Newark Water Supply. -Aqueduct water was introduced into Newark as early as the year 1800, being supplied to houses through wooden pipes. The Newark Aqueduct Company was incorporated November 17th, 1800. The first directors were John N. Cummings, Nathaniel Camp, Jesse Baldwin, Nathaniel Beach, Stephen Hays, James Hedden, Jabez Parkhurst, David D. Crane, Joseph L. Baldwin, Luther Goble, Aaron Ross, John Burnet and William Halsey. In 1828 steps were taken which resulted in the substitution of iron for wooden pipes. Under an act of the Legislature, approved March 20th, 1860, "The Newark Aqueduct Board" was constituted, and by that authority the transfer was made to the City of Newark "of the capital stock and all the rights, franchises, lands and property, real and personal, of the Newark Aqueduct Company," the consideration being $100,000. -Atkinson's Hist. Newark, p. 190.

Driven wells were also tried by the Newark Aqueduct Board, near their pumping station above Belleville, in the alluvial sand and gravel on the west bank of the Passaic. A large number of them, about forty, were driven to depths varying from forty to forty-eight feet, and they yielded to steady pumping nearly one hundred thousand gallons each per twenty-four hours. The tubes reached between thirty and forty feet below tide level, and the water in them rose and fell with the rise and fall of the tide, though not to the same extent.

The water was probably Passaic River water that had filtered through the sand and gravel. It was clear, and much more satisfactory to the eye than the unfiltered river water, and was no doubt much safer for domestic use. A very large amount of water could be obtained there by such wells, when driven down so far below the tide level.

The water is raised by means of steam pumps, and forced into reservoirs in the city of Newark, whence it is distributed throughout the city, through about one hundred and forty miles of cast iron pipe, ranging in size from four inches to twenty-four inches in diameter.

Of this water, (Passaic River) the State Geologist, in his report for 1882, says : "The quality of the water in the Passaic above Patterson is good. After it receives the sewage of that city, of Passaic and the smaller towns along its banks, and the filth, impurities and waste from the numerous manufacturing establishments in those places, it cannot but be polluted and rendered undesirable for use. In addition to this, the whole of the sewage of Newark City is poured into the river, and some of it is carried by the flood-tide up the stream and directly in front of the pumping stations of Jersey City and Newark. Much uneasiness has been felt in regard to the quality of the water supplied to these cities, and careful analyses of it have been made at various times.

Prof. Henry Wurtz analyzed it, and his report, made to the Jersey City Water Board, was published in March 1873. The report of Prof. Albert R. Leeds, upon the same subject, was made at the same time.

In 1876 analyses were made in the Geological Survey Laboratory of the water taken at various places along the river from Newark up to the smaller branches, of which we give the two in question.

Solid matter.

The interpretation of these results of analysis might be made at length, but it is sufficient to say, that from the amount of chlorine, which is the largest constituent of salt, in the waters from the Newark and Jersey City works, it is conclusive that salt water from the ocean comes up with the tide and is mixed with river water at the pumping stations, or else there is an enormous amount of that substance from filth and waste animal matters poured into the stream at Newark. It will be seen that the amount is greater at high water than it is at low water, so that it must, in considerable part, be carried up the stream with the tide.

The unusually large amount of volatile and organic matter in the solid substance collected from these waters, together with the knowledge of the sources from whence it is derived, is also strongly against its character and desirability for domestic and household use.

A large number of samples of water from the Passaic at different places from Newark, up to Little Falls, were analyzed in 1881 by Prof. A. R. Leeds. His conclusions were, that much of the filth received into the stream at Patterson, is oxidized and rendered harmless by the oxygen of the air, as the water is flowing from that place to Newark, and that the pollution of the water used for the supply of Jersey City and Newark, was derived mainly from the sewage of Newark, that is carried up the stream with the salt water at every flood tide, and carried directly in front of the pumping works of both cities."

The following are extracts from the Superintendent of the Water Works' report to the Aqueduct Board, for the year ending November 30, 1883.

"The total pumping at Belleville for the past year is 3,530,491,140 gallons, a decrease of 2,767,532 gallons as compared with the previous year. The highest daily average was 10,784,464 gallons in August; the lowest, 8,308,494 gallons in April. The daily average for the year was 9,672,578 gallons, a decrease of 7,582 gallons as compared with 1882. Amount of coal consumed, 4,570 850/2240 tons.

The total amount of water pumped at the High Service Station is 1,038,420,552 gallons, an increase of 75,080,477 gallons, as compared with the previous year. The highest daily average was 3,338,847 gallons, being an increase of 28,750 gallons; the lowest, 2,376,319 gallons, an increase of 222,990 gallons. The daily average for the year was 2,844,988 gallons, an increase of 205,700 gallons as compared with 1882. Amount of coal consumed 2,707,664 lbs."

The total amount of pipe laid during the year was 17,599 lineal feet, or 317 b miles, of which 7,299 feet were 30-inch, 285 12-inch, 1,606 feet 8-mch, 2,488 feet 6-inch, and 5,291 feet 4-inch. Stop gates set, 24: five 30-inch, three 8-inch, four 6-inch, and twelve 4-inch. Length of pipe connected with the Works, 143 3867/5280 miles.

New hydrants set, 10. Five hydrants in Market street were taken out and replaced by 6-inch, double nozzle, R. D. Wood hydrants."

Officers of the Newark Aqueduct Board, 1884. Henry Lang, Mayor, President; Frank W. Meeker, Secretary; William E. Greathead, Superintendent.

COMMISSIONERS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE

Thomas Harlan, Frederick Heller.	Terms expired 1883.
Lott Southard, M. D., James R. Smith.	Terms expired 1884.
John Illingworth, Ferdinand H. Wismer.	Terms expire 1885.

