NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Washington Founded 1836 U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Public Health Service "lf\ I P O R T T O T H E Seledt and Common Councils, ON THE PROGRESS and STATE O F T H E WATER WO RKS, On the 24th. of November, 1799. Printed by order of the Corporation of Philadelphia* •—Philadelphia:— PRINTED BY ZACHARIAH POULSON, JUNIOR, No. 106, Chefnut-Jireet. 1799. ffif-^Cfc-V'-CT*-^^ REPORT O F T H E MAYOR and COMMITTEE O F T H E Selefl: and Common Councils, fhe Mayor and Joint Committee, appointed tofuper- intend and manage the plan adopted by the Selecl and Common Councils, for the introduclion of wholefome water into the city, having, though fen/ible of their duty in this refpecl, from a variety of fuccejfive paufes, been prevented from making a full report, be» fore the late eleclion, now enter on this undertaking, which, from being fo long delayed, has, of courfe, become lengthy and laborious. In framing this report, the Committee' feel a pleafure in acknowledging the voluntary aid of a Member of the late Committee, whofe zealous attention to the bufinefs, from its origin, gave him an opportunity of acquiring extenftve and cqrrecl information on the fubjed. Xx S many new Members have now taken their feats in the Councils and muft be fuppofed lefs well informed on this fubjecl: than older members, it may be peculiarly ufeful to them to give a retrofpe&ive view of paft proceedings and to dwell on fome points that otherwife might remain too little underftood, •and which on that account have excited difcontent ( 4 ) and fubjefted the Corporation to unmerited cenfure. If, in giving this retrofped, too much minutenefs fhall appear to thofe already acquainted with the fub- jed,' the motive above ftated, it is prefumed, will operate as a fufficient apology. However various opinion may be on the political character of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, his great merit as a natural philofopher, and his pene- trating difcernrrient between caufe and effect, are uni- verfally admitted. It is well known to the public that in his judgment, feveral years ago, there was a grow- ing neceffity for fome other fupply of water, than that yielded from the pumps and wells funk in the ftreets of this city. Time, reflection and more parti- cular observation, have produced a general agreement in his pofition, and repeated affliction from the ra- vage of epidemic or contagious difeafe, rendered a copious fupply of more wholefome water, in the efti- mation of many, indifpenfible to the health and pre- servation of the city. Incited by this general prevalence of fentiment, and by the petitions of very numerous and refpec- table citizens, the Selecl and Common Councils for the two lad years paft, have had their attention moil powerfully drawn to this important object. Infor- mation as to fources of fupply—modes of execu- tion, and economy of expence, has been feduloufly and repeatedly fought for, both individually, and by the appointment of committees. _ A variety of fchemes, and inventions of mecha- nic power, for the raifing and introduction of wa- ter, in confequence of this attention ^nd enquiry, have been brought forward, many of them potTeff- ng confiderable merit, though ineligible, for the adoption of the Councils. The general fentiment in favor of navigable ca- nals, for fome time turned the view of the Coun- cils to the one commenced, for conneding the rivers ( 5 ) rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, the proprietors of which, were authorized (if they found it their in- tereft fo to do) to fupply fuch citizens with water, as they might find difpoled to ufe and purchafe it.' Impelled by a ftrong defire to promote, by a com- bined effort, the accomplishment of two fuch great objeds as the watering of the city, and the com- pletion of this inland navigation, the Corporation advanced to conferences and negociations on the fubjed, with the Prefident and Managers, and with committees of the Stockholders of the Delaware and Schuylkill Canal. But on the remit of long and mature refledion, it did not appear to the Councils, ccnfiitent with the duty they owed to the city, to commit its interefts fo far, as to embark in an un- dertaking of fuch apparent magnitude and expence. This imprefiion was ftrengthened by a confideration of the difficulty in afcertaining, with any tolerable degree of precifion: I. The amount of expence, neceffary for its com- pletion : II. The length of time it would require to per- fed it: III. Whether, if compleated, the double purpofes of navigation, and the watering of the city, could be effectually anfwered at the lame time, without injury to either; and IV. If utility and emolument were objeds to be contemplated, would either be of much value, with- out the completion of the Sufquehanna and Schuyl- kill Canal, to introduce the carriage of Weftern produce. Hence, as wrell as from other caufes of no un- important weight, the Councils deemed it advifea- ble to decline the following advanced proportions: I. For the city to purchafe all the unforfeited (hares, (called 700) and to complete the Canal j or '( 6 ) 11. To become fhareholders in the Canal Stock, with a proportionate reprefentation in the direction;* or III. To give the fum of 200,000 dollars, for th > cents a foot, he ftated at * * - ^ Dollars 127,000 And that of the fecond, for bringing J the waters of Mill-fpring, he cal- > 275,000 culated would not exceed, - j Expence of diftribution as before, - 52,066 Dollars 327,000 In the firft Plan—lightnefs of comparative ex- pence and the profped of fpeedy execution, were circumftances in its favour; two Steam Engines however would be neceflary, and the annual expence of fuel and maintenance of courfe increaled—this, and an apprehension of the water being too fre- quently turbid, and not fufficiently cool for culinary purpofes, were obje&ions. In favour of the fecond—One Steam Engine only •would be required—the Water excellent—and in purity and coolnefs not to be exceeded—againft it appeared the expence and the length of time to to conftrud the neceflary works of conduit. Satisfied ( 8 ; Satisfied in the pradicability of obtaining a fup- ply of water and in the profped of its early intru- dudion, if Steam Engines of fufficient power and perfed conftruction could be obtained in time, B. H. Latrobe was employed by the Committee to make the neceffary enquiry on this point, and for that pur- pofe went to New-York. In the mean time a memo- . rial from the Councils, addreffed to the Legiflature, requefling a liberal aid to the City, was pending; fome hopes were entertained that this aid would be granted, but a little time fhewed the fallacy of fuch hopes, and Councils being encouraged by the fuc- cefs of Latrobe's miflion, as reported by the Com- mittee, concluded to adopt the firft Plan, confiding hat it would be patronized by their Fellow Citizens and fufHciently fupported by their voluntary fub- fcriptions on loan. Though the eftimated expence of this plan was ftated at 127,000 dollars, yet general experience having proved that eftimates moftly fall fhort of adual expence, it was judged prudent to allow nearly one fifth more for poffible fhort calculations and con- tingencies, and on this ground the Councils affumed the fum of 150,000 dols. as mat which would moft probably be neceflary for completely perfeding all the works. To effectually anfwer every ufeful p.