results of that ingenuity for which the American people are so celebrated-and making Governor's Island the great central point, from whence will radiate knowledge, science, manufacturing skill, artistic power and mechanical ingenuity, through every portion of the great confedercay.

Your Committee thereupon recommened the following resolution:

Resolved, That Messrs John Jay Smith, of Philadelphia, and William B. Draper, of this city, have the exclusive right to establish a ferry, and that they run thereon good, safe, and substantial steamboats, from some point on or near the Battery to Governor's Island, to be used as a foot passenger ferry only, during the continuance of the World's Fair, contemplated to be held on Governor's Island, in the year 1852, and for no longer; the precise point of landing at the Battery to be hereafter designated; and that the fare on said ferry be fixed at a price not exceeding three cents for each passenger. And that the Comptroller be charg

ed with the preparation and execution of the necessary papers for the establishment thereof.

DOCUMENT No. 17.

BOARD OF ALDERMEN,

JANUARY 23, 1851.

The following report of the Committee on Sewers, upon Document No. 55, referred to it September 4, 1850, was received, laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

D. T. VALENTINE, Clerk.

The Committee on Sewers, to which was referred a communication from the Croton Aqueduct Department (Doc. No. 55,) submitting propositions for certain alterations in the mode of levying assessments for the construction of sewers, and also in the time and manner of paying contractors for building them, beg leave respectfully to

REPORT:

That they have carefully considered the various suggestions contained in that communication, and are of opinion

that their adoption would benefit the public, by effecting an important reduction in the cost of sewers. The rapid extension of these, and the increasing demand for their construction, indicates very clearly that ere long they will be required in almost every street of the city, and imposes upon the Common Council the duty of devising all means of lessening the burthens thereby charged upon owners of real estate. With this subject, the public convenience and general health of the city are so intimately connected, that it would seem to be proper for the public treasury to contribute a portion of the expense, and that if the construction of the receiving basins connected with each sewer, hereafter built, were charged upon it, it would probably be no more than a fair proportion, amounting in the aggregate to about one thousand dollars for each mile of sewer put down.

Your Committee approve of the proposition to pay contractors upon sewers for their work, as soon as it is completed and accepted, especially as no loss would thereby accrue to the treasury, and prompt payment would cheapen the cost, by increasing competition, and saving the contractor from the payment of interest.

The reasons set forth in the document referred to, for limiting the assessment to the lots fronting on the sewer, appear to your Committee to be founded in justice; and if thus levied, the whole subject would be so simplified that the assessment could, in every case, be made up under the direction of the Chief Engineer of the Croton Aqueduct Department, without charge, saving thereby the fees now paid to the Board of Assessors; nor do your Committee

see any good reasons why these assessments, and in fact all assessments, could not be collected by the Receiver of Taxes.

Your Committee conceives that every suggestion tending to simplify the public business, and introduce economy in its transaction, is entitled to the careful consideration of the Common Council, and if found to be reasonable and practicable to its co-operation and support.

They therefore recommend that application be made to the Legislature, at its present session, for the passage of a law in relation to sewers in this city, containing the following provisions :

FIRST. The contractor to receive pay for his work immediately on its completion, by requisition drawn by the President of the Croton Aqueduct Department, upon the Comptroller.

SECOND. The construction of receiving basins to be a charge upon, and to be paid for out of the public treasury.

THIRD. The balance of the cost of every sewer contracted for after the passage of such law, together with the intersections, culverts and man-holes, to be assessed only on the lots fronting on it, in the ratio of the number of square feet in each lot.

FOURTH. That the apportionment be made in the Bureau of Sewers and Drains, under the direction of the Chief Engineer of the Croton Aqueduct Department, and be by him certified to the Common Council.

FIFTH. That when such assessment shall have been examined and adopted by the Common Council, and approved by the Mayor, a warrant issue to the Receiver of Taxes, directing him to collect the amount from the individuals assessed, and pay the same into the city treasury.

To carry out these views, the annexed resolution is offered:

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Laws, to prepare and submit the draft of a law embodying the foregoing suggestions, if they deem it necessary, to enable the Common Council, if the same shall be approved, to apply to the Legislature, at its present session, for the passage thereof.