1843-09-14 Trustee Committee Report on Water from Fresh Pond, 1831.034.008

The subscribers appointed as a committee of the Trustees of Mount Auburn, to inquire and report on the practicability of introducing water into the grounds of the Corporation, respectfully reports.

That they have employed Mr Waldo Higginson as a surveyor to take the levels between the surface of Fresh Pond and that of different places in Mount Auburn and the intervening land, and have obtained from him the following results

The surface of Fresh pond at its ordinary summer level is about one foot above that of the tide at high water

The water in the meadow west of the gate was found July 27^th to be eight feet 35/100 above the level of Fresh pond; and the level of Garden pond six feet and 85/100 above the level of Fresh pond

Two methods are practicable, by which the water of Fresh pond may be conveyed within the inclosure of Mount Auburn

1. The water may be raised by a steam engine, or other power, to a reservoir on

some eminence near Fresh pond, from whence it may be conducted in pipes, or in a channel, through the next eligible part of the intervening land to Mount Auburn - The expense of erecting and keeping in repair the machinery necessary to afford a considerable stream of water, together with the other parts of the construction, would probably be found so great as to prevent the Trustees from entertaining this project.

2. A deep channel might be cut, a foot or more below the level of Fresh pond, passing through the intermediate ridge to J. Wyeths meadow, and entering the cemetery a few roads west of the gate, thence passing through Garden & Meadow ponds, and crossing in its way Central avenue and Indian ridge, and terminating in the salt marsh southereasterly from Mount Auburn.

The expense of such a work according to the accompanying estimates of Mr Higginson is as follows

Cost of excavation from Fresh Pond to M^T Auburn inclusion of crossing Wyeths meadow & Watertown road $4,194.

Cost of excavation through M^t Auburn & thence to Charles river marsh - - - 2064.

Continguous & superintend - - - 313.

Total cost by Mr Higginsons estimate $6571.

To which may be added $700. in case a stone culvert is laid through Mr J.C. Grays ridge, -1400 and $700 as a conjectured estimate for land

Total $7971.

The expense of a deep channel like that just described may appear a serious objection to the undertaking. But on examination it will be found to be not so much an expense, as an investment, likely to repay, within a period, not very distant, the whole sum expended, with large interest.

It has not escaped the notice of the Trustees, that the rapid manner in which the Lots in Mount Auburn are taken up, is likely before a great number of years have past, to cause the occupation, or sale, of all the disposable land now owned by the corporation. The same consideration has caused the proprietors of the lands adjacent, to hold them at an exorbitent price. Now it is found by a survey and estimate, that there are within the inclosure of Mount Auburn about eight acres of swamp, wet meadow & innundated hollows wholly unfit for the purposes of sculpture. If these portions were intersected by a deep channel like the one now proposed, they would at once be converted into upland. And if the earth and gravel removed by the excavations, were thrown upon them in the manner hereafter proposed, they would be raised two additional feet, and being thus eight feet, or more above the water level, they would be among the most eligible parts of the cemetery

An acre of land contains 43,560 square feet. A Lot at Mount Auburn contains 300 square feet. The former sum divided by the latter gives 145, the number of lots in an acre - Throw away half this for paths and passage ways, and it leaves 72 lots in each acre, which at $100. per lot, (the present price of selected lots) given 7200. dollars as the value of each acre. Suppose that three acres are given up for ponds and channels, it will leave five acres, which at the above named price will be worth $36.000, in return for the outlay proposed.

The objects attained? in an ornamental point of view by the proposed operation, will be the introduction of a constant stream of pure water, flowing over a gravelly bed through any parts of the ground to which it may be though proper to conduct it, interspersed with ponds of the same description, -- in the place of the present stagnant, impure and muddy pools, which in dry seasons become nearly or quite exhausted of water

Should the project now proposed be favorably entertained by the Trustees, there are obvious reasons for why an early [period?] should be chosen for carrying it into effect. -

It is probable that the land, on the right of passage, between Mount Auburn & Fresh pond could now be obtained from its present proprietors upon more favorable terms, thus it may be hereafter. Moreover the excavations and new deposits of earth which it will be necessary to make, will at the present time interfere less with the rights of private proprietors, then they would do a few years hence, when lots & monuments shall be mostly laid about the water courses.

Lastly - In case the Trustees should not think it expedient to undertake the whole work at the present time, the committee recommend that measures be taken to ascertain the depth of the hard? bottom in Meadow & Garden ponds, and if this is found not to be below the level of tide water, that a suitable trench or channel be dug from Charles river marsh into, or through, Meadow & Garden ponds, to test the practibility of draining these parts of Mount Auburn & redeeming them from their present useless state -

For the committee

Jacob Bigelow, chairman Boston Sept 14, 1843