Documents of the City of Boston

only useless, but pernicious. It is a remarkable fact that, as a general thing, where there is the poorest circulation, the water, for two or three months past, has had the best taste. Take, for instance, the end of the pipe on the mill dam, and the one at the foot of Marion Street.

The cause of this unexpected and disagreeable change in the taste of the water, and its probable duration, are yet unexplained to the satisfaction of most persons. The analyses and the observations of Dr. Jackson and Prof. Horsford render any speculations here useless. As a practical illustration of the difficulties attending the solution of this question, four specimens, drawn yesterday from the three divisions of the Lake, and from Dug Pond, are presented. They show a most unexpected similarity of taste between the water of the northern division of the Lake, and that of Dug Pond; and also a similarity between the water of the middle division of the Lake and that of the southern, which is much pleasanter than the water of the northern division, or that of Dug Pond. The specimen from Dug Pond, as will be seen marked on the bottle, was taken from a depth of about 25 feet below the surface. The water at the surface of this pond was perfectly free from any unpleasant taste at the time the specimen presented was pumped up.

Mr. Carpenter, the Superintendent of the Albany City Water Works, has kindly consented that any part, or the whole of the accompanying letters relative to a similar bad taste in the water of that City in 1853, may be published.

Surveys and Plans.

No surveys of importance have been made during the year.

The plans showing the distributing pipes in the City are to be revised in a few days, so as to show all the pipes laid to the close of 1854, together with the changes and improvements made in streets, wharves &c., during the last three years.

Lands belonging to the Water Works.

These are in about the same condition they were in two years ago.

Jamaica Aqueduct.

This continued to supply all the old Roxbury customers, and some new ones, during the year. It also gave less trouble than ever, and caused fewer complaints.

Expenditures.

For these, reference is made, as usual, to the statement of the Clerk of the Water Board.

Which is respectfully submitted.

E. S. CHESBROUGH,

་

City Engineer.

In conformity with Section 16th of the Water Ordinance, I have the honor of submitting to the Cochituate Water Board, my Annual Report for the year 1854.

The total number of Water Takers now entered for the year 1855, is 19,193, being an increase since January 1st, 1854, of 1,023.

The total number of cases where the water has been shut off during the past year, is 2,325. Of these, 1,545 were for repairs; 437 were for non-payment of water rates; and 343 were for unnecessary waste of water.

The whole number of cases where the water has been let on during the year, is 2,741. Of these, 1,350 were cases which had been previously shut off for repairs; 358 were those which had been shut off for non-payment of water rates; 314 were those which had been shut off for unnecessary waste of water; and 719 were let on for the first time. Repairs have been made upon the service-pipes, streets, sidewalks, &c., in 446 instances.

There have been no abatements made during the year. The total amount received from December 31st, 1853, to January 1st, 1855, for water rates, is

Of the above, there was received for water used in previous years, the sum of $2,653.44 Leaving the receipts for water used

during the year 1854, the sum of

Amount of water rat s,

$217,007.51

214,354.07

217,007.51

Amount brought forward,

A detailed statement of the receipts for the year 1854, is included in this Report.

In addition to the above, there has been received, for letting on water, in cases where it had been shut off for non-payment of waterrates,