THE WATER SYSTEM
Reading edition
At the first meeting of the Directors, held at the house of Edward Barden, Innkeeper, on April 11th, 1799, the following Directors were present:
DANIEL LUDLOW, JOHN WATTS, JOHN B. CHURCH, BROCKHOLST LIVINGSTON, WILLIAM LAIGHT, PASCAL N. SMITH, SAMUEL OSGOOD, JOHN STEVENS, JOHN B. COLES, JOHN BROOME, AARON BURR, and RICHARD HARRISON, Recorder of the City of New York, Ex. Officio,
the only absentee being William Edgar.
Daniel Ludlow was chosen President, and the following minute was made:
The principal object of this incorporation being to obtain a supply of pure and wholesome water for the City of New York.
Resolved that Samuel Osgood, John B. Coles and John Stevens be a committee to report with all convenient speed the best means to be pursued to obtain such supply.
OLD WOODEN WATER MAINS
On May 6th, 1799, the water committee was empowered "to contract for as many pine logs as they may think necessary for pipes and also for boring the same."
Cornelius W. Lawrence Mayor of New York who, after the fire of 1835, advocated developing a water supply from State rather than local sources. ("State Security") Robert White Cashier of the Manhattan Company The Old Watchdog of the Manhattan Company Every morning he would sit on the front stoop, greet each clerk as he arrived and accompany him to his desk
A number of wells were sunk, reservoirs and tanks built, and the distributing system extended generally through the city south of City Hall.
About 1836 the system was extended north along Broadway as far as Bleecker Street, and at that time the company had about twenty-five miles of mains and supplied 2,000 houses.
MANHATTAN COMPANY RESERVOIR ON CHAMBERS STREET
While the water was said to be "wholesome," its quality did not give entire satisfaction, as may be seen from the muddiness of the water in the glass held by "Pure Manhattan" in the contemporary cartoon reproduced on the opposite page.
Over one of the earliest wells, at the corner of Reade and Center Streets, a tank of iron plates was erected. This tank is now inclosed in an old-fashioned building which is still owned by the Manhattan Company.
The Company continued to operate its water service until about the time the Croton system was completed in 1842.
OLD WATER GATE DUG UP IN PARK ROW IN 1900