- pofe contemplated by watering the city, combined with the greateft pradicable expedition (which from the general fenfe of the Citizens feemed defirable) this plan of all others appeared the moft promifing and likely to be the leaft expenfive, even after the al- lowances and provifions for contingencies and fhort calculation, being, with the engines, buildings, and works of indudicn and diftribution, 50,000 dollars lefs than the fum demanded by the canal proprietors for the privilege of taking water from the canal at fome more diftant day when all difficulties might be furmounted and the canal completed. Take away the expence of diftribution, which will be the fame what- ever arer isTource of fupply, and by the execution of th& plan the citizens would have the water of Schuylkill brought to the center fquare for 75,000 dollars, or, allowing 2c per cent for excefs of expenditure be* yond the eftimate, then for 90,000 dollars; which is 110,000 dollars lefs than for the water of the fame river, if taken from the canal at the price of the pro- prietors. The intereft on this difference is 6,600 dollars per annum, being, without taking into ac- count the repairs of the canal, a greater annual ex- pence than will be required for the maintenance and fuel of both Steam Engines, as afcertained and fixed under a contrad hereafter to be men- tioned. There will appear to you, no doubt, an ob- vious propriety in this expofition, and digrefiion from direct narrative: for by paying due attention to the expence of receiving water by plan No. I, compared with that of receiving it from the canal on the terms of its proprietors, thofe Citizens, who became oppofed to the meafures of the Corporation, from a belief that the canal was the moft eligible means of fupply may be convinced, that, under all circumftances, the City Councils, without in the leaft deferving the imputation of hoftility to the ca- nal, judged beft for the intereft of the City, in giving a decided preference to plan No. I. More than 600 fhares having, towards the latter end of February, been fubfcribed in the books of the Commiffioners, under the ordinance paffed the feventh day of that month, the Councils were encouraged to exped the remaining number of fhares would alfo be fully or nearly fubfcribed, and there- fore proceeded on the fecond of March, by con- current refolutions, to authorize a joint committee of their bodies, with the Mayor of the city, to enter into and form contrads, to appoint and employ agents of execution, purchafe materials for the conmencement and progrefs of the work, and B ( ** ) and alfo to authorize the Mayof to pafs orders oft the city Treafurer, for payment, out of the water fund of fuch fums as might be certified by the joint committee to be due in purfuance of their proceed- ings. A contrad was entered into with Nicholas I. Roofevelt, of Soho on the river Paffaick in New- Jerfey, for two Steam engines of a power to raife and deliver at the height of 50 feet-each, 3 millions of gallons of water in each and every 24 hours through- out the year, for the fum of 30,000 dollars, of which- he was to receive, in advance, by monthly inftal- ments, 18,000 dollars, and the remaining i2,ooo> dollars, after the engines were ereded, put in opera- tion, and due proof made of their fufficiency accord- ing to contrad. By this contrad he is bound, under good approved fecurity, for the full performance of his engagements, not only for the making and deli- very of engines to poffefs the above power, but to keep them in maintenance and repair for 5 years, delivering and fupplying water from them in the fol- lowing quantities, as they may be required, at the fol- lowing compenfation, (it being mutually and ex- prefsly underftood that the price of coal fhould not exceed 8 dollars per 36 bufhells delivered at the engine Houfes} to fay, Dollarf per eng- ift. for 1 million of gallons delivered in every 1 24 hours throughout the year ... J 3O0° dl"o 2d. for ij millions do. do. ") for the time of fupply at > 4000 ditto the rate per annum of J 3d. for 2 millions do. do. 5000 ditto 4th. for 2£ millions do. do. 5500 ditto 5 th. for 3 millions do. do. 6000 ditto ancj for any intermediate fupply, at a compenfation tq be afcertained by the rate of the next rjfing fpe- ciged quantity on the foregoing fcale: fubjecl how- ever ( « > ever to a ftipulation on his part, and adniitted, that if at any time a lefs quantity than one inilli'on fhould be required of him, his compenfation, on that account, mould not be diminifhed under the firft named fum of 3000 dollars per each Engine an- nually. By a mifunderftanding and collifion of intereft no agreement was made, to mutual fatisfadion, for any extra power of the Schuylkill Engine. It therefore became excluded from the above contrad, and the ftipulation for the 5 years' maintenance and repair was in lieu thereof agreed to. This important point has been however revived by N. I. Roofevelt, who finally acquiefced in the terms offered by the Mayor and Committee, on the bafis of which an indenture of Leafe and Co- venant is drawn; but the negociation being much protfaded by a variety of unlooked for circum- stances, and the interruption of correfpondence du- ring the late difperfion of our Citizens, this inftru- ment remains yet unexecuted; but as all the lead- ing points have been mutually adjufted, it is appre- hended that no material impediment exifts to its fpeedy ratification. Until this takes place it may be thought premature to go into the whole detail of the leafe; but fufficient at prefent to fay, that as the committee were informed by Roofevelt that the works contemplated by him were expenfive, re- quiring a large advance of capital, and he could not therefore engage in them without lofs unlefs he had a leafe to enfure him the poffeflion and ufe of tne engine, engine-houfe, and neceflary land for a fuffi* cient length of time, they have Agreed to his hav- ing a term of forty-two years tenure, renewable on certain conditions, then to be mutually agreed on for twenty-one years more; and he has in turn ex- preffed his agreement to the following ftipulafiohs; f 12 ) That he will pay, by dedudion from the annual Turns provided in the exifting contrad for the main- tenance and repair of the Engines, for The firft 7 years of the 42 years leafe Dollars, 500 per and. The fecond 7 years of do. 800 The third 7 years of do- 1000 And for the remaining 21 years 1800 That all claims of allowance, for any variation from the price of 8 dollars per 36 bufhells of coal, fhould be relinquifhed and cancelled. And, that on the event of the City's determining to difcontinue the ufe of any water to be raifed and delivered from the Schuylkill engine, the corpora- tion fhould ceafe to be bound for any payment on account of its maintenance and repair. In February laft B. H. Latrobe was authorized to invite propofals of contrad for the delivery of white oak logs and bricks preparatory to the opera- tions then in profped, it having been determined, on the refult of enquiry and inveftigation, that under every confideration that fpecies of wood was moft to be preferred for the pipes of conduit; and after the Mayor and Committee had been fully authorized by the refolutions of the 2d. of March, to purlue all meafures proper for the advancement of the plan, they proceeded to the forming of a fpecial agreement with B. H. Latrobe (who had been pre- vioufly confidered as a confulting Engineer) on the bafis of two letters written on the fubjed by him. This agreement is fettled in an indented contrad, duly executed, wherein is contained, in outline, a dif- cnption of the whole plan for watering the city, for a fpecific and fixed fum (which will appear by in- fpedion of the inftrument) not liable to variation by the expence of the work; and, for the allowance ot all travelling and other expences incurred by him in the fervice of the city, under the diredion, or by and with the advice and confent of the duly au- thorize4 tfiorized agents of the corporation^ Hejias enga- ged to make himfelf completely refponfible for the ultimate fuccefs of the works, unlefs prevented by the ad, omiflion, or negled of the corporation, from which he ftands guarded by fpecific provifions; and alfo, that the conftrudion of all the works fhall be of permanent liability and good and perfed in kind, ftipulating only for the liberty of appointing a Clerk or fuperintendant of the works, being in every refped refponfible for his condud, and ap- pointing no one to whom there (hould be any reafonable objedion. The contrad contains a pro- vifion, that variations, in the projeded plan, ha- ving for their objed any ufeful improvement, calcu- lated for better promoting the advantage of the City, being firft propofed and fubmitted to the Corporati- on and considered and approved, fhall be allowed without prejudice to the agreement. B. H. Latrobe with the advice and confent of the Mayor and Committee, made divers purchafes of white oak logs, brought down the river Delaware in the courfe of the Spring, moftly from 12i cents to 8 cents per foot running meafure: thefe logs were in rafts, compofed of a proportion of white Pine and other light timber, neceflary for floating the rafts, and called floating timber. The purchafe of thefe pieces from the raftmen, it was ftated to the committee, was almoft unavoidable, but as they were generally good building timber, and many of them could be ufed to great advantage in the engine houfes and other works, and