OLD WATER SUPPLY OF NEW YORK.
The committee appointed to supply New York city with water in 1798 consisted of John B. Coles, Gabriel Furman, John Bogert and Jacob De La Montaynie. Their report that the supply be drawn from the Bronx river was read and approved by the common council on December 17, 1778. and in March, 1799. William Wuter, city engineer, reported on its feasibility, laying great stress on the pureness of the water and the unlimited supply. In the year 1799 sprang into being the famous Manhattan Water Works company, whose head and organiser was Aaron Burr. The company was chartered and built a reservoir in Chambers street, between Broadway and Centre street; but the scheme came to naught. Its capital was over $2,000,000 and the charter a perpetual one, granting it control over the springs and streams on the island of New York and in the county of Westchester. New York at this time had a population of 60,000. In one of the wells of this company, in Spring street, near Greene, was drowned the beautiful Juliana Elmore Sands, and all the town was appalled by the horror of the tragedy. From that time until it was closed, screams, fire balls and a figure in white were nightly reported to be heard and seen near there.
