и Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. By chapter 256 of the Laws of 1834 and amendatory acts the Legislature provided for a Board of five Water Commissioners for The City of New York, to be appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate. It was made the duty of these Commissioners to devise a plan for the furnishing to the City of a supply of pure and wholesome water, which plan, after ratification by the Common Council and by the electors of the City, was to be consummated by the Commissioners under the powers given them for the purpose. Under this Act, the old Croton Aqueduct was planned and constructed, and the Croton water was introduced into New York over High Bridge. In 1841, by chapter 306 of the Laws of that year, the construction of the aqueduct and distributing system below the "Murray's Hill" distributing reservoir was devolved upon the "Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of The City of New York," who undertook to carry out the contracts already made by the Water Commissioners for the work in question. By chapter 231 of the Laws of 1843, a "water district" was created, within which all property was subject to "water tax." The "Croton Aqueduct Board" was created by the amended Charter of 1849 (Laws of 1849, chapter 187). It consisted of a President, Engineer and Assistant Commissioner, who, unlike the heads of other departments, were not elected by the people, but were nominated by the Mayor and appointed by him with the consent of the Common Council. The Board was given jurisdiction of the water supply and distribution, of sewers and drainage, and of the collection of the water revenues. Its powers and cuties were extended by chanter 383 of the Laws of 1849 (passed April 11, 1849) to include the preservation of the water supply and, with the consent of the Common Council, the increasing of the same and the constructing of new sewers. The Bureaus of the Water Register and Water Purveyor were placed under the Board, a scale of regular rents and extra charges to be fixed by the Common Council was provided for, penalties for non-payment of charges were prescribed, and the Board was given the power to make and enforce rules. In a word, this was the first Water Department constituting a part of the City's administrative system. |