As the Central Building of the Library stands on part of the site of the old Croton Reservoir, it is fitting to reprint here the inscriptions on two tablets which were formerly affixed to the Reservoir.

One tablet is now on the first floor of the Central Building, on the wall of the south or 40th Street corridor. The inscription is:

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT
OF THE CROTON AQUEDUCT

The Law authorizing the construction of the work, passed May
2nd, 1834.
STEPHEN ALLEN, WILLIAM W. FOX, SAUL ALLEY,
CHARLES DUSENBERRY and BENJAMIN M. BROWN were appointed
Commissioners.
During the year 1834, two surveys were made—one by DAVID
B. DOUGLASS and the other by JOHN MARTINEAU.
In April, 1835, a majority of the Electors of the City voted in
favour of constructing the Aqueduct.
On the 7th May following, the Common Council "instructed the
Commissioners to proceed with the work."
DAVID B. DOUGLASS was employed as Chief Engineer until
October, 1836; when he was succeeded by JOHN B. JERVIS.
In March, 1837, BENJAMIN M. BROWN resigned, and was succeeded
by THOMAS T. WOODRUFF.
In March, 1840, the before mentioned Commissioners were succeeded
by SAMUEL STEVENS, JOHN D. WARD, ZEBEDEE RING,
BENJAMIN BIRDSALL and SAMUEL R. CHILDS.
The work was commenced in May, 1837. On the 22nd June, 1842,
the Aqueduct was so far completed that it received the Water from the
Croton River Lake; on the 27th the Water entered the Receiving Reservoir
and was admitted into this Reservoir on the succeeding 4th of July.
The DAM at the Croton River is 40 feet high, and the overfall
251 feet in length.
The CROTON RIVER LAKE is five miles long, and covers an
area of 400 acres.
The AQUEDUCT, from the DAM to this Reservoir, is 40½ miles
long, and will deliver in twenty-four hours 60,000,000 imperial gallons.
The capacity of the Receiving Reservoir is 150,000,000 gallons,
and of this reservoir 20,000,000.
The cost, to and including this Reservoir, nearly $9,000,000.

In the pavement of the south court is a tablet with this inscription:

CROTON AQUEDUCT.
DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR.

COMMISSIONERS.

SAMUEL STEVENS
ZEBEDEE RING
JOHN D. WARD
BENJⁿ BIRDSALL
SAMUEL R. CHILDS

ENGINEERS.

JOHN B. JERVIS. CHIEF.
H^o ALLEN, PRIN^l ASSIST.
P. HASTIE, RESIDENT.

BUILDERS.

THOMSON PRICE & SON.

COMMENCED A. D. MDCCCXXXVIII.

COMPLETED A. D. MDCCCXLII.