the pipes and reservoir. Legal measures have been taken to remove all manufacturing and other objectionable features from the borders of the Mystic River that are liable to render the waters impure; and we submit herewith a copy of a communication recently received from the Mystic Water Board upon this subject.

During the last month, samples of Mystic water were sent to Prof. C. F. Chandler, of New York (a prominent and experienced chemist, whose name was suggested by residents of East Boston), and to Dr. S. D. Hayes, State Assayer of Massachusetts, for analysis. Copies of their reports are here with transmitted, giving opinions very favorable to the purity of the water.

“In the discussion of this subject it will naturally be argued that the City of Boston has now a large and abundant supply of its own, and therefore no further need to purchase water from Charlestown at a large annual expense, and it is perhaps quite proper to submit a few considerations upon this point.

'By a recent act of the Legislature, the city was authorized to increase their water supply by the taking of Sudbury River. As yet this supply is only available to fill up Lake Cochituate; to give full force to the immense benefit which will accrue from this new source of supply, it is necessary to build a new and independent line of conduit of liberal dimensions from Sudbury River to Chestnut Hill Reservoir, establishing gates near Lake Cochituate, by which means the lake can be filled up if it should fall below the proper level.

Competent engineers are now engaged in surveying to determine the most desirable route for such conduit, and the result of their labors will soon be laid before you. The building of such a conduit and getting it into operation will require considerable time; perhaps even three or four years.

The amount of Cochituate water now used is far greater than was contemplated when the present conduit was built, and the strain upon it (especially in cold weather, when many citizens run much water to waste to prevent freezing) is very great, and this Board is decidedly opposed to increasing the pressure, rendering breakage of the conduit imminent, with possibility of shutting off the entire supply for the city.

“In view of the reports of the assayers, the active measures taken and being taken by the City of Charlestown, and the present improved condition of the Mystic water, the Cochituate Water Board is led to believe that the late appearance of the Mystic water delivered in East Boston arose from temporary and accidental causes, which will not be likely to occur again, and that it would be unwise and injudicions to break the existing contract with the City of Charlestown, in order to substitute the

Cochituate water for the Mystic water at East Boston, and incur any damage that might result to the City of Boston."

In relation to the foregoing, your commissioners also submit letters received from Chas. H. Allen, Esq., President Cochituate Water Board, and from Jos. P. Davis, Esq., City Engineer, appended, and marked "C" and "D."

From the foregoing it will be seen that Boston is not now, and for the next four years will not be, adequately provided with water; a fact which might well cause alarm to our citizens, were it not that by the proposed annexation we are offered the boon of a copious supply.

MYSTIC LAKE.

From the Eighth Annual Report of the Mystic Water Board, Dec. 31, 1872, pp. 17, 18, 20, 21, we quote:

“The works are in a very satisfactory condition. By the completion of the new engine, the pumping capacity of the works has been increased nominally to eighteen million gallons in twenty-four hours, but the real capacity is probably rising twenty millions, which is double the former capacity, and about three times the daily average consumption for the past year. At the same time, though the pumping capacity is largely in excess of the average daily consumption, the addition of the new pump to the works was most timely, as during the extreme cold weather the present winter, the daily consumption has been very large, being at one time three millions of gallons more than the capacity of both the old pumps; so that with them alone, we should have been entirely unable to have supplied the demand."

“The average level of the water in the lake has been ten and six-tenths feet above the bottom of the conduit, or eight-tenths of a foot below highwater mark; the extreme variation in the level was one and five-tenths feet.

'The rainfall for the year, as kept at the engine-house, was forty-five and seventy-one hundredths inches, which is the largest for six years, and nearly double that for the years 1870 and 1871, which was only twenty-four and five-tenths inches, the heaviest being in August, which was eleven and eighty-hundredths inches, or nearly one foot on the level."

"The average depth of water on the overfall at the dam was three inches during the whole year, or about twenty-five millions of gallons daily waste."

“The reservoir and the grounds adjacent are in good condition, also the gate-house and its appurtenances, requiring but few repairs during the year.

