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DOCUMENT NO. 48.
  BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN.


              NOVEMBER 23d, 1835.


The following Communication was received from Stephen
  Allen, Esq. Chairman, in behalf of the Water Commis-
  sioners, praying that the Common Council, will apply to
  the Legislature for a Law authorising the appointment
  of Commissioners,with power to alter the line of any high •
  way  or turnpike in  danger of injury from the Croton
  River Water Works, which teas referred to the Commit-
  tee on  Laws,  together with Counsel oj the Board with
  powers.
                               J.  MORTON. Clerk.
  To the Honorable the Common Council of the city of Ne w
York.
  The Water  Commissioners, beg leave respectfully to re-
present, That in running and designating the Water line of
the Croton Reservoir, they have  ascertained that a portion of
the Croton turnpike, and also some parts of the public high- 
Doc. No. 48.]             20S
way will be overflowed,  and thus rendered  useless to the
Turnpike Company and the public.
  The Commissioners are authorised by the act under which
they hold their appointment, to obtain  possession either  by
purchase, or by paying the  assessed  damages sustained  by
the owners of so  much  property, whether of land or water,
as may  be necessary for the purpose of supplying the city
with pure and wholesome water ; but there is no authority
granted them to alter  the line of  any road, or substitute
other roads in the stead of such as may be injured or destroy-
ed ; and inasmuch as the overflowing of the said turnpike
and public highway, before other roads are laid out and con-
structed in their stead, will be attended with much public in-
convenience and injury, the Commissioners are of the opinion
that an act of the Legislature should be obtained, confering
such authority as will remedy the evil.
   In order that the opinion of the Turnpike Company, might
be elicited on this subject, the  Commissioners have  had,  on
the spot, a friendly interview with a  portion of the Directors
of said Company, and have pointed out to them the injury
that will be sustained, and the method by which it  may be
remedied, and have obtained from them their views  on the
subject, and their varbal promise to join in an application to
the ] legislature for the passage of the necessary act.
   Now, the object of this communication is, to request, that
the Common Council will direct an application to the Legis-
lature  for a law, authorising the appointing of three  Com-
missioners by the Governor and Senate, with authority to lay
out and direct such alterations in the present line of the Cro-
ton turnpike, as in their view may be proper and  useful to
the public, and also, to  alter and lay out so much of the high-
way in lieu of such parts of said road, as will be overflowed
or changed, by the construction of the Croton Reservoir and
aqueduct, and to authorise the Water Commissioners to agree
\vith the owners of the  land required for such alterations, as 
209             [Doc. No. 48.
to the damage sustained, and in the event of a disagreement
to have the damage assessed, in like manner as  is provided
by the 13th and 14th sections of the act to provide for supply-
ing the city of New York, with pure and wholesome water
passed the 2d of May, 1834.
  All which is respectfully submitted, by order of the Board-
                     STEPHEN ALLEN, Chairman.
  Office of the  Water Commissioners,  )
              November 23, 1835.   \