the price low, the^ intereft of the city fo far from being leffened, would be confiderably promoted by the purchafe. Several perfons, in confequence of public advertize- ment, had previoufly entered into agreements to fup- ply, at ftated periods, large numbers of white oak logs at fii^d prices, but very few complied with their agreements, and moft of the Togs procured were in rafts and on better terms, ( n ) With the approbation of the committee agree- ments were made with the two following named per- fons, viz. John Houfton to dig a tunnell trench a- long .Chefniit-ftreet, from the Schuylkill front to Broad-ftreet, at the price of 9 pence for the firft yard in depth, if. for the fecond; 1/3 for the third; i/5 for the fourth; and for all deeper digging 1/1 o| per yard: with John Lewis to conftrud a tunnell, at the level of three feet below low water in Schuyl- kill, from a place in the flat ground upon its banks, to the bottom of a well to be funk in the engine houfe, including every expence, excepting materi- , als, blowing rock, and pumping water, at 23 dol- lars per yard, running meafure. This drift is 4 feet 6 inches wide and 7 feet high. Robert Malfeed, to dig a canal weftward from the aforefaid tunnell to the river Schuylkill, and Timothy Caldwell to dig the engine well, at the corner of Chefnut and Schuylkill Froht-ftreet to meet the eaft end of the tunnell to be formed by John Lewis, were feverally employed by the Engi- neer in thofe divifions of the work. The ccnftrudion of the circular brick tunnell in Chefnut-ftreet it was contemplated fhould be per- formed under contrad, but it being repreiented by the Engineer that great accuracy was required in this work, and that fkill and experience were ne- ceflary in forming a good water cement as an indif- penfible requifite for the tunnell, it was finally de- termined to employ, on trial, Thomas Vickers, who was reported to have given good fatisfadion in his fervices under William Wefton, in the lock-works of the Schuylkill and Sufqtrehanna canal, and of other canals in the State of New York, under the - fuperintendence of the fame Engineer. His com- jienfation, as operative Superintendent of this divi- fion of the work, Was fixed at 3 dollars per dierti, and after due trial it appearing that the work was well ( «s ) well done and that the whole eoft in labour, by a ftatement of B. H. Latrobe, did not exceed 3 dol- lars and 27 cents per thoufand; it was thought the intereft of the city would probably not be better promoted by any fpecial contrad, and Thomas Yickers was continued. Agreeably to his ftipulation, B. H. Latrobe ap* pointed John Davis clerk of the works. His duties are, under the Engineer, a general Superintendance and care of all the works from the Schuylkill to the Center-fquare, paying attention to the receipt and application of materials, overfeeing and direc- ting, under the Engineer's inftrudions, the feveral workmen, and keeping and' checking the time ac- counts of the workmen and labourers employed. From the experience of his fervices, the committee have been well fatisfied with his integrity, abilities, and diligence. His compenfation is fixed at 3 dollars per diem. Agreements were formed with feven Brickmakers* of good repute, for the due and feafonable delivery of 1,200,000 good merchantable bricks, at 6 dol- lars and 50 cents per thoufand, at ftipulated -ziftal- ment payments, the laft of which, for 200 thoufand bricks, value 1300 dollars, will fall due on the iff. of April 1800: and agreements were alfo formed, with divers perfons, for enfuring the due and fea- fonable delivery of lime at the fixed price of 2/2 per bufhell. Propofals were feverally made by Samuel Briggs, Samuel Jones and Thomas Dixey, to bore, counter bore, tap, and hoop the logs delivered at their re- fpedive mills, for eight cents per foot, which being the loweft terms that could be obtained for the work, by horfe power, were accepted; the hauling, of logs to the boring mills, and the pipes from thence into different parts of the city, was contraded to be per- formed at two cents per foot, and for logs and building. ( 16 ) building timber to the Center-fquare, at three cent* per foot. Under thefe arrangements, operations commenced partly in March, but more generally in April, and progrefled with confiderable fpirit and adivity. The fubfcriptions to the loan did not advance in proportion to the expedations which had been en- tertained. They were damped by the great attradion of monied citizens, to the United States eight per Cent loan: by the influence and apprehenfions of the ftockhojders of the Delaware and Schuylkill Canal, who were oppofed to the plan, as not co-incident with their views and interefts, and, as many un- fortunately fuppofed, as an infringement of the chartered rights and privileges of that company:* and by doubts on the efficiency or pradicability of the plan, which many valuable and public fpirited citizens entertained, who had become much indif- pofed to undertakings of the kind, from the yet un- fuccefsful efforts for compleating the projeded Ca- nals in this ftate. Under a hope that thefe unpropitious caufes would be removed by time, and by a more clear develope- ment of the plan, as expanded to view by its exe- cution, and that adequate fubfcriptions would con- fequently be made, the Corporation, impreffed with the immenfe benefits to arife to the city, deemed it their duty to advance the works, with the aid of the exifting fubfcriptions: the depofit monies and in- ftalment payments were foon found, the firft wholly inadequate, and the fecond of fo tardy receipt, for the rapid advances of the works, that embarrafif- ments were frequently experienced; but relief was extended by the timely advances of individual mem- bers of the committee, and by this aid the credit of * This collifion occafioned an unpleafant difcuffion before the Senate of Pennfylvania, and no doubt, contributed to a denial of that aid, which was requefted by petitions of the citizens, and the application of the Select, and Common Councils. of the city, with the different perfons depending on it for payment, was preferved at all times, unim- paired and entire. But on the 8th. of July, in confidering the exhaufted ftate of the monies due on the fubfcriptions, and that on the laft inftalment little could be expeded before September enfuing, when only of right it could be required of thefub- fcribers,—it clearly appeared to the committee, that unlefs further exertions were made and relief ob- tained, all proceedings muft neceflarily be fufpen- ded, and the intereft, as well as the credit, of the city, be Very materially injured. The committee, therefore, determined,—- Firfl, To requeft the Engineer would prepare a detailed ftatement of the probable expence of com- pleting the works, progreffing under his diredion, founded on exifting contrads and adual expendi. tures, to the firft of the then month of July; and Secondly, To requeft a conference on the i *.th. of the fame mdnth with the commiffioners for in- viting and receiving fubfcriptions, in order to com- municate to them fatisfadory information as to the ftate of the works* and to imprefs on them the necef- fity of prompt exertions, in circulating the books of fubfcription. The Mayor and committee met the commiffioners on the day appointed, and laid before them a ftate- ment produced by the Engineer, conformably to the requeft of the committee, and an account of the exhaufted ftate of the fund arifing from the fubfcribed loans, and the neceflity of a more adive circulation of the fubfcription books. To encou- rage this circulation, the committee agreed to clafs themfelves and other members of the Corporation, with the refpedive commiffioners, in foliciting fub- fcriptions in the different divifions of the city. C In ( 18' ) In eonfequence of this meeting, the Engineer's ftatement with fome obfervations were pubhlhed by the commiffioners for the impreffive information of the citizens generally, and hopes were indulged of an augmentation of more operative means from this revival of the public attention; but on the 29th. of July, no probability of aid appearing, from this quarter, and the exifling means being very nearly exhaufted, it became a fubjed of very important and ferioUs confideratkm, whether to difcontmue and abandon, for the prefent, the execution of the plan, or, by the immediate laying of a tax to raife the fums likely to be wanted for the prefent year. Againft