Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct

"Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct" by F. B. Tower is a historical account written in the early 19th century. This work examines the construction and significance of the Croton Aqueduct, detailing the engineering innovations required to supply New York City with essential water resources. Tower, who worked in the Engineer Department, aims to document both the primary structure and the preliminary measures leading to its construction. The opening of the book introduces the significance of aqueducts in ensuring a city's health and growth, emphasizing their historical prevalence in ancient Rome and other civilizations. Tower recounts his experiences in the Engineer Department during the Croton Aqueduct's construction and explains the inspiration behind the book: the public interest in the aqueduct's engineering marvel. He outlines the benefits and necessity of the aqueduct for New York, articulating the existing water supply challenges faced by the city and foreshadowing the detailed explorations of ancient and modern aqueducts that will follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fayette Bartholomew Tower, civil engineer; mayor. Tower was born in Waterville, New York, on June 29, 1817. Tower was educated as a civil engineer. In 1837, he was appointed on the Croton Aqueduct and he continued on that work until its completion in 1842. During the ensuing five years he made Waterville his residence, and at the time prepared his "Illustration of the Croton Aqueduct" consisting of a series of twenty-one plates with text. About 1848 his health led him to seek a milder climate, and he settled in Cumberland, Maryland. He was chosen to the Maryland, legislature and was later elected mayor of Cumberland (1853–1854). His health continued to fall, and in 1856 he returned to Waterville and died soon afterwards on February 16, 1857.