nd the scenery is
famed for its surpassing loveliness.

[Picture: THE HIGH BRIDGE.]

There are two large reservoirs at the city end of the bridge, the
"Storage Reservoir," and the "High Service," the latter of which is
designed for supplying the elevated section of Washington Heights. From
here to the distributing reservoirs in the Central Park, which have
already been described, the distance is two and a quarter miles. The
distributing reservoir for the principal part of the city is on Fifth
Avenue, between Fortieth and Forty-second streets. It covers about four
acres of ground, and is built of granite. It is forty feet above the
street, is divided into two parts, and will hold 20,000,000 gallons of
water. It is exactly forty-one miles from the Croton Lake.

[Picture: THE FIFTH AVENUE RESERVOIR.]

The daily flow of water through the aqueduct is 60,000,000 gallons, its
full capacity. The reservoirs hold over 2,000,000,000 gallons, or about
fifteen days, supply. Nearly four hundred miles of main pipes distribute
the water through the city, and supply it to 67,000 dwelling houses and
stores, 1624 manufactories, 290 hospitals, prisons, schools, and public
buildings, 307 churches, and 14 markets. There are 72 drinking hydrants,
and a number of ornamental fountains in the city. The lakes and
fountains in the Central Park are all formed by the Croton water, which
is also supplied to the State Prison at Sing Sing, and the Institutions
on Blackwell's, Randall's, and Ward's islands. The Croton River is one
of the purest streams in the world. The water is bright and sparkling,
and there is no sediment perceptible to the naked eye. Actual analysis
has shown that the amount of impurity during an entire summer was but
4.45 grains in a gallon, or 7.63 parts in 100,000 parts.

The original cost of the aqueduct and reservoirs was about $9,000,000.
Since then the increased supply, the new reservoirs, pipes, etc., have
made the total amount upward of $40,000,000. The total receipts from the
water tax since the opening of the aqueduct have amounted to about
$22,000,000. The tax at present amounts to about $1,232,000 annually.

LXXIV. EXCURSIONS.

The suburbs of New York are very attractive, and excursions to nearly
every point within reach of the city are made every day during the summer
months. The fares are low, and a day may be pleasantly spent on the
water by leav