an abandonment, appeared—the great injury to the intereft of the city, by breaking up a well conneded chain of operations,—the difprrfion, and, perhaps, irretrievable lofs of able and well ap- proved fubordinate agents of execution, and the difficulty, and perhaps impradicability of re-com- mencing the work at a future day; in which laft cafe all the expence, already incurred, would prove a dead lofs to the city; and, in addition to the hazard of thefe evils, a difgraceful impair of the city's credit, would be incurred, by negleding to pro- vide means for the faithful fulfilment of exifting engagements. Againft laying a. tax, on the other hand, was prefented in ftrong colours,— Firfl, That it would create great diffatisfadion, in fubfcribers to the loan, to fubjed them to the pay- ment of a tax in common with other citizens. Secondly, That by the exifting taxes the city was already fufficiently burthened, and this meafure, therefore, ought not to be reforted to, until every other expedient had been tried and failed; and Thirdly, Even, if no other means remained but taxation, the meafure ftill was objedionable, be- ; caufe ( 19 ) caufe the colledion, it was well known, would in the ordinary courfe of the bufinefs, be too tardy to meet in due time the engagements and expences of the works. In this critical and extremely difagreeable fitua- tion, the reludance to refort to a tax could only be furmounted by a ftrong fenfe of duty to fave the city from difgrace and from the hazard of a heavy dead lofs in the abandonment of a work of fuch acknow- ledged utility. Some members expreffed their difpo- fition to raife part of the money, on their own indi- vidual credit, and truft to future fubfcriptions, and to a provifion otherwife to be made by the Corpora- tion for their indemnity and relief: this, though honorable to the zeal and patriotifm of thofe gen- tlemen, could however only afford a very partial, temporary and incompetent relief; and it was ob- ferved, in anfwer to objedions againft the tax, that the expence muft be defrayed ultimately by taxa- tion either in the ufual way, or by a water rent, which amounted in fad to a tax on confumpti- on; that the raifing of money on loan at the inte- reft of 6 per cent, to be repaid in 10, 15 or 20 years hence, encreafed very materially the expence of the work, and confequently would in proportion increafe the amount of eventual taxation; but under all circumftances, the obtaining a loan on intereft had been thought an eligible meafure; becaufe. al- though the aggregate of expence and burthen on the city would be much heavier, yet, by dividing it between the prefent and many fucceeding years, the annual expence; under this divifion, would be light, and the growing wealth and population, of thofe fucceeding years, juftly made to pay, in fome propor- tion, for the benefit they would receive. Trie faci- lity of operation by loan, on intereft, and the light- nefs of an annual expence, continued for a feries of years, ( so > years, were the chief merits of the loan proposition: in all other refpeds raifing the fum required, by- tax, in one or two years, and avoiding the conti- nual payment of intereft 'which in i6| years would double the expence) would be moft economical and promotive of the city intereft. If however in the origin of the bufinefs this mode of raifing fupplies had been contemplated, the prefent works would, in all probability, not have been attempted. In the progrefs of the undertaking, the city had become placed between thefe two modes. For by obtain- ing nearly one half of the capital wanted, on loan, the facility of the one mode was nearly half ac- complifhed, and of courfe the burthen of the other, to wit, an immediate tax, in the fame ratio leffen- ed, and the future annual expence, of paying the intereft and redeeming the principal of the loan, pro- portionably diminiihed. In the exilHng ftate of the works, no one would venture to affert that they ought to remain fufpended, at the hazard of a total abandonment, even if no other means than an immediate tax could be devifed for their conti- nuance. To the other objedion,—the diffatisfadion it wouid give fubferibers to the loan,—it was obferv- ed, that no juft caufe of difcontent could be gi- ven to them, for the whole expence muft eventually be difcharged by taxation; and the Corporation had at no time propofed, nor had any of the iubferi- bers ftipulated for an exemption from taxes in com- mon with their other fellow citizens, as a conditi- on for their loans. Any thing of the kind was in effed impradicable, and indeed would be unrealbn- able while they or their affigns received, intereft on their loans and were for three years exempt from any water rent. On the contrary, as the fubferi- bers were generally of refpedable confideration, they would furely properly appreciate the fair in- tentions ( « ) Centions of the corporation for promoting the wel- fare of the City, make allowance for the difficul- ties occafioned by the failure of efficient fubfcripti- ons, and the confequent neceffity of reforting to the only remaining means of providing for the defici- ency, and have the good fenfe to perceive that the caufe produdive of this difagreeable alternative would, at the fame time, have the effed of facili- tating their reimburfement of principal as well as payment of intereft. The tardy colledion of a tax was an objedion to be furmounted only by an anticipation of its re- ceipts, and, if all other difficulties were removed, it would remain to be afcertained whether fuch an- ticipation could be obtained by Bank accomodation. On the remit of full confideration, no means ap--, pearing likely to prove efficient, other than the rai- ling of monies by tax, and, the idea of abandon- ment being rejeded, a bill was prepared for raifing the fame, containing due provifion for pledging its amount for the fecurity and re-imburfement of any perfons, or bodies politic and corporate, who would make adequate advances on its credit in anticipation. A fub-committee was appointed to wait on the Pre- fident and Diredors of the United States Bank with a copy of the faid bill, and to requeft information whether they would advance a loan, in anticipation of the propofed tax, on the event of the bill being paffed into an ordinance and the monies regularly, as colleded, lodged in their Bank, for the fole and exclufive purpofe of re-imburfing fuch advances. Two members of the fame committee were requir- ed to report the faid bill to the Seled and Common Councils, if the application to the U. S. Bank pro- ved fuccefsful, and to accompany the report with a ftatement on the fituation of the water-works and the embaraffment to further progrefs for want of fufficient funds,. The C 22 0 The refult of thefe meafures was an offer from the United States Bank to loan 20,000 dollars, and the paffing, on the 5th. of Auguft, an ordinance for rai- fing the fum of 50,000 dollars. The application to the Prefident and Diredors of the Bank, and their confequent refolution, appear at large in an appendix to this report. The alarm of contagious ficknefs, which about this time occafioned another difperfion of the Citi- zens, fufpended the colledion of all taxes, and flop- ped the payment of the monies due on fubfcriptions- but by the aid of this loan, and a few fcattering payments from fubfcribers, the works have been prevented from flopping, and kept in a ftate of con- tinual though far lefs rapid progrefs than more am- ple refources would have allowed. It will now be proper to fhow the amount of the means with which the plan has been fupported: Sbarif. The loans fubfcribed on the books of the Com- miffioners, from the 13th. of February to the 7th of March, were, at the laft date, fix hundred and fifty nine fhares, .--.._ 6jq And from the 13th. of July to the ift. of Au- guft, .......- 46 James Todd, who was appointed to collect the inftalments as they became due, obtained, in the courfe of his bufinefs, - . - . „ ^- * Total Shares fubfcribed - - . nr2 752 Shares, at 100 dollars each, are - Dollar; 75,200 On thefe remained due and unpaid on the 18th. of November, - - Dollars 13,130 And growing due, but not then fub- jed to demand for payment, - - 2,860 ■---— 15,990 Total amount received on the 18th. of .______.