"The average depth of water in the reservoir has been twenty-one and seven-tenths feet. The whole number of gallons drawn from the reservoir during the year, was, 2,469,610,719. Average daily consumption, 6,766,056 gallons, an increase per day over that of the previous year of 1,683,084 gallons. The largest amount drawn in twenty-four hours was 12,028,869 gallons, and the smallest, 4,518,154 gallons. "The relative monthly consumption was as follows:

So far as quantity is concerned, the above fully demonstrates that Mystic Lake can not only furnish the cities and towns now depending upon it, but by the addition of another pump of the same cost and capacity as the one put in operation last year, cost, $68,250; capacity, 8,000,000 gallons per day, and laying additional mains to connect with Boston, could also probably satisfy the wants of Boston and all the towns recommmended for annexation besides, at once, and, if necessary, without the use of Cochituate at all. And when the time shall come that Cochituate and Mystic will be insufficient, we are close upon the period when Cochituate and Sudbury will be equally inadequate.

Of the quality of Mystic water, since an intelligent treatment of this topic requires the knowledgs of an expert, your commissioners only submit the following evidence.

From Fourth Annual Report of the State Board of Health. p. 453:

"Charlestown has excellent water from Mystic Pond. The people are however becoming anxious, and as we think with good reason, about the final effect of casting so much refuse into the sources of supply. The Charleston sewers are reported to be in good condition."

From report of the Cochituate Water Board, March 13, 1873, p. 66:

"Chemical analyses made in August of last year, by Dr. Hayes of Boston, and Professor Chandler of New York, show the Mystic water to be of excellent quality for domestic use. Although the lake receives a drainage of very objectionable character and amount from a number of manufactories in its vicinity, there can be no doubt that its original purity may be maintained by a proper arrangement of works for intercepting and diverting the injurious matter."

Your commissioners understand that legal measures have been taken to check the evils herein alluded to, with every prospect of success.

In report on supplying the City of Charlestown with pure water, made for the City Council, 1859, we find the following, pp. 68,69 —

'My opinion is, that the exclusion of sea-water being effected, the supply from Mystic Pond will be of equal purity and desirableness, as that derived from Lake Cochituate, in every respect; and that the projected improvement of introducing this water for domestic purposes is every way judicious and economical.

"With high respect,

"A. A. HAYES, M.D., Assayer to the State of Massachusetts.”

Prof. Silliman's report on Mystic Pond, July 17, 1862, contains the following:

"SUMMARY.

"The researches and statements which have been detailed appear to warrant the following conclusions:

"1st. Upper Mystic Pond contains water which at the present surface is pure enough for metropolitan supply, but which in depth is unfit for such use, both by reason of its saline character and hardness, and the active corrosion it effects in lead pipes.

"2d. The Abajonna River empties into the head of the Upper Mystic a soft pure water, perfectly adapted for metropolitan supply, ample in

quantity, and as free from harmful action with lead as are the waters of Lake Cochituate.

“3d. A dam on the bar dividing the two ponds will effectually cut off contamination from the brackish waters of the Lower Pond, flush the lake with an abundant stratum of pure water, and gradually effect a change in the character of the whole contents of the reservoir."

And from Boston City Document No. 89, 1872, communication from Cochituate Water Board, page 14, we make the following extract : —

"NEW YORK, August 6th, 1872.

"SIR:

CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS.

The samples of Mystic water, from Charlestown, Mass., and marked Mystic water, submitted to me for examination, contain in

one U. S. gallon of 231 cubic inches,

Inorganic matter,

Organic matter,

Total solids.

This water is of excellent quality.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

"(Signed,)

C. F. CHANDLER, PH. D.,

"Professor of Analytical and Applied Chemistry.

'To Wм. W. PIERCE, Esq., Mystic Water Board,

THE SEVERAL CITIES AND TOWNS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.

Of most of the cities and towns, in detail, there is but little to add to what may be found in the tables of statistics. With a single exception the benefits to be derived from the annexation of any commenced the reception of the rest.

We would say of the places not named in the order, viz., Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, Winthrop, Watertown and Medford, that the general knowledge of any one acquainted with their locality and the suburbs of Boston, independent of any exact statistical information, would cause him to hesitate