ing Reservoir in the Central Park. Hence the waters are conveyed to the Distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill.

The Reservoir stands in solemn contrast to the gay buildings of the Fifth Avenue, by which it is surrounded. "Its walls, in Egyptian style, are of dark granite, and average forty-four feet in height above the adjacent streets." Upon the top of the wall, which is reached by massive steps, is a broad promenade, from which may be obtained a fine view of the surrounding country. Perfect security for the visitor is obtained by a strong battlement of granite on the outside, and an iron fence on the inside nearest the water. The water was first let into this reservoir on the 4th of July, 1842; and, on the 14th of the following October, distributed, by means of iron pipes, throughout the city.*

* The Croton Dam covers an area of four hundred acres, and contains 500,000,000 gallons of water. The usual flow of the water through the pipes is 30,000,000; its capacity 60,000,009. The Receiving Reservoir covers thirty-five acres, and contains 150,000,000 of gallons. The Distributing Reservoir holds 21,000,000 of gallons. "The ridge line, or water shed, enclosing the Croton Valley above the dam is 101 miles in length. The stream is 39 miles in length, and its tributaries 136 miles. The total area of the valley is 352 square miles, and within it are 31 natural lakes and ponds."-Lossing's Book of the Hudson.

CHAPTER X.

1842.

NEW YORK had now fairly distanced all competitors. The gas had been introduced into the city in 1825; the New York University, notwithstanding the "Stone-cutters' Riot," finished in 1835; the magnificent Merchants' Exchange (the present Custom-house), and the Custom-house (now the Sub-treasury), erected in 1827; the Croton Aqueduct completed, and its practical utility inaugurated by a brilliant procession, in 1842, and a communication by the magnetic telegraph opened with other cities. Nothing was wanting to her temporal prosperity; her civil freedom was all that could be desired. One thing only was necessary to place her on a footing with her sister cities in breadth and liberality of sentiment. Nor was she long in taking this last step. By the provisions of an act passed by the New York Board of Education on the 11th of April, 1842, it was declared that no school in which any religious or sectarian doctrine or tenet was taught should receive any portion of the school moneys to be distributed by this act. Archbishop Hughes at once took the ground that to allow the Bible to be read daily in the schools was teaching a sectarian doctrine, and therefore demanded that the schools in which it was read should not be included in the distribution of the moneys. Colonel Wm. L. Stone, who for many years had been one

1843.

1844,

of the School Commission, and at this time (1843-'44) was the county superintendent of the Common Schools,* immediately protested against the promulgation of this atrocious sentiment. A lengthy public discussion upon this point followed between the Archbishop and Colonel Stone, in which the latter carried the day; and at a meeting of the Board of Education, held November 13, 1844 (three months after Colonel Stone's death), the act was amended by a resolution to the effect "that the Bible, without note or comment, is not a sectarian book, and that the reading of a portion of the Scriptures without note or comment, at the opening of the

The difficulty which the author experienced in endeavoring to discover the year in which Colonel Stone was Superintendent of Common Schools deserves particular mention, as showing the shiftless manner in which the public records are kept in the city of New York. Wishing to ascertain the exact year in which Mr. Stone held the office, he went to a gentleman (we will call him A), whom he knew to be engaged in writing a history of our common schools, and asked the question. The gentleman was unable to tell him at the moment, but referred him to the Board of Education as the place where, of course, the desired information could be obtained. The author went there and asked an officer of the Board the question. He could not tell him, but referred him to a gentleman upstairs who would know. The latter, however, was equally in the dark, but, in his turn, referred his questioner to a gentleman down-stairs in another department, who, having been connected with the Board for a long term of years, would certainly know. Upon repeating the question to this one, he was informed that he did not know, as, until within a few years, the school records had not been annually printed, and that the manuscript kept by the different secretaries before that time was mislaid. He, however, was positive that if he should go to Mr. ——, in Wall Street, he would know, as he was one of the School Commissioners in the year designated. To him, therefore, the author went; but his astonishment may well be imagined when that person said he had entirely forgotten, but stated that if he would go to such a one-mentioning the veritable Mr. A.-he could undoubtedly tell him, as he was now engaged upon a history of the common schools! This, if not "reasoning in a circle," certainly was questioning in a circle, the questioner having brought up at the very point from which he started! Finally, upon the author making a second visit to the room of the Board, an attaché of the place, who had a dim recollection of a record-book being in the cellar, went down-stairs, and, after much search, exhumed the manuscript, from which, after patient search, the desired information was brought to light. Now, if such difficulty exists in ascertaining-not an insignificant fact, but one relating to the Superintendent of Common Schools only twenty years since-what would