__ November,.....j;oljars 59,2.0 - The * In addition to the foregoing, ten fliares were fubfcribed by a gentle- man in the employment of the Corporation, which being confideredas in part of the compenfation coming due for his fervices, and of courfe'no part of the active fund, are left out of the account. C "3 ) The arrearages work a forfeiture of all the pre* vious payments of the delinquent fubfcribers, but as penalties and forfeitures have not been the ob- jed, nor can they be defirable to the corporation, it is to be prefumed they will not be exaded unlefs payments continue to be exceffively and unreasona- bly protraded. By information before the committee, it appears that From the arrearages, there may be depen- ded on, - Dollars 6730 Add to which thofe not yet due but like- ly to be paid, ..... 2860 May be confidered as a fund ftill receiv- able. ....... dollars. Of the remaining arrearages, it is expected no payment will be received for, - * - And that there is no certain reliance to be placed on the re- <) ceit of, - - - - - 959® 1 260 5040 y Which may be confidered as' an uncertain refource on which it will not be prudent to de pend, 15,990 The loan obtained from the Bank of the United States produced on a note of five Members of the corporation on the 9th. of Auguft for 10,000 dollars—the fum of 9,893 53 and on another note of five other Mem- bers, on the 27th. of the fame month, for J 0,000 dollars—the fum of 9,?9* AxH to this the total amount of monies receiv- ed on fubfcriptions - ' - '.UTfii'li thews the total amount of 1 all the monies received for defraying > Dollars the expences of the works. '& &4> J 33 I9.791 66 59,210 00 79,001 66 On ( 24 } On which is chargeable a commiffion of one per cent for collecting inltalment payments on 53,450 dollars - 534 5* And the Treasurer's commiffion of 4- per cent on receipts and payments, on 59,210 dollars, is - - ■< 296 05 830 55 Leaving applicable for defraying! o , the expences of the works y 7 » . By the regilter book of certificates, granted in payment of contracts, fervices and materials, the difburfements to the 33d. of November, have amounted to 75,782 62 Of which has been paid— dollars. For the Steam-Engines, pur fuant to contract - - • 18,000 For logs, butting, hauling, boring, hooping, trench dig- ging, pipe laying, &c. about - 7,000 AND For the works from the Cenrtr Square to the River Schuylkill 75,782,62 Leaving a balance on hand, on the 23d. of November, of - 2,388 49 78,171 ii It will now be proper to proceed to an exhibition of thV prefent ftate of the works, that, by comparing it with the difburfements, you may be enabled to judge how far the fum of 150,000 dollars, contemplated by the Corporation as fuf- ficient for the entire completion of the plan, is- likely to co- ver all expences. Engines. I. Three-fifths of the coft of the Steam Entities are paid. * By different perfons who have vifited the works where thefe Engines are conftruding, the committee have been informed that the bufinefs was conduded with an intelligence, ability and fkill which left little room ( 25 ) fo apprehend their failure, and the Engineer after his return from Newark, where he went about the mid- dle of Odober to examine into their ftate, report- ed, " that the Engine for the Center-fquare build- " ing was then nearly ready to be put up, all its " parts being made, and requiring only to be fitted " together. The Schuylkill Engine was not in " fuch a ftate of forwardnefs, but yet fo far advanc- " ed as to require not more than one month's labour u to complete it; and as to the merit of the work it- " felf, he did not recoiled ever to have feen it fur- " paffed,, Bafon. II. So much of the Exterior Canal or Bafon, has Deen effeded, that to flate its entire completion at Hie. expence of two months additional labour, may perhaps be too great an allowance. This bafon extends from the high water mark weftward beyond the extreme verge of the mud- dy bank at the low water mark, and touches the main current of the river in deep water; tho' yet unfinifhed, the Engineer reports it to be in fuch a ftate of forwardnefs, that by means of a trunk and valve already fixed, itcan now be filled with water to fupply the Engines. The banks of this bafon, it is ftated to the committee, have refilled the higheft tides in the prefent year, rifing, without any injury to them, near 9 feet above the dry bed of the bafon; their tenacity and firmnefs appear fuch, as to wa? rant the expedation of their remaining permanent du- ring the winter. Interior Canal. III. Of the Interior Canal nothing remains to be done but to remove a few loofe ftones at the bot- tom, and to finifh a fluice-gate at its weftern end: D this C *6 ) fhis laft is fo far advanced, that the little time, ex^; ertion and expence that may be further required need fcarcely be mentioned. This canal extends from the high water mark, where by means of the fluice-gate it will commu- nicate with the bafon, eaftward to the mouth of the fubterranean tunnel, next mentioned; its extreme breadth at top is 40 feet, it has been funk for the greateft part of its- depth, which is 2\ feet below the low water line of the river, through folid,- and very difficult rock. Through the fluice-gate, water can be received or driven out at pleafure, as often as" the turbid ftate of the Schuylkill, or the- foulnefs of the canal or the tunnels hereafter named, may re- quire. Weftern Tunnel. IV. Of the Subterranean Tunnel, for conveying water from the eaft end of the interior canal into the lower part of the Engine well, the excavation was completed fometime in September to the level of the canal bottom and into the Engine well. The arching of the open cut is nearly finifhed. This Tunnel is in form a broad oval, and the height of fix feet its greateft diameter; from the laft named canal to the rifing of the hill it was funk from the furface of the ground (called open cut- ting) to the level of the canal, for the whole length (a little below the furface) through rock, and con- tinued through the rock under the hill to the En- gine well; where the arched work (of the open cut- ting) ends, at the rifing of the hill, a circular brick well is conftruded, rifing to the furface of the ground, by which occafional accefs into the tun- nel is provided for. Engine C *7 ) Engine Well. "V. The Engine Well, funk from the top of the "hill near the corner of Chefnut and Schuylkill Front-ftreets, to the eaftern termination of the wef- tern tunnel between 48 and 49 feet in depth, re- mains to be walled; its fituation proteds it from the froft, fo that its entire completion need not be delayed on that account; this well for 20 feet is alfo through folid and difficult rock, it is expeded the expence of walling it will not exceed 180 dollars. VI. Except fome openings left for the placing and fixing of large timbers, the external walls of the Schuylkill Engine Houfe are carried up to an height ready for raifing the roof; an interior middle wall is lefs advanced: for want of mafons, many of whom left this building, and from other caufes during the late ficknefs it has been much retarded; the Engineer, however, reports it to be in readinefs to receive the roof, the joifts are nearly prepared for raifing, and fhingles are purchafed for covering in. As this is intend- ed to be a plain ftrong folid building, of 60 by 50 feet in area, nothing will be expended in internal or external ornament; the Engineer commends it as .remarkable for its foundnefs, and fays it reflects great credit on the fuperintendant John Lewis; who has alfo at prefent the fuperintendance of all the works weft of this houfe. Eaft Tunnel. VII. The Subterranean eaflward brick circular Tunnel of 1408 yards in length and 6 feet diame- ter, its exterior fummit 3 feet under ground along Chefnut and Broad-ftreets, communicating at each extremity ( 28 ) extremity with the Schuylkill Engine Houfe and the Engine Houfe in the center fquare, of excel- lent conftrudion, united by a cement that acquire? hardnefs and folidity by water immerfion—is finilh- ed—there remains however to be conftruded a pump chamber at each end in the Engine Houfes, which being under cover need not be delayed on account of the weather. Center-fquare Engine Houfe. VIII. The circular wall of the Center-fquare En- gine Houfe is carried up about three-fifths of its ex- treme height, of which the laft eight feet are cafed with marble: the quadrangular part is carried up only to the firft floor with two courfes of marble fet, the remaining fquare part of this houfe is prepared fo as to be in readinefs for continuation next Spring, and the work fheltered by temporary fheds. Much marble is already