THE AQUEDUCT. The aqueduct, or aquaeduct, as the etymology of the word requires, is a very old mode for conveying water from one place to another, and may be traced back to a very remote period in Persia and Judea. The Pools of Solomon, near Bethlehem, were three large, reservoirs connected with each other, from which water was conveyed to Jerusalem, six miles distant. The city is still supplied with water from these ponds by a 10-inch earthen pipe. One of these pools is 660 feet in length and 280 in breadth. The ancient city of Mexico was supplied by Montezuma through the aqueduct of Chapultipec. It was carried across the lake upon a causeway. But the Incas of Peru surpassed this. To irrigate their sterile and sandy soil, they brought water from reservoirs in the mountains distant several hundred miles. These aqueducts passed along the precipitous sides of the Andes, winding around the termination of mountains, penetrating some by tunnels worked through the solid rock, without iron tools, and crossing the frightful chasms on walls of solid masonry. The conduit was constructed of large slabs of freestone, which were closely fitted together without cement. The aqueduct which crossed the Valley of Condesuyu, was between 400 and 500 miles long. The works have long since fallen into ruin, but in many places the water still finds its way beneath the surface in these artificial channels, and the grass to this day is greener around the spots where it flows out to the surface. In Egypt and ancient Babylon similar works were constructed, but these were surpassed by the Romans, whose aqueduct, in ruins, even now excites the wonder and admiration of the world. It was said of these, that whole rivers flowed through the streets of Rome. The population of the city was about 1,000,000, to whom were supplied 50,000,000 cubic feet of water per day, or about 312 imperial gallons to each. Many an aqueduct, since, has been built, with great success; that for supplying Marseilles is one of the most celebrated, which was over twenty years in building. The bridge of Maintenon, to support this, is a very magnificent structure. The length 4400 feet, or seveneighths of a mile, upwards of two hundred feet in height, and is upon three tiers of arches, one upon another, 242 in each tier and of a span of 50 feet. The aqueduct is a canal 60 miles long. It passes through several chains of limestone mountains-by not less than 45 tunnels, the length of which is 8 1-2 miles, and across a ravine, five miles from Aix, by a structure 262 feet high and 1287 feet long. The quantity of water that flows through it is 198 gallons per minute, The cost of this aqueduct was upwards of $10,000,000. In all the ancient aqueducts, for want of strong metallic pipes, it was necessary to construct the water-course upon a very gradual descent, lest by the rush of the water the structure should be destroyed. This aecounts for the very circuitous route followed by many of them, adopted for the purpose of adding to their length and thus reducing the grade. This is changed in modern aqueducts, iron pipes admitting even of descent on one side of a small river to pass along its bed and rise on the other, as in the viaduct at Chelsea bridge and at Chelsea creek, where the water of the Mystic passes through a flexible pipe to supply East Boston. We have given these facts regarding aqueducts to introduce an illustration of one of the grandest works of our own country, the Harlem Bridge, over which flows the Croton River, to supply the thirsty citizens of New York. The aqueduct is 401-2 miles long, and was built at an expense of $10,375,000; $1,800,000 being for distributing pipes and contingent expenses. Including commissions and interest, the whole has cost nearly if not quite $13,000,000. A dam at the river raises the water 40 feet, and forms Croton Lake, which covers 400 acres. This is the collecting reservoir, and contains, with a depth of six feet of water, 500,000,000 gallons. This amount has been increased, since the commencement, by the adding of other reservoirs, and the supply is fully adequate to the demand, running some 40,000,000 gallons daily for the people of New York, with a reserve to increase this to 60,000,000. The pipe across the bridge is carried in two iron pipes of three feet diameter. The inclination of the aqueduct is 1.1088 feet per mile, or 33 92 feet in the 33 miles before reaching the bridge. The bridge is 1460 feet long, with 8 arches in the river of 80 feet span, and 100 feet high to admit of the passage of vessels, and 7 others on the bank, of 50 feet span. The whole height of the bridge above high water mark is 114 feet. The structure presents a very imposing appearance, and is a prominent point of visitation with strangers in New York. It is of intense interest to citizens who see in it the medium through which they receive the greatest blessing ever vouchsafed to a people-a bountiful supply of pure water. ODESSA, Odessa, the principal mercantile city of southern Russia, is situated on the northern shore of the Black Sea, ninety miles westsouthwest of Kherson, and three hundred and ninety miles north of Constantinople. The growth of this emporium has been quite extraordinary-its foundations having been laid, by order of the Empress Catherine II., so late as 1792, after the peace of Jassy, with the Turks. It was intended to serve as an entrepot for the commerce of the Russian dominions on the Black Sea, and has in a great measure, answered the intention of its founders. It has been said, indeed, that a better locality might have been chosen; and in proof of this, it is stated that there are no springs nor fresh water within three miles of the town; that the vicinity is comparatively barren and without wood; and that, not being on or near the mouth of any navigable river, its communications with the interior are difficult