"The well of Messrs. E. Balbach and Son's smelting and refining establishment, in Newark, is located near the Morris Canal, and only a few feet above tide level. The well is five hundred feet deep, of which one hundred feet was through sand and gravel, and the rest is red sandstone rock. It has an eight inch tube down to the rock, and the water rises in it to a little above tide level. The water is very clear and a little hard, and has a temperature of 55;° Fah. The well yields five hundred gallons per minute, and when pumped at that rate, the water surface in the well is lowered six or eight feet. The ground around the well is dug away so as to allow the pump set within two feet of the surface of the water.

The water is used for all purposes about the establishment, but is specially valued for its low temperature, and its usefulness in cooling the heating furnaces."

"The well of Messrs. P. Ballentine and Sons is at their brewery on Freeman street, Newark, and not far from the well just mentioned, though the ground is perhaps ten feet higher. It has an eight inch bore, and is tubed through ninety feet of earth and ten feet into the rock; the remaining three hundred and fifty feet is without tube, being all in red sandstone. The water rises to within twenty-four feet of the surface. The quality of the water is good, being clear and cold. With the pump considerably above the surface of the water, it has yielded two hundred gallons a minute, and will no doubt yield double the quantity when the pump is properly set."

"The well of the Celluloid Works in Newark, is two hundred and fifty feet deep, and yields a satisfactory quantity of water. This water was analyzed by Messrs. Ballantine, and found to contain, in a gallon --

This water was again analyzed at the end of 1882, when it was found to contain 151.79 grains of solid matter to the g illon. After three years steady pumping, it has not changed in quality.

"Sulphate of lime makes a hard scale in steam boilers, and the large amount of it in this water shows it to be unfit for use in steam boilers, or in any apparatus liable to be affected by an accumulation of scale or sediment. Such water is too hard for laundry purposes, and not to be recommended for drinking or household use. In these large manufacturing establishments it is, however, of great value on account of its being always clear and cold, so that it can be used for condensing or cooling hot substances, and for the ordinary washing and rinsing operations where neither heat nor soap is needed. The amount of sulphate of lime in the water from all these deep bored wells which are in red sandstone, is too much to make it desirable for steam boilers. The amount appears to be greatest in that from the deepest wells."

East Orange. -This township, the smallest in area, and the largest for population and wealth of any in the State, is provided with means for a water supply from three bored wells, located on Grove street, about one and a quarter miles north from Main street. The wells are six inches in diameter, bored about ten feet in earth, and the remainder in red sandstone. Well, No. I, is eighty-six feet deep ; No. II, is ninety-two feet, and No. III, is one hundred and twelve feet deep. The distances between them are 125 feet and 200 feet; the water rises to within four feet of the surface in No. I, and four and a half feet in No. II, and seven and a half in No. III. For further particulars, see history of East Orange Township.

Orange Water Works. -These works were built in 1882-83, and on February 1, 1884, Mr. W. B. Rider, the chief engineer employed to construct the works, made his final report to the city authorities, who accepted the works, and February 22,1884, the capacity and effi- ciency of the works were tested in the city of Orange to the satisfaction of the "City Fathers" as well as the Fire Department and thousands of spectators.

The works consist of a large storage reservoir, with the necessary arrangement of gates, pipes, screens, gate-houses and waste weir; also, a main supply pipe or aqueduct, and street mains, with gates, hydrants and other fixtures.

The storage reservoir is situated between the First and Second Mountain, so-called, just south of the Northfield road, on lands purchased of Henrietta E. Watkins, John Chappaz, Maria Heller, Estate of William Redmond, W. H. & R. Burnett, Bernard Hirtz and Jean LeClere.

The quantity of land taken for reservoir purposes is 100.65 acres ; quantity flowed, 65.647 acres. Table of capacity of the reservoir, for each two feet in depth.

The capacity of this basin can be increased at a small expense, about two hundred million gallons; making a total storage capacity of about four hundred and seventy millions of gallons.

The dam is eight hundred and thirty-two feet long from the westerly end to the overflow. It is twenty feet wide on the top ; with a suitable slope on each side, to insure strength and stability. Through the entire length of the embankment is a cemented wall, ten feet thick at the base, one-and-a-half feet thick at the top and two feet above the flowage line.

The overflow above original bed of brook, thirty-six feet; top of dam above original bed of brook, forty feet; top of flow line above railroad at Cone street depot, one hundred and forty-two feet.

The main pipe is sixteen inches, inside diameter; excepting through the dam. The thickness of the pipe has been graded so as to correspond with the different heads of pressures, in different localities. The whole line is laid so that the top is four feet below the surface of the ground, except at such points where the undulating surface required greater or less depth. At each summit is placed an air valve. Blow-outs have been scattered along the line for clearing the pipe when necessary; and gates have been set at different points, to shut off the water for repairs, etc.

Hydrants are set near the street corners and along the lines of the streets, so that nearly every point within the city limits can be covered with two hundred and fifty feet of hose.

The hydrants are of the Matthews' patent, superior to any other. All of them have two nozzles; except, in the business centre, or near schools, churches, manufactories or public buildings, where they have three nozzles; and all are provided with a six inch inlet.

All the distribution pipes are of such sizes as to afford protection against fire, at every place where the pipes are laid or to which they may be extended.

The estimate for pipe was 185,645 feet, and only 170,811.15 were found actually necessary to be laid; one hundred and sixteen gates were increased to one hundred and thirty-three, while but one hundred and eighty-three hydrants were put in out of two hundred estimated.

The contractors were Messrs. Freel & McNamee, builders of the dam, and Mr. F. C. O'Reilly, who laid all the pipe.