cut for fetting. By the defign of the Engineer, the lower part of this building will be a fquare of fixty feet on each fide, to the height of twenty-five feet, having por- ticoes on the eaft and weft fides, lobbies on the north and fouth, and offices at the four angles: out of the center of its roofing, will rife the interior circular wall of forty feet, to the height of fixty feet, from the bafement line of the whole building, terminating at top in a dome. This edifice, on account of its confpicuous fitu" ation, is defigned to be ornamental, as well as ufe- ful to die city; for placed as it is, a fair mark for the critic eye of tafte, it is not probable the Corpo- ration would have been eafily pardoned by the pre- fent age, or by pofterity, had they determined to place a homely mafs of building, in the beft fituated fquare belonging to the citizens of Philadelphia; and as ( *9 ) as this houfe is intended to combine ornament with utility, it will neceffarily be more expenfive in con- ftrudion, than if it had been placed in any other fcite, where ornament might have been fpared: and yet will not perhaps coft more than a common build- ing, if to the coft of fuch building were added the price which mult have been paid for any eli- gible lot. Diftribution. IX. In the purchafe of white oak logs, boring into pipe and laying them in the ftreets, no great progrefs is yet made. Could the difficulties and embaraffments which arofe from the deficiency of prompt resources have been forefeen, it might have been more prudent and judicious to have deferred what is termed the Diftribution part of the plan, until the next year. As this however was not the cafe, the purchafe of white oak logs, as previoufly ftated, was one of the firft meafures purfued; the Engineer could not be acquainted with all the per- fons with whom he contraded for logs, for though he was diligent and careful in providing by fpeckl agreements for an ample fupply, moft of thofe perfons difappointed him, by the failure of their contrads, and the greater part obtained was by the purchafe of rafts, no doubt brought to market in confequence of public advertifement; from the evi- dences laid before the committee not more than thirty thoufand feet appear to have been fupplied, forming, with allowance for butting, a quantity not exceeding materially twenty thoufand feet of pipe; of thefe were laid in Chefnut and Mulberry-ftreets between eight and nine thoufand feet; the inten- tion of continuing thefe into the Center-fquare this feafon was fruftrated; for as pipes of the greatefl bore were required in thefe ftreets, there was not: in the whole quantity a fufficiency of logs of fuitable diameter C 3° ') diameter for fuch pipes. Exertions were made for obtaining a larger fupply, but the alarm of difeafe about that time, prevented further progrefs in this part of the bufinefs. From the experience acquired of what can be done in this city, there is reafon to exped that the expence of this part of the fyftem, by purfuing proper meafures, will be made lefs than the eftimate of fifty cents per foot. Flaving thus ftated to you, from the beft evi- dences in the immediate poffefnon of the committee^ the amount of difburfements on the whole of the works, as they are now advanced, and a reprefen- tation of their fituation, which can be tefted for the greater part by your own perfonal obfervation, you will be enabled to form as accurate a judgment, without fpecial eftimates made, which are feldom perfedly correfpondent to the eventual expence, as perhaps may be poffible, whether if the amount of the work done has not exceeded, - 80,000 the remaining parts will coft more or lefs than.....70,000 making together the fum of - Dollars 150,000 affumed by the Councils as fufficient to compleat the whole. Proceeding now on the data of the original eftimate, with the allowance, for excefs of expenditure^ made by the Councils, and on this ground, therefore, retaining the fum r rr "• , ' ~ Dollars 150,000 o as fufficient to perfect the whole fyftem, after de- ducing -... . _,_ „0„ , ..1, r 1 • 1 , " 75,782 02 the ium which appears to have been actually ex- pended, it remains to be enquired, firft, what means exift, andfecond, what further provifion is to be made, to meet the expence of, - """74217 ,g the remaining fum required. The ( 3' > The exifting means appear to be—- I. The balance of monies on hand, on the 23d. of November inftant, which (hould be, Dols. 2,398 4.*?' II. The inftalment of fubfcription due and growing due, and likely to be paid, - - 9>590 O* III. The furplus of 12,000 dollars appropri- ated to pay the intereft, and redeem the principal of fubfcribed loans fay, appropriated, 12,000, of the loans not more than 68,000 dol* lars are paid and likely to be paid, al- lowing 18 months intereft thereon, at 6 per cent, is .... 6,392 Remains the furplus of - - - - 5,608 « IV. The nett furplus of the income arifmg from tolls of the corporate bridge, which is fome- what irregular and uncertain, but may be pretty rfafely taken for this year at - - - - 1,800 o 19,396 49 V. The tax collecting for the water works, by Ordinance ol 5th. of Auguft 1799? w. 50,000 which is pledged foi the payment of") the principal and, the intereft in the j firft inftance, attobtamea by a loan on | its credit in anticipation of 20,600 }>' 20,900 allow nine months intereft I on ditto, - 900 | —----) May remain of this tax - - - 29,ic.o o Total exifting means ----- 48,496 49 Admitting the above to be efficient, there will' tee to be provided for .... 25,720 89 74.217 38 But it muft be remembered, that the 29,100 dol- lars of the 50,000 dollars tax will probably not be colleded fo as to be commanded in time for the exi- gency of the prompt payments which will be re- quired, and in pretty much the fame fituation will be ( 32 J be any further tax for the preceeding deficiency of 25,720 89. To obtain the command of neceflary means for avoiding embaraffments, and making thofe prompt payments, it is neceflary anticipations fhould be ob- tained, or the completion of the works will be inevi- tably much retarded, and carried on to great dis- advantage in other refpeds. If good faith, as no doubt will be the cafe, fhall be with the ftrideft at- tention and inviolability obferved by the Corpora- tion with thofe who have entered into perfonal re- fponfibility for the fervice of the city, and the Banks fhall be made fenfible, by frequent and effedual pay- ments, that adequate provifion is not only made, but undeviatingly applied to the fingle objed of re- paying the monies advanced in anticipation, there is room to believe all the requifite facility of opera- tion can be obtained by judicious., moderate and yet effedual anticipations. This very effential facility will unavoidably be accompanied with additional ex- pence, and fhould be provided for, or there will be in the end a deficiency. Perhaps the allowance of twelve months intereft on 20,000 dollars will be fufficient, this will be Dollars, 1,200 o to which add the foregoing deficit of 25,720 89 26,920 89 And for the contingencies of any da- mages which may poffibly happen to the Canal balon, or other of the works, in the winter, before the feafon of work in the fpring comes round, - 3j°79 i I Will require a tax of . 30,000 o In ( 33 ) In clofing this report, the Mayor and Committee think it not improper to remark, that though the Engineer might have been too ianguine in his pro- fped of going completely through all his work's in the prefent year, yet from the expedition and pre- cifion of juft movement in the early ft ages of the work, ^ there is reafon to believe by far the greater part, if not the whole, ffetting the Engines afide) would have been accomplithed before this time, had there been no difappointment in the fupply of logs and had there been a command of adequate resources. Signed by order, and on behalf, of the Committee, ROBERT WiiART )N, Mayor. JOHN MILLER, junr- Chairman. November 24th. 1799. 