 6 A. M. Nov. 11th, much the greater portion of which was used in the first eighteen hours. This quantity would cover the entire area burnt over (taken at 60 acres), 10 inches deep, and would cover the area occupied by the buildings about 14 inches deep. ADDITIONAL SUPPLY. Since the date of the last yearly report, preliminary surveys have been made to determine the location of a conduit from Farm Pond to Chestnut Hill Reservoir, and the best position for storage basins upon the Sudbury River. A plan of works for securing and conveying to the city the additional supply to be drawn from this river has been devised, and its cost estimated, and a report, bearing date January 27, together with plans of the various structures required, was presented to the Water Board. The plan proposed has received the approval of the City Government, and an appropriation of $500,000 has been made to cover the expenditures of this year. A force will at once be put into the field, to make the surveys for the final location of the conduit line, and portions of the work got under contract at as early a day as possible. RAIN-FALL. The usual tables giving the rain-fall at various points for the year 1872 will be found appended. Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH P. DAVIS, Average Monthly and Yearly Heights, in feet and decimals, of the several Reservoirs above “tide marsh level,” 1862–72. BROOKLINE. Maximum high-water line, 124.60. 67.: 1869.1870. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 122 46 123.64 122.37 123 31 122.28 122.00 123.29,122 58 122.83 121 89 118.64 122.85 123.23 122.61 122.82 122.47 123.12 122.79 122.64 122.60 122 54 120.48 123.52 123.23 123.62 123.26 123.19 123.05 122.33 122.48 122.77 122 08 122.04 124.18 123.85 123.82 123.38 123.45 123.00 123.04 122.60 122.56 122.00 122.10 124.00 123.52 123.62 122.65 123.04 123.07 123.04 122.77 122.75 121.79 122.29 123.25 123.17 122.66 123.23 123.29 122.34 122.77 121.85 122.64 121.98 122.25 123.73 122.76 122.87 123.33 122.97 122.98 122.77 122.10 122.50 122.19 121.25 123.70 123.11|122.64|123.39 122.80 122.23 122.75 122.19 122.23 122.06 122.14 123.64 123.36 122.03 123.29 122.81 122.52 122.12 122.50 122.35 121.50 123.44 123.85 122.26 123.19 123.29 123.03 122.65 122.31 122.58 122.64 119.54 122.96 124.07 123.63 122.78 123.38 122.75 122.89 122.56 122.46 122.60 116.94 120.98 123.46 122.53 122.29 123.24 122.64 122.37 122.00 122.92 122.50 117.71 121.06 123.56 123.19 122.87 123.21 122.89 122.69 122.65 122.48 122.58 121.02 121.63 BEACON HILL. Maximum high-water line, 121.53. MONTH. 1862. 1863. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 117.48 118.36 117.72 119.18 119.20 119.11 120.20 118.51 118 63 119.26 116.20 116 46 116 34 115 32 121.23 119.51 119.00 120.24 117.20 119.30 109.63 116.95 117.65 Yearly Average 117 21116 92 116.77 120.00 119 59 119 36 119.11 118.13 118 49 116.51 117.19 |