and expensive. That these considerations have great weight is clear; but, on the other hand, the situation has the advantage of being central and salubrious. The bay, or roadstead, is generally open and easy of access, is extensive, the water is deep, and the anchorage good. The port, which is artificial, being formed by two moles, is fitted to accommodate three hundred ships, and has a lazaretto, on the model of that of Marseilles. The inconvenience arising from the want of water has been obviated by the cutting of a canal, by which it is conveyed to the town; and, on the whole, it may be doubted whether any position could have been chosen so well suited to serve as an entrepot. Latterly, the vicinity has also been signally improved by the formation of many gardens, and by the planting of extensive vineyards. The town is well built of soft calcareous stone; but the houses being, for the most part, detached from each other, there are but few handsome streets. But a more serious defect is, that the streets are generally unpaved; and after rain the ground is so deep that, according to Mr. Eliott, "it is not un RUSSIA. common for gentlemen to be obliged to leave their carriages in quagmires in the middle of the streets, and to send oxen to drag them out!" Some years since, a caricature of the streets was published, which represented a Frenchman, just arrived from Marseilles, sticking up to his knees in the mud, and exclaiming, "Je me fixi ici!" and under this was written," How to establish one's self at Odessa!" In dry weather, owing to the limestone cliff on which the city stands, it is excessively dusty. But some of the principal streets are now either paved or macademized, and in this respect the city has been materially improved. Towards the sea the city is defended by some batteries, and on its eastern side is a citadel, which commands the town and port. The space comprising the city and a small surrounding district, to which the franchise of the port extends, is bounded by a rampart. Though it cannot be called a manufacturing town, Odessa has some fabrics of coarse woollen and silk goods; and has extensive tallow-refineries, breweries, distilleries, ropewalks, etc. The trade includes, among other articles, grain, linseed, wool, iron, hides, copper, wax, caviar isinglass, potash, furs, cordage, sailcloth, tar, beef, butter and tallow. The last is the second great staple; but the first, and that which has made the name of Odessa familiar throughout the commercial world, is grain, the larger part of which is shipped to Great Britain. The granaries in Odessa are worthy of notice; they are remarkably well built with the stone found here. That of Sabansky, now occupied as a schoolhouse, situated on the ravine so called, is of immense extent, and has an imposing appearance from the streets looking towards the Lazaretto. The public slaughtering-houses are also on a large scale; many thousands of cattle are there annually boiled down for their tallow; it is a singular but not a very agreeable spectacle. Favored as Odessa is by its position on the sea, "it is surrounded on the land side,” says Murray, "by a dreary steppe of so intract able a soil, that trees and shrubs, with the exception of the acacia, rarely attain any size, and in many places will not even live. The narrow strip along the seashore above mentioned is the only oasis of vegetation in the neighborhood of the city. Artesian borings have been made in the town to a depth of nearly six hundred feet, for water, but hitherto without success. Fuel is likewise very dear." Odessa enjoys an etablissement des Bains, situated at the foot of the Boulevard, which is much frequented during the summer months, especially by Poles who come here to sell their grain, and disburse their money in pianofortes, agricultural implements, etc. German mineral waters are sold at an establishment in the town garden. Another institution worthy of mention is the Richelieu lyceum, a commercial college, in which the sciences and ancient and modern languages are taught by professors, chiefly German. There is, perhaps, no town in the world in which so many different tongues may be heard as in the streets and coffee-houses of Odessa, the motley population consisting of Russians, Tartars, Greeks, Jews, Poles, Italians, Germans, French, etc. At the Parlatoire of the Quarantine they may be heard in perfection. This is the place where the captains of vessels and the brokers and merchants of the town meet to settle their business; and here in little cells, but separated from one another by a wire grating, so that no contact can take place, parties can discuss their affairs without being overheard. There is a botanical garden near Odessa, but the difficulties of soil, drought and frost, are highly injurious to the growth of plants. The Greek and other bazars merit mention. There is no regular market-place (Go8tinoi dvor), as in other cities, but the Privosdni bazar is an excellent spot for observing local and national peculiarities, especially of the Moldavians, Jews and gipseys. The latter are, for the most part, smiths; they live in tents, eat hedgehogs, and hocuss as in other countries. The women braid their hair into twenty tails, like the Tartars, smoke all day long, and, notwithstanding their wild and savage appearance, are not destitute of beauty; they have fine black eyes and wellproportioned figures. There are, in the neighborhood of Odessa, as previously remarked, large vineyards. In that of Count Woronzoff are from sixty to eighty thousand vines; the wine made from these grapes, however, is not so good as that of the Crimea. Vast numbers of melons are also raised in the gardens in the environs of the city; some of them are of the most delicious flavor, and so cheap that half the population live upon them and black bread during the summer; the universal favorite is