[Engineer drawings published in the Water Supply of the City of Philadelphia by a Proposed Aqueduct from the Norristown Dam and the Acquisitions of the Works of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, 1891] [graphic].
Title
[Engineer drawings published in the Water Supply of the City of Philadelphia by a Proposed Aqueduct from the Norristown Dam and the Acquisitions of the Works of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, 1891]
Description
Collection of thirteen drawings and one blueprint showing the proposed route by the Schuylkill Navigation Company (E. F. Smith, C.E.) for an aqueduct running from the Norristown Dam to the Schuylkill River. Drawings include: "1. Map of the Drainage Area of the Schuylkill River Showing the Location of Pools and Canals of the Schuylkill Navigation" depicting mountains, creeks, drainage areas, canals, and dams between Broad Mountain and Philadelphia; "3. Profile and Details of the Proposed Aqueduct to Convey the Water of the Schuylkill River from the Norristown Dam to the Pumping Station of the City of Philadelphia" showing cross-sections of creek crossings, conduits, tunnel grades, shaft locations, and “Section through Centre of Arch River Crossing”; "4. Plan Elevation and Section of Schuylkill River Bridge Near Belmont and other Crossings on line of Proposed Aqueduct from Norristown Dam to the Pumping Stations of the City of Philadelphia" showing the bridge elevation, cross-sections of the bridge (e.g. “Buckle Plate Floor and Asphalt Pavement”), map of the area near the Schuylkill River, East Park Reservoir, Thirty-third , Diamond, and Oxford Streets, and “Culvert of Ravine at Edgley, East Park; "Plans and Elevations of Inlet and Gate Houses on the Line of a Proposed Aqueduct for the Water Supply of the City of Philadelphia" showing ground plans and gate house sections and not the elevations” by Furness, Evans & Co., Architects”; "Map of the Valley of Tumbling Run Showing the Lands of the Schuylkill Navigation Co. with the Existing and Proposed Reservoirs Therein and its Drainage Area" showing the area between the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Sharp Mountain (East Norwegian Township), Second Mountain (Manheim Township), and containing notes about right of way, existing and proposed reservoirs, distances and widths;, "I. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from Tumbling Run to head of Lord’s Dam No. 14" showing landforms, Schuylkill River, the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad, dams and towns along the river, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; "II. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation, from Head of Lords Dam No. 14 to Red Hill Shoemakersville" showing Schuylkill and Berks Counties, Blue Mountains, Schuylkill River and dams along it, Stony Creek and Lands, insets of sites along the river, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; "III. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from Red Hill Shoemakersville to Felix’s Dam No. 19" showing the Schuylkill River, Berks County, dams, creeks, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; "IV. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from Felix’s Dam No. 19 to Big Reading Dam No. 24" showing the Schuylkill River and dams along it, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Berks County, Reading, Neversink, Flying Hill, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; "V. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from the Big Reading Dam No. 24 to Sixpenny Creek" showing the Schuylkill River, Berks County, Wilmington and Pennsylvania Northern Railroad, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Birdsboro, Monocacy, Girard Canal, creeks, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; "VI. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from Sixpenny Creek to Fricks Locks" showing Berks, Montgomery and Chester Counties, Monocacy, the Schuylkill River, Pottstown, Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, creeks, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers;, "VII. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from Fricks Locks to Mouth of Perkiomen" showing Montgomery and Chester Counties, the Schuylkill River and dams along it, Girard Canal, Black Rock Hills, Phoenixville, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; "VIII. Plan of Property and Works of the Schuylkill Navigation from Mouth of Perkiomen to Norristown" showing Chester and Montgomery Counties, Schuylkill River and dams along it, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Chester Valley Railroad, Valley Hills, Barbadoes Island, Norristown, Bridgeport, and notes about property lines, right of way, and schedule numbers; and an untitled, unattributed, and undated drawing showing dam capacities (Black Rock, Pawlings, Catfish, Norristown) water depths, and nineteen points (towns, creek mouths, inlets, furnaces, gate houses, pumping stations) between Black Rock Dam and Fairmount. The aqueduct was to facilitate an improvement to the quality of drinking water for the city. The supply was becoming increasingly polluted through the manufacturing districts surrounding the Fairmount Park pumping stations and the nearby Schