THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CROTON AQUEDUCT

AUTHOR:

CHURCH, BENJAMIN S.

TITLE:

Map Showing the Route of the New Aqueduct from Central Park to Croton Dam Together with the Proposed Reservoirs &c. Compiled from surveys made under Direction of Isaac Newton, Chief Engineer Dept. of Public Works. The Aqueduct Commission.

CONDITION:

12” x 51”. Two sheets, joined. Lithograph with hand and stenciled color. One small marginal tear, else very good condition.

DATE:

1884

DESCRIPTION:

The Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed between 1837 and 1842. It brought water by force of gravity alone 41 miles from the Croton River in Westchester County into reservoirs in Manhattan. As large as it was, the aqueduct could not keep up with the growth of New York City, and construction of a new aqueduct began in 1885, with triple the capacity of the old aqueduct. The new aqueduct went into service in 1890. It currently supplies ten percent of New York City’s water. Published the year before construction began on the new aqueduct, this map is designed to show the completed survey of its route from the Croton River to Croton Reservoir in Central Park. It is in effect a detailed map of all of Manhattan, the Bronx, and western Westchester County, that in addition to the aqueduct shows topography, railroads major and minor roads, and the street plans of Westchester towns and villages.

REFERENCES:

No reference available at this time.

Inventory No. 7931