Homepage
Login
Profile
BookClubs
dmBox
Read Ebook: Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct by Tower F B Fayette Bartholomew
Font size:
Background color:
Text color:
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page
Ebook has 97 lines and 17293 words, and 2 pages
PAGE. Aqueducts of Ancient Rome, 13
Principal Aqueducts constructed by the Ancient Romans in other parts of Europe, 18
Aqueducts of Modern Rome, 28
Principal Modern Aqueducts of Italy, France, etc., 30
Aqueducts of Mexico and the adjacent States, 37
Aqueducts of South America, 40
Fountains, 47
History of the Progressive Measures for Supplying the City of New-York with Water, 57
Of Plans Proposed for furnishing the City with Water and of the Plan adopted, 69
Sources of the Croton River, 75
Flow of Water in the Croton River, Capacity of the Fountain Reservoir, &c., 76
General Design of the Channel-way and Reservoirs, 78
General Construction of the Aqueduct, 81
Description of the Line of Aqueduct, 95
Appendix, 125
PLATES.
Aqueduct of Spoleto, Italy, 32
Sections of the Croton Aqueduct, 84 & 86
Entrance Ventilator, 88
Isometrical View of Culvert, 90
Tunnel and Gate Chamber at the head of the Aqueduct, 92
View above the Croton Dam, 95
Entablature over the entrance to the Aqueduct, 96
View below the Croton Dam, 98
Croton Aqueduct at Sing-Sing, 101
Aqueduct Bridge at Sing-Sing, 102
Aqueduct Bridge for Road-way, 103
Croton Aqueduct at Mill-River, 104
Croton Aqueduct at Jewell's Brook, 105
Croton Aqueduct at Hastings, 106
Croton Aqueduct at Yonkers, 108
Croton Aqueduct at Harlem River, 110
View of the Jet at Harlem River, 112
Croton Aqueduct at Clendinning Valley, 113
Aqueduct Bridge at Clendinning Valley, 114
Plan of the Receiving Reservoir, 116
Isometrical View of the Distributing Reservoir, 119
"The radiant aqueducts Turn their innumerable arches o'er The spacious desert, brightening in the sun, Proud and more proud in the august approach: High oe'r irriguous vales, and woods, and towns, Glide the soft whispering waters in the wind, And here united pour their silver streams, Among the figured rocks, in murmuring falls, Musical ever."
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
AQUEDUCTS, FOUNTAINS, ETC.
A supply of pure and wholesome water is an object so essential to the health and prosperity of a city, that it should form one of the leading features of the public improvements which characterize its growth. The advantages arising from it are so numerous, and the comforts so great, that every effort should be made to accomplish it.
In the history of cities built in remote periods of antiquity, we find mention made of plans for supplying water, and among remains of those cities which are found at this day, are traces of Aqueducts. We have accounts of Aqueducts constructed under the reign of Solomon, and the remains of them still existing in Palestine, give evidence of an extensive acquaintance with the principles of hydraulics among the Hebrew architects. The Pools of Solomon, which are mentioned by travellers who combine in their researches a regard for the arts as well as the religion of Judea, are connected with a scheme for supplying Jerusalem with water.
A view is given of the Aqueduct of Spoleto, in Italy. The bridge supporting this Aqueduct is remarkable for the slender form of the piers and their great height; being only ten and a half feet thick and two hundred and fifty feet high to the base of the arches. This Aqueduct was built by the Goths, a people who gave a model for Church Architecture which is much admired at the present day. It is said that they borrowed the idea of the form of their arch from the opening beneath an arbor of trees.
The Aqueduct of Spoleto, has been standing about eleven hundred years and is still in a perfect state of preservation.
With proper care in preparing the foundations of the bridge at Harlem River, there is no good reason to fear that it will be less durable than that of Spoleto.
AQUEDUCTS OF ANCIENT ROME.
The largest and most magnificent Aqueducts of which we have any account, were the work of the Romans; and the ruins of several of them, both in Italy, and other countries of Europe, remain to the present time monuments of the power and industry of that enterprising people.
For 440 years from the foundation of Rome the inhabitants contented themselves with the waters of the Tiber, and of the wells and fountains in the city and its neighborhood. But at that period the number of houses and inhabitants had so augmented, that they were obliged to bring water from distant sources by means of Aqueducts. Appius commenced this scheme of improvement. About 39 years after him, M. Curius Dentatus, who was censor with Papirius Cursor, brought water from the neighborhood of the city of Tibur; and applied towards defraying the expense, part of the sums taken in the spoils of Pyrrhus. After them Lucius Papirius, Caius Servillius Cepion, Lucius Longinus Crassus, Quintus Marcius, Marcus Agrippa, Augustus, and others, signalized themselves by their noble Aqueducts. Even Tiberius, Claudius, Caligula, and Carracalla, though in other respects not of the best character, took care of the city in this useful article.
These Aqueducts were generally built of stone and covered by arches or large flat stones. At certain distances vents were provided to discharge the water from the channel-way; and cavities were formed, into which the water was precipitated, and where it remained till its mud was deposited, and ponds in which it might purify itself.
The Aqueduct that conveyed the Aqua Neroniana to Rome, was built of brick; this, as well as the former, was in some instances 70 Roman feet high.
The Aqueducts were under the care and direction, first of the censors and oediles, and afterwards, of particular magistrates called "Curatores Aquarum," instituted by Agrippa, to whom the Aqueducts of Rome were objects of particular attention. Messala was one of these curatores in the reign of Augustus, and Frontinus held the same office in that of Nerva. Augustus caused all of them to be repaired.
Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page