EEPOKT 
 
 em 
 
 H. A. GRAY, Esq, 
 
 CIVIL ENGINEER. 
 
 ON PROPOSED 
 
 WATER SUPPLY 
 
 FOR 
 
 Dartmouth, N. S. 
 
 HALIFAX, N. S. 
 PKIMED BY CHABLES ANNAND, 
 
 1875. 
 
Dartmouth, N. S., 26t7i April, 1875. 
 W, S. Stmonds, Esq., 
 
 Warden, Dartminith. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Kelative to the water supply of the town of Dartmouth 
 I have the honour to report : — After exploring all the Lakes in the 
 vicinity I decide in favour of your obtaining your supply from 
 Lamont and Topsail Lake. This Lake, having an area of 700 acres, 
 would be capable of supplying the present population of Dartmouth 
 at the rate of 30 gallons a day to each individual for the next 60 
 years, without counting upon any accession from springs or rain 
 during that period. It would, therefore, be sufficient for a popula- 
 tion of 60 times the present number. The elevation of the Lake 
 over tide water is 224 feet. It would be brought by a 10 inch main 
 pipe, 6 feet deep beneath the Preston Koad, from the Lake to the 
 city, a distance of 3 jniles, and thence distributed by a 4 inch pipe 
 through every street in the town, from Black Rock to the residence of 
 J. W. Johnstone, Esq. 40 hydrants placed a distance of 1000 feet 
 apart. These hydrants would be so constructed that water could be 
 easily obtained tor household purposes, and, at the same time, be 
 made available for the use of the Fire Department. The whole could 
 be completed at a cost of $82,000. 
 
 From chemical tests J have made 1 find the water from Laraont 
 and Topsail Lake is of a fine quality, clear and pleasant to the taste, 
 and admirably suited for the purpose of cleansing, cooking, chemistry 
 and manufacture. The most common impurities of water are salts of 
 lime and iron, which injure it for all purposes except drinking — these 
 impurities are found in a large measure in the water from the wells in 
 the town — Albro's Lake, a distance of 2 miles from the town, at an 
 elevation of 189 feet, contains much colouring matter of peat moss, 
 which is a compound of carbon v/ith oxygen and hydrogen, and un- 
 fits it for maiuifacturing purposes, and, to an extent, for drinking, 
 as it produces an unpleasant flatness to the taste. Anderson's Lake 
 contains the most pure water, but its distance — 5 miles — from the 
 
town, and the amount of excavation, nearly all in rock, to lay the 
 main pipe, as well as not possessing so great a head of water as 
 Lamont and Topsail, decides against it. 
 
 I deem it needless to descant upon the various investigations 1 
 have made, or to perplex you with calculations, and, therefore, have 
 made my report as simple as possible so as to be easily comprehended 
 by every citizen. 
 
 I have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 Tour obedient servant, 
 
 HENRY A. GRAY, 
 
 Civil Enyituer. 
 
 Baetmouth, N. S , 21th April, 1875, 
 W. S. Symonds, Esq., 
 
 Warden of DaHmovth. 
 
 Pear Sir, — Acting upon your instructions with reference to a les!^ 
 expensive mode of supplying water for the immediate necessities of 
 the town, than that contained in ray previous report — I have this 
 day examined Oat Hill Lake, and beg to submit the following : — The 
 elevation of this Lake, over tide water, is 160 feet, and could be 
 raised by artificial means to a higher level ; it has an area of 7 acres, 
 and would be capable of supplying the present population of Dart- 
 mouth, at the rate of 30 gals, a day to each individual, for 100 days, 
 without any accession from springs or rain. Prom information I can 
 obtain, I think it would be able to keep up a constant supply, as the 
 Hurrounding land is high and the lake fed chiefly by springs. Its 
 distance from the town is about 1 mile. I would propose to bring th<? 
 water by a 10 inch pipe from the lake to the harbour ; — distributing 
 it by a 4 inch pipe through all the streets running North and South 
 In the town plot,— with Hydrants placed at the principal corners, 
 for 'domestic and fire purposes. The cost would be as follows : 
 
 Total i21,844.00 
 
 At any future date the system could be extended to Lamont's Lake. 
 1^-ith merely the extra cost of 2 miles of main pipe. 
 
 I have the lion or to be, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 HENRY A. GRAY, 
 
 Civil Eof/rtfcei'. 
 
Dartmouth, N. S., Slst May^ 1875. 
 
 Geo. J. Tboop, Esq., 
 
 Warden^ Dartmouth. 
 
 hnr Sir, — Acting; upon your letter of instruction and the rainute 
 of Council annexed, dated May 21st, directing me to report in full 
 upt n the capabilities of Oat Hill Lake for a Water Supply for the 
 Town of Dartmouth, and the cost of same, and further to report in 
 regard to any other Lake where a supply of water can be obtained 
 for the town, and the probable cost of same, I have the honour to 
 reply : — 
 
 I have made a most careful instrumental examination of Oat Hill 
 Lake and surrounding land, and find that in my former report, ad- 
 dressed to the late Warden, under date 27th April last, which report 
 was drawn up at a few hours' notice, I did not specify, in conse- 
 quence of the shortness of the time I had at my disposal, the full 
 capabilities of this lake. I conclude, from my surveys, soundings 
 and sections that it can be increased in area, by a dam, to nearly 
 three times the size I then based my calculations upon. This in- 
 crease would give a supply of 80 gallons a day to each individual in 
 the present population (3000) for the whole year without any acces- 
 sion from springs, rain, &c., and with only a head of five feet. It is 
 also possible to obtain, by a diversion of only 500 fec't, and at a very 
 small cost of labour, a stream of water running to the eastward of 
 the lake, and having an elevation of over 15 feet above the lake's 
 present surface, which will greatly augment the filling of the Lake 
 and keeping up its head. 
 
 In event of this Lake being decided upon by the Council, it would 
 be necessary to purchase the land skirting the lake — say about 30 
 acres in extent — part of which would be overflowed by the daming, 
 and the rest should be reserved bv the town to nrevent its being 
 used for the purposes of cultivation, grazing cattle or erection of 
 buildings. I would also recommend the clearing and grubbing of 
 part of this land ; — the water in the lake reduced, and the bed, for at 
 least 50 i'eet from the present shore, cleaned and all vegetable or other 
 fleleterious matter removed. This could be done during the building 
 of the d^m, and much of the material cut down and the clay from the 
 bed of the lake would be available for building the dam. 
 
6 
 
 Keferring to my Eeport of the 27th April the cost would be as 
 follows : — 
 
 Pipes, Excavation and Hydrants, &c., S21,844 00 
 
 ^S dd to which — Dam 400 feet long, cleaning and low- 
 ering lake, clearing sides and puddling edges, pipe 
 
 houses, &c., ^-i 8,000 00 
 
 Purchase of lake property and area outside as recom- 
 mended 3,000 00 
 
 Diversion of stream 1,000 00 
 
 Contingencies, Inspection, Ac, &c., 2,500 00 
 
 S136.344 00 
 By bringing the water from Oat Hill Lake, the system could be 
 extended, at any future date, to any of the series of Lakes lying at 
 a further distance in the same direction — for the better understand- 
 ing of which I have prepared the accompanying sketch plan of the 
 Lake District iu the vicinity of Dartmouth. Tou will observe that 
 there is a large choice, with an unlimited area of water power ; capa- 
 ble, by elevation and extent, for any high service or quantity that 
 may ever be required at a future date for the town. T would strong- 
 ly recommend to the Council the desirability of at once securing the 
 right and title of one at least of these Lakes — either Topsail and 
 Lamont's, Loon or Clifford's. The first would, I am informed, be 
 expensive, as there are so many rights and prospective ones to be 
 bought out, to do which would require probably a sum of not less 
 than $15,(>00. Loon Lake, mth a large area of fine water, and only 
 1 mile to the East from the West of Lamont's Lake, and 4^ from the 
 town, could be obtained for a much less sum. and would be an excel- 
 lent Lake to secure; as it is not only large in itself but has an extensive 
 feeding ground. Clifford's Lake, on the top of Break-heart Hill, on 
 the Cole Harbour Road, and onlv a distance of 3i miles from th 
 
 2 
 
 c 
 
 town, ha« «an elevation of over 300 feet above the harbour, which is 
 Rome 80 feet above any other Lake in the vicinity of the town. This 
 Lake strongly recommends itself from its height, purity and area, 
 and the very small cost at which it can be obtained, viz : the whole 
 right wdth offer of all material for dam and right of way to road has 
 been made for the sum of S400. I would strongly recommend to the 
 Council the great advantage of at once bringing the supply from this 
 Lake. Its elevation would admit of a much smaller main, pipe and 
 thus reduce the weight, and consequently, the cost — a 6 inch pipe 
 would be ample. It would not only give a present supply, but would 
 
be suiEcient for many years to come. The cost would not exceed 
 $58,000 complete, and without the necessity of resorting to any arti- 
 ficial means. In comparison with the other proposed supply, the ad- 
 vantage of this Lake, would, I am sure, warrant the Council making 
 the additional outlay ; giving, as it would, to the town a permanent, 
 reliable and unstinted daily necessity. 
 
 I do not deem it necessary to give the cost of constructing a water 
 system, at present, to any of the other Lakes named above. It is 
 unnecessary to do so as the amount granted by the town would not 
 be sufficient without greatly increasing the sum — this you wil] 
 readily understand by referring to my report on Lamont and Topsail 
 Lake, dated 26th April : — and also from the fact that the present 
 requirements, and for many years to come, can be obtained with only 
 a small additional sum. 
 
 My attention was called to Albro's Lake, lying to the north of the 
 Town. This L^ihe contains a large body of water, and is only 1| 
 miles from the Town. It is, however, 'very shallow at the west end, 
 and would require a dam to be constructed at this point, of not less 
 than from 700 to 900 feet long, which of itself would be an expensive 
 operation. Its elevation is only 189 feet above the harbor, which is 
 not sufficient for supplying the elevated portions of the town. It is 
 not possible to extend the system at a future date to any extent in 
 the direction of Albro^s Lake, as the Lakes further on would be, after 
 daming Albro's, at a lower elevation. It would be necessary to lay 
 the pipes from the Lake to the town plot through private property, 
 instead of along the public road, as contemplated from the other 
 Lakes, thus increasing the cost of construction to a large extent, 
 especially as the excavation and service road required here, near the 
 present natural run of the stream from the Lake, would be entirely 
 through a country of rock and boulders. There are some very valu- 
 able rights to the water running from this Lake, and annexed to this 
 Heport is a letter from the principal one — the owners of the Dart- 
 mouth Rope Walk — which I woidd call your attention to. The cost 
 of construction and purchase of property — (not including the Rope 
 Walk, as I can get no estimate upon this) — could the Lake and pro- 
 perty be obtained, would be not less than ^76,000,00. 
 
 I deem it prudent to impress upon yourself and the council the 
 necessity of immediate action — if this work, fraught as it is, with 
 
8 
 
 future welfare and safety of the town — is to be carried out. A better 
 time for the purchase of materials, especially pipes, may not occur 
 again for many years,, as the iron market is now at a very low figure. 
 With a judicious amount of energy it is quite possible to have the 
 whole work completed and ready, for fire and domestic use, at every 
 comer in the town plot, and along the whole line of main pipe, by 
 November next. I would, therefore, strongly r?conniend the council 
 to place themselves in such a position that they may receive tenders 
 for the work without any delay. 
 
 I cannot close my Eeport without tendering my thanks and appre- 
 ciation to the gentlemen of the committee from the council, appointed 
 to assist me. From Dr. Weeks I have received much valuable infor- 
 mation which has helped me to direct my conclusions, and from the 
 other gentlemen every attentfon and information. 
 I have the honor to be. Sir, 
 
 Tour obedient servant, 
 
 HENRTA. GEAY, 
 
 Civil Engineer. 
 WitJi Report. 
 
 1. Sketch plan of Lake District. 
 
 2. Letter from Rope Walk Company. 
 
 3. Mr. Bell's Letter— CUfford's Lake. 
 
 4. Former Reports — on water supply. 
 
 The following are the distances from Dartmouth ferry, elevation 
 and area of the Lakes on the plan which accompanies the Report : 
 Maynard's, distance 1 mile, elevation 163.70 ft.; Oat Hill, distance 
 1|^ mile, elevation 147.30 ft., area 9 acres — can be increased to 18 : 
 Penhorn, distance 1^ miles, elevation 168,68 ft., area 13 acres ; 
 Clifford's, distance 3| miles, elevation 304.78 ft,, area 30 acres; 
 Lamont's and Topsail, distance 3^ miles, elevation 222.40 ft. , Loon, 
 distance 4^ miles, elevation 220.32 ft., area 300 acres ; Albro's, 
 distance If miles, elevation 189 ft 
 
9 X 
 
 Halifax, 27th May, 1875. 
 
 Sir, — Respecting Albro's Lake, and the water from them, we would 
 respectfully sa3% — That it was the water supply coming froin these 
 Lakes through the property we use, that led us to place our works 
 where they are. 
 
 The Water supply for such works is most important, in several 
 ways, for Steam Engine, for washing material, and for protection 
 from fire. 
 
 The water from these Lakes in the Summer season is scarcely suf- 
 ficient for our wants, as it is we have to make a reservoir to retain 
 during the night what may be used in the day. 
 
 If the Town of Dartmouth was to draw oft' this water for its use, 
 our works could not be kept a going. The purchase of the South- 
 end of the Lake, and the land surrounding it was made by us at con- 
 siderable cost for the express purpose of being able to have a control 
 of the water. 
 
 As the volume of water is not sufficiently abundant to give a sup- 
 ply to the Town of Dartmouth and to our use also, we have therefore 
 very respectfully to ask the Council to abandon the idea of taking the 
 water from Albro's Lakes. 
 
 Eespectfully yours, 
 
 W, J. STAIRS, 
 And others — owners of Dartmouth Rope-walk, 
 To Feancis Mumfobd, Esq., 
 
 And the Committee for Water Supply, Dartmouth. 
 
 Dartm«>uth, 27<^ -Vay, 1875. 
 To THE Town of Dartmouth. 
 
 I will give all my right and title of Lake you want for watering 
 Daiimouth, together with privilege of daming the water and all 
 material for same, with a right of way twelve feet wide, for the sum 
 of four liundred dollars ($400,00.) 
 
 GEORGE BELL.