1 u ,ny°rLand Commi"ee are happy in announcing to the Councils, •hat, wh-lil this report was printing, a confide rable portion of the two Steam Engines arrived from New-York; and preparations are now mak- ing for the erecftion of the one in the Center-fquare. And that, in con- equence of the perfonal attendance of N. I. Rooftvelt in the city, they have been enabled finally to adjuft the terms of the leafe for the extra power of the Schuylkill Engine. The contract 1m been mutually execu- ted and one copy thereof lodged with the Recorder. Another copy is prefented with this report to each of the Councils to be filed among their papers. ° APPENDIX. E ( 34 ; APPENDIX. On the loth, of July, the Committee appointed to wait on the Prefident and Diredors of the Uni- ted States Bank, addreffed them on the occafion by the following letter: " Prefident and Diredors of the Bank of " the United States, " Gentlemen, " The Corporation of this City anxious to pro- " mote by every means within the compafs of their " conftitutional powers any meafures which promife " improvement to the health, convenience, and " benefit of their Fellow Citizens, and at the fame " time, cautious of preffmg with too heavy a hand " burthens on the city, while recovering from the " fhocks of repeated diftrefs which in the laft and " preceding years muft have fo much exhaufted " and parralized the means and refources of many " of its inhabitants, have, among other meafures, " adopted a plan for the introdudion of more whole- " fome water. For the means to carry this plan in- " to execution they counted, principally, on volun- " tary loans from their fellow citizens, on the terms " of ample provifion to enfure a pundual payment " of intereft and good fecurity for the ultimate re- " imburfement of the principal advanced. i he " Corporation were encouraged to hope thefe means ■' would be fully fufficient on a view of the popula- " don of the city and the apparent fmall inconve- ■' nience to be fuftained by thofe citizens who could ic afford it in placing out at intereft, on unexcepti- •' onable fecurity, a very fmall portion of their ref- ;' pedive capitals. "The making provifion for a pundual payment " of the intereft and gradual difcharge of the prin- cipal ( 35 ) ** cipal by a fmall annual tax, and the increafing " income of a light water rent, where contempla- " ted as likely to render the weight of the under- " taking fcarcely perceptible. The fum deemed ne- " ceflary to infure the accomplifhment of the plan " is 150,000 dollars. " Books of fubfcription it is well known have " been opened by Commiffioners appointed by or- " dinance. They were opened at a time and under " circumftances uncommonly unfavourable. I he " loan to the United States attraded a preference " from moft of our monied Citizens. The plan " not being co-incident with the views and interefts " of the Delaware and Schuylkill canal compa- " ny met with the weight and influence of their " oppofition. Mifreprefentations not only of the " plan itfelf, but of its expence were induftrioufly " circulated; and, independent of thefe, the failure " of fuccefs in completing the two canals, after the " expenditure of large fums of money, difpofed " many of our valuable citizens to confider the " watering of the city as a projed likely to have a " fimilar termination, and threw a damp on their " public fpirit. . " Under fuch unpropitious circumftances the *' fubfcription neverthelefs progreffed in about fix (i weeks to nearly one half of the capital required, " and the Corporation were encouraged to com- " mence the work under a perfuafion that the " caufes which had obftruded more efficient fub- " fcriptions would be removed by time, and the de- " velopement of the plan in its execution, and an " increafe of fubfcriptions, would be experienced " fufficient, with good management, to defray the " expences of great part of the work. " Experience now has proved the vain hope of « too much depending on the efficiency of fubfcrip- tions. ( 3« ) «' tions. Embarraffments begin to be felt in meet- " ing the weekly demands of numerous laborers " who muft be paid; the inftalment payments of " fubfcribers, even if pundually made, are fcarcely " fufficient to relieve from this embarraffment; in £* a fhort time they muft be exhaufted, and unlefs " other provifion is promptly made, the works " will be at a ftand, and after fo much has been " done, the city fuftain, in the fufp.enfion, an injury " of no trifling magnitude. " The capital eftimated as neceflary for complete- " ly finifhing the water works, by fome is thought " incompetent for the objed; to be accompiiihed for " that fum it is generally allowed to be a great be- " nefit acquired at a cheap purchafe; adual difburfe- " ments on very confiderable parts of the work " give ample room for believing the original fum " will not be exceeded, but rather fome reafon to " exped a ftill more favourable iffue. Dollars. " "^his capital, as before mentioned, is - 150,000 " Of which has been fubfcribed on loan, agreea- " bly to the terms of the ordinance, 700 '{hares at " 100 dollars each, is when paid up - - - 70,000 Remains deficient 8o,oo« Dollars. " Of the 150,000 dollars the diftribu. " tion of water throughout the city in " 104 00 feet of pipe, eltimated at 50 " cents per foot, forms apart, being - 52,000 " Logs have been pu: chafed and bored f* into pipe, and to prevent their fpoiling " ought to be laid under ground without " lofs of time, the quantity fomewhere " near 30,000 feet, at 50 cents, is - 15,000 37,000 " Though it would be defirable to have the " whole quantity of pipe laid this year, it is not ab- " folutely neceflary, and the remaining 74,000 feet can ( 37 ) *4 can be deferred until the enfuing year before " the month of July, and may be provided for in " that year, then fay as not immediately neceflary, '• Deduct 74,000 feet, a,t 50 cents, is - - 37,009 " Still remains to be provided for - - 43,000 44 By the ordinance for railing fupplies and mak- " i^g appropriations for the current year, 12,000 '* dollars was appropriated for paying the intereft ".of 150,000 dollars. As the loan fubfcribed does " not exceed 70,000 dollars, the whole of this an- 44 propriation will not be neceflary in the prefent Cl year, a part may with the Itridteft propriety be ap- 14 plied to defraying the expence of carrying on the 44 work. Allowing twelve months inters)! on 70.0.0 14 dollars is 4200 doll irs and there will remain 44 a furplus of 7,Hoc, which call a refource that may ," be commanded of- - - - - - 7 000 44 Eventual Deficiency .... 36,000 " To fupply this, the intereft and the credit of *c the city require the impofition of a tax; there ap- " pears no other refource to be depended on; but " with the moft vigilant attention to its colledion, a " tax cannot be operative in fufficient time to meet " current demands unlefs an anticipating accommo- " dation can be obtained on its credit. " By the Mayor and a joint committee of the " Seled and Common Councils unto whom is de- " legated the management of the plan for watering " the city, we are Gentlemen, appointed to aicer- c,c tain whether any fuch anticipating accommoda- " tion can be obtained. On the benefits and con- '• veniencies to arife from a fuccefsfull execution of " the prefent works, and on the importance of a " trial as to the effed which may be produced on " the temperature of our atmolphere in the hot " fummer months, it will be unneceflary for us to ex- " patiate with gentlemen of your obfervation and " intelligence. We will therefore only fay, that en- % couraged by the evidence of public fpjrit exhibi- ( 33 ) t£ ted in your offer to loan 5000 dollars for 5 years " to the city, we are induced to afk, whether you «6 cannot, with as little inconvenience, effeclually pro- " mote the exertions of the corporation for comple- " ting the prefent important undertaking, by allow- " ing them an advance, from time to time, of fuch " fums of money as they may find neceffary, on " the credit and in anticipation of a tax to be levi- " ed for the purpofe, in lieu of that loan. " We lay before you the copy of a bill propofed " to be enaded into an ordinance, by which you " will perceive that the monies which may arife in " virtue thereof are not to mix with any other mo- ££ nies of the city, but as they are received to be " depofited under your view, and to be applied to " no purpofe whatever other than returning to you, " from time to time, at fuch periods as your arrange- " ments may require, the whole amount then on " hand, in re-imburfement for any anticipations. " The Mayor it is intended fhall be authorized to " conform to arrangements you may find proper to " make, and under any form you may require. Dollars "■ The tax propofed to be raifed cannot well be " lefs than ------- 50,00* " CommifTions, abatements and lofles are on the " face of the duplicates ufually eftimated at 12-J- " per cent, though they do. not often rife to that " amount, at this rate of eftimate the deduction will ':be - -......6,25® " It is a duty we owe to ourfelves to be candid in " ftating to you, that although only nine months " are allowed to colledors to pay in and fettle the " amount of their duplicates, yet long accuftom- " ed habits and circumftances, too ftrong to be " yet controuled by exifting laws, will not allow us *£ to depend on the entire collection of any tax in a lefs ( 39 ) " lefs time than 15 or 18 months from the iffuing of* " the duplicate tax lifts; under fome circumftances " two years may elapfe before duplicates are entire- " ly clofed; but while we are thus cautious thatno^ " thing from us may lead into error or deception, " We think, from our knowledge and experience, " we can fafely ftate, that generally two-third parts " of a tax may be pretty certainly counted on within " nine months, and three-fourths of the whole in " twelve months, but, to make larger allowance, " fay fifteen months. Dollars 44 On thefe premifes then it may be reafonably 44 inferred, thr.t of 43,750 dollars, there will, in all 44 probability, on or before the expiration of 15 44 months,, be collected at lead ... 