the watermelon, which, if placed in ice for a short time before dinner, is in this season a most grateful fruit. The stone-fruit is very poor. Admiral Ribas was the first person who made any improvements in Odessa, but he was thwarted in his plans. In the year 1803, his measures were renewed; the population, however, as in all commercial towns of sudden growth, was not formed of the best materials, being composed mainly of adventurers from all parts of the Levant, runaway serfs, and other itinerant persons. When the Emperor Paul ascended the throne, in 1796, he gave the town considerable privileges; but its prosperity is chiefly owing to the Duke de Richelieu, a French immigrant, who was subsequently appointed governor, and who, by his judicious administration, brought the commerce of the town into a very flourishing state. The principal streets were laid out by him, and his amiable and charitable disposition was such, that his departure was sincerely regretted by all classes. With every opportunity of enriching himself, he is said to have left Odessa with a small portmanteau containing his uniform and two shirts, the greater part of his income having been disbursed in relieving the distresses of a portion of the population, who were always arriving in the greatest state of destitution. By an imperial ukase, in 1817, Odessa was declared a free port for a period of thirty years. In 1822, however, a rumor having spread that the freedom was about to be abolished, the foreign merchants were on the point of quitting the town, when the order was rescinded, and Count Langeron, the governor, who had advocated this measure, dismissed. The exchange is situated at the other extremity of the Boulevard; the interior is handsome; balls are held in the principal room during the winter season, and are very numerously attended. The theatre is in the large square, near the Hotel de Richelieu. Italian operas and French plays are performed here throughout the year. There is likewise a Russian theatre, for the accommodation of the Slavonic inhabitants. T A LEAP IN THE DARK. BY FRANCES M. SCHOOLCRAFT. CHAPTER XXIII. PART SIXTH. HE mystery of the robbery of Mr. Creighton's house was solved. The room had not been entered. The forced lock of the closet door was a mere blind. The wall behind the closet had been broken through, and the boards removed, and afterwards replaced so carefully that no one had noticed any trace of the operation until the acute Higginbotham's eyes detected it. As this opening was from Mrs. Moore's house, the detective obtained admission into the room on the other side, and saw not the slightest sign of any fracture in the chimney which was behind the closet. The fireplace was bricked up, and the wall above it papered, and neither bricks nor paper had been disturbed. The detective shook his head, and ascended to the room above. There was a sheet-iron fireboard here very securely fastened. This being removed showed that some one had been operating on the back of the fireplace. By enlarging the aperture here, and effecting an entrance into the chimney, which was built with generous flues, some one might have descended to the level of the closet. Some one had done it. That one was Bill Moore. The detective worked this problem out in his own mind. It was a very neat job indeed. Artistically speaking, he admired it very much; and then he arrested the artist. Bill showed neither surprise nor fear. He simply said no one could prove it. He had occupied that room. Yes, he had; but no one could say he was there when the robbery had taken place. had nothing about him or in his possession that had been taken. Nevertheless, he was detained, and although he declared himself ready for examination, he was politely requested to wait until Mr. Creighton had seen him. Bill refused at first. They had no right to keep him in Mr. Creighton's house. If he was not to be taken before a magistrate, he must be allowed to go. This was certainly legal, but Bill consented on persua He sion to announce his privilege and remain quiet under guard in the room whose sanctity he had violated. He had not long to wait. Mr. Creighton returned home within half an hour. He was greatly pleased to hear of the arrest, and apparently to hear who had been arrested. He went up to the room. Bill was sitting in an attitude anything but dejected, one closed fist resting on his knee, the other thrown on the table beside him, his head raised, his eyes fixed on the door, and his whole attitude so suggestive of a contemplated spring upon any entrant, that Mr. Creighton involuntarily paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Come in," said Bill, without stirring. "You knew I was here, didn't you?" "Certainly," said Mr. Creighton. He closed the door, and advanced to the other side of the table and sat down. Resting his arm upon it, he looked steadily at Bill, who returned the gaze as steadily. "You are very young," commenced Mr. Creighton, "to come to this." "What have I come to ?" asked Bill. "A crime and its punishment," said Mr. Creighton. "Not quite," said Bill. "You haven't proved anything against me, and you can't.” "Why not?" "You don't dare," said Bill; "that's why." 66 Why not?" repeated Mr. Creighton. "I do not want to be severe with you," Mr. Creighton commenced, mildly. "I guess not," said Bill. "I'm safe enough, Mr. Creighton. You wont take me before a police court, I don't think. You may, if you like. Here I am." "I do not want to do it, certainly," said Mr. Creighton. "If you will restore the papers you took from the drawer, you are at liberty to keep the money and jewels." "You may have the money and jewels," said Bill. "I don't want them. I only took them by mistake." [Entered according to Act of Congress. in the year 1870, by THOMES & TALBOT, Boston, Mass., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington.] |