schools, is not inculcating or practicing any religious or sectarian doctrine or tenet of any particular Christian or other religious sect." The catholic spirit of New York's Dutch ancestors had triumphed. Henceforth it is to be hoped that she will be as cosmopolitan in her religious as she is in her civil rights.

In 1845 New York was again visited by a conflagration second only in its ravages to the one of 1835.

The burnt district embraced Broadway, Exchange Place, New, Broad, Beaver, Marketfield, Stone and Whitehall Streets, and - which is a striking 1845. coincidence-a portion of the same region devas

tated by the great conflagration in 1835, ten years before.

be the difficulty in finding the history of events which occurred thirty, forty, or fifty years ago?

We have stated the above with no intention of throwing censure upon the officers of the present Board. The fault lies not at their door. On the contrary, with great courtesy, they endeavored to aid us to the extent of their ability, and realized in its fullest extent the evils of the manner in which the records had in former times been kept. Indeed, it is only justice to say that it has been through their exertions that the proceedings have latterly been printed.

Another remarkable illustration of the subject existed a few years ago in the basement of the City Hall, under the County Clerk's office. The ancient rolls of the Colonial Courts were one grand pile of parchment, lying in mass, and great quantities were stolen and sold to gold-beaters. It would probably be impossible at the present time to find the judgment-roll in any cause tried prior to the year 1787, unless by chance. Possibly there has been more care of late in the preservation of these records. Their value cannot be overestimated. (See also Appendix XII., in regard to the destruction of the records in the Hall of Records by the mice.)

Although there may be spasmodic attempts by individuals to bring about a reform in this regard, yet we greatly fear that it will continue so long as the true cause of the difficulty remains, to wit, that political maxim-the bane of American institutions-" to the victors belong the spoils." New office-holders care little for old records; and, throwing aside all sentiment in the matter, unless this thing is rectified, it will, in time, embarrass the practical business relations of every-day life. More attention must be paid to preserving records. It is not necessary to make enormous jobs, such as the atrocity which was perpetrated in New York City in reference to the Register's office. What is needed is a general respect for the value of old records, and the adoption of preservative means.

"It broke out on July 19th, 1845, completely destroying Exchange Place and Beaver Street, from Broadway almost to William. Both sides of Broad Street, from above Exchange Place to Stone, with the east sides of Broadway and Whitehall, were consumed. Above Exchange Place the flames crossed Broadway, and consumed a number of buildings on its west side. During the progress of the fire a tremendous explosion took place, similar to that of 1835, in a building stored with saltpeter. The owner contended that this article could not explode, which gave rise to the long-debated question, "Will saltpeter explode ?" and for a long time able and scientific men warmly took sides in the arguments. Explosive or not, this was the second store filled with the article that blew up, causing great alarm and destruction to the neighborhood.

"Three hundred and forty-five buildings were swept away at this time. Their value, with the goods, was estimated at about five millions of dollars. Among other things destroyed was the "Old Jail Bell," which had hung and rung in the cupola of that ancient civil pesthouse and prison during the American Revolution. There, as already stated, for years it was the fire-alarm, or signal, and was considered especially the firemen's bell, as it could be depended upon at all times. At an early period, when it uttered its warning tones, citizens, with fire-buckets on their arms, might have been seen hastening to the scene of danger and forming into parallel lines, one to pass the full buckets to fill the engines, and the other to return the empty ones for refilling. Most of the New York families had such leather buckets, which generally hung in some prominent part of the hall or entry, ready at hand in case of need."*

The signal-bell rang in the days of John Lamb and pleasant-faced Tommy Franklin, and during Jameson

* Hon. G. P. Disosway.