32-5712 44 And of 36,000 (if within that time loans to 44 that amounc are obtained in anticipation) there 44 will confequently remain to be re-imburfed a fum 44 to the amount of - - - - - - 3,288 36,000 44 And to make good the payment of this fmall 41 balance of 3,288 dollars there will remain, of the 44 outstanding tax, the full ne'tt- value cf i 1,03*) 44 dollars. " It will fully anfwer every good purpofe of the " corporation, and be more for their convenience " and intereft to be accommodated wiih an antici- " pating loan at 4 periods. Dollirs 44 Say, for example, in Auguft with 9000 in September or October 9000 in October or November 9000 in November or December 9CC0 36,000 " During and before the expiration of thofe pe- " riods, receipts of the tax would, from time to " time, be depofited and in readinefs to make pay- ments ( 40 ) " ments in the order which fhall be adjufted as moil " convenient to the arrangements of Bank bufinefs " and calculation. " We wait any communication you fhall be plea- " fed to make us on this fubjed, and are, Gentle- " men, " Very refpedfully, your Friends. (Signed) " ROBERT WHARTON, " JOHN MILLER, junr. " HENRY DRINKER, junr. " THOMAS P. COPE." In anfwer to which application, the committee re- ceived the following refolution. 64 At a meeting of the Prcf-d. nt and Diredors of the " Bank of the United States, on the \Jl. Augujl " '799- " Refolved, " That this board will difcount the note of five " or more members of the corporation (to be ap- " proved of by this board) for the fum of twenty- " thoufa. d dollars, payable in fixty days, in the " ufu'al manner. " THOMAS WILLING, Prefident. «< Atteft. " G. SIMPSON, Caaiier." 4^*sft&;&fte!*&i~ .*$3g»-a5J22o^ ADDENDA. IN t?97 an addrefs and petition was prefented to the Seled and Common Councils, figned by an unprecedented number of the moft refpedable Citi- zens of Philadelphia, foliciting the Councils to in- troduce water into the city. It is thought unneceffary, at this time, to publifh the addrefs at length. It remains on the files of Councils, and may be examined by any perfon dif- pofed to take that trouble. The following extrads are deemed fufficient to fhowr the views and fenti- ments of the petitioners. " To the Seled and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia. " The Addrefs and Petition of the Subfcribers, free- holders and inhabitants of the faid City. *** Fellow Citizens of the Corporation, " WHILE the fufferings and diftrefs of our city, iC occafioned by the late contagious ficknefs, conti- " nues frefh in our memory—while in the fhort pe- " riod of four years we cannot have wholly forgot- " ten a former afflidion of the like kind—nor the " numbers of our friends, relatives and neighbours, " whom we have to lament, as the mournful vidims " of both vifitations—and finally, while we are de- " voutly to acknowledge that kind Providence, " which fpared our own lives from the fhafts of F " mortality ( 42 ) " mortality which flew thick around us, and h?dh " reftored our city to its ufual ftate of health and " profperity, we ought not to be unmindful of the " means which, under the favour of Heaven, may " appear the moft effedual to prevent or mitigate " the return of the like calamities. " In this great work we hope the Corporation " will confider it as their duty to take the lead, not " only as particularly int£refted—but as having the " means in their power.—For it feems demonftra- " ble, that the lofs to the city in a fmgle vifitation " of this contagious difeafe (if it could be prevent- " ed or greatly allayed by cleanlinefs and a copious " fupply of water, not to mention the ufe of water " for preventing or fubduing the devaluation of fire) " is more perhaps than the capital neceffary to in- " fure fuch a fupply in perpetuity, even if no in- " tereft were to accrue (on the capital to be expen- " ded) for the ufe of the water in families. " It appears from the ftatement in the Governor's " addrefs, that even in the late ficknefs the inci- " dental or extra expence of the health-oi:ice, the " ledfiative frant, aud other contributions for the " poor, arnou.ated to forty-two thoufand dollars, " and the lofs arifing frcm two or three months " fufpenfion of our commerce, of mechanical and " manufacturing bufhiefs, the expence of the mul- " titude of falsifies by which near half of the city " was evacuated, not to fpeak of the ineftimable u lofs of at leaft one thou!and valuable citizens, " who fell vidims to the difeafe, may more eafily " be imagined than accurately calculated—Add to " this the inii.iciifc lofs often experienced from fire " when but only a few houfes are confumed, and tc what might be the lofs from a more extended " conflagration, for want of a ready fupply of water, " need hardly be mentioned.— " Youi ( 43 ) " Your petitioners, therefore, earnefily requeji, "■ That the Corporation, as Fathers of the City, " as Guardians of the Poor, and the health and pro- " fperity of their Fellow Citizens in general, will take i* the premifes into their immediate, wife and effec- *' tual confideration—in doing which your petition- " ers wifa to ftrcngthen your rcfolutions, by declar- " ing, That, as far as they can colled the fentiments " of their fellow-citizens in general, there is no ob- Ci jed of ufe or ornament to which a liberal propor- " tion of the city Funds can be more acceptably " applied than to the prefent, even if no return of " intereft on the capital were to be expeded.-— c; We, therefore, have a full confidence in the " patriotifm of thofe whom we addrefs, that fpeedy " and effedual means to accomplifh the objed of 6i our wifhes will be devifed and purfued." It would be well if fome Gentlemen, who are liberal in cenfuring their reprefentatives in Councils for laying a tax to introduce water into the city, would compare their prefent condud with their for- mer representations and profejfions. It might tend to reconcile them to meafures which they themfelves urged by the moft powerful arguments and pledges of fupport. Let the candid Reader perufe this document, and declare, whether Councils would have juftified the expedations of their Fellow Citizens—-difcharged their duty to themfelves—or the truft repofed in them by others—had they not undertaken this im- portant work. They have undertaken it—and, as individuals, muft contribute their fhare of the ex- pence; but, as a confiderable portion of the time and attention of many of the members are neceffarily engaged in this fervice, without any pecuniary re- compence, ( 44 ) eompencc, or the moft diftant idea of private emo- lument—have they not the moft cogent and reafon- able claims—the moft undoubted and legitimate right, to exped the countenance and fupport of every man who has any juft regard to the welfare and profperity of our city? Called on in the moft perfuafive language, by an appeal to their feelings—their juft ice—and their patriotifm—to devife and purfue means for obtain- ing an interefting objed—is it generous—is it juft —can it be believed—that, after having complied with the wifhes of their conftituents, by embarking in a plan maturely digefted, and economically and perfeveringly purfued, they fhould at laft be left to ftruggle with embarraffments for want of efficient aid, and a cheerful and ready co-operation on the part of their Fellow Citizens?