V stores, cupion below Liberty street the river shore was its natural condition til near the commencement of the present century. THE MEADOWS AND COLLECT POND. The Collect Pond was the most noted geographical feature of the lower part of Manhattan Island, when in its natural state. The pond was fed by several springs, and was very deep, and contained varieties of fish. Its natural outlet was a brook emptying into the East River. This stream was in very early times known as "Old Wreck Brook," from the circumstance, probably, of a wreck on the river shore in the vicinity; but it afterwards was called "the Fresh Water," and was the line of the city jurisdiction for many purposes. The Meadows, a section of brambly swamp-land, extending to the North River, were permeated by the waters of the Collect. The ground was so wet and miry, that cattle were unsafe there in many places. When Mr. Rutgers procured a grant of the Meadows from the Crown officers, he was required to cut a drain through the meadows. This measure had the effect to lower the surface of the Collect, and the natural outlet to the East River dried up. We have in a previous number of the Manual given a more minute history of these localities, and they need not be repeated, except to say that the filling up of the Collect was begun about the year 1800 and continued about ten years. It was considered as the most important public work which had been engaged in by the city, at that period. PROVIDING FOR THE POOR. In the times of the Dutch, the poor were taken care of by the church wardens, the funds being provided out of the receipts of the church. A building was provided for them in the present Broad street, west side, north of Beaver street. But no public fund was necessary to be raised for their support. As late as the year 1699, the matter of provision for the poor was of so inconsiderable a character, that it was resolved in Common Council "to agree with some person to keep a hospital for the maintenance of the poor of the city, and that a house be provided for their accommodation." In 1713, the subject of erecting "a poor-house and house of correction" was first agitated, and a committee was appointed "to consider of a convenient place to erect the same, of the dimensions and materials proper for its construction, and of the ways and means to be provided for the same." At this period, the poor who were taken care of by the city were not maintained in any public establishment, but boarded. They wore a badge upon their clothes, with the mark N. Y., either in blue or red cloth. The first step towards the erection of a house for the poor was taken in December, 1734, when a resolution was adopted, reciting that: "Whereas, the poor of the city were increasing, and were very burthensome to the inhabitants, for want of a work-house and house of correction, it was resolved, that a convenient house be erected on the unimproved grounds of the Corporation on the north side of the lands of Col. Dongan, commonly called the Vineyard;" and a committee was appointed to lay out land enough for a house and garden. The house thus to be erected was to be fifty-six feet long, twentyfour feet wide, two stories high. It was to be built of stone. In March, 1735, a committee, appointed to agree with parties for the erection of this building, reported that they had contracted with John Burger as follows: For superintending the work, eighty pounds. "For 70 gallons of rum, for use of the masons and laborers, eight pounds fifteen shillings. For 70 lbs. sugar (to sweeten the rum), one pound five shillings. "For small beer, two pounds ten shillings." In March, 1736, it would appear that the building was ready for occupancy, as a committee was then appointed to inquire what materials were useful to set the inmates at work, so that "they might not eat the bread of idleness, and be a burthen to the public." This committee reported the necessity of procuring spinning wheels, knitting needles, flax, old junk, wool, and cotton. John Sebring was appointed overseer, at a salary of £30, with diet for his family. The supplies for the establishment were furnished by the church wardens out of the fund provided for maintaining the minister and the poor. It was further provided that slaves requiring whipping were to be sent there by their masters for that purpose, and a fee of one shilling and sixpence was to be paid for the service. A large garden, for the use of the establishment, was to be constructed. In 1746, it was found this building was too small, and an addition was made to it. In 1757, a grave-yard, for the inmates, was inclosed, to the eastward of the inclosure. This building was situated upon the present site of the City Hall. THE JAIL. The room in the basement of the City Hall, used for confinement of criminals, became entirely inadequate both to secure the prisoners and to furnish them proper accommodations. As early as 1724, complaint was made by the judges of the condition of the jail. In 1727 it was presented by the grand jury, and four men were, in consequence, appointed to watch it, to prevent escapes. In 1740 it was still found insecure. But it was not until 1756 that an act of Assembly was procured, enabling the Corporation to provide means for the erection of a new jail. The site chosen was in the fields, and a building, at first designed to be two stories in height, and about fifty feet front, was commenced, in 1757. Before its completion, however, it was decided to add a third story. The walls of that building are still standing, though not recognizable under the exterior of the Hall of Records. In front of this building a whipping-post, stocks, cage, and pillory were erected in 1764. BRIDEWELL. About the year 1774, it was thought expedient to procure more adequate accommodations for the prisoners for debt and light offenses, and the erection of a Bridewell was commenced in the fields, near Broadway, on a line with the jail and alms-house. The means were raised by a lottery, in which the city took one thousand tickets. HOSPITAL. This institution, though not erected under municipal authority, received aid from the city in its erection, to the extent of one thousand pounds. It was at first proposed to erect the building in Broadway, opposite the fields, and the city offered the gift of a lot one hundred and twenty-four feet front, and two hundred and forty-eight feet deep. The erection of the hospital was commenced in the year 1771. SUPPLY OF WATER. There were no public wells before the year 1658. The inhabitants were supplied by private wells, within their own inclosures; but it was generally the custom for several neighboring families to join in the expense of constructing a well, which was used in common by them all. The first public well constructed was in front of the Fort. This was petitioned for in 1658, by the city Burgomasters. It was the great resort of the inhabitants (not otherwise supplied) during the whole period of the Dutch rule. It does not appear that any other wells were constructed in the streets until 1677, which was some years subsequent to the English establishment. At that time an order was made that "wells be made in the following places, by the inhabitants of the streets where they are severally made, viz. : "One opposite Roelof Jansen, the butcher. One in the yard of the City Hall. One in the steeet, opposite Cornelis Van Borsum's." In 1687, seven other public wells were ordered in different streets; for the purpose of defraying the expense of which, the authorities designated the respective premises to be assessed; and, in the same year, the rule appears to have been established, that the City Government should pay one-half the expense, and the neighbors benefited the other half. The means of constructing public wells, during the earlier part of the last century, was by a contribution of eight pounds by the City Government, and the remaining expense was defrayed by the inhabitants residing in the neighborhood, none of whom were allowed the use of the well until they had contributed a fair proportion of the expense. About the year 1750 pumps came into use, and a general act was afterwards passed by the Assembly, to enable the city to raise a tax for the construction and keeping in repair the public wells and pumps. The subject of procuring a supply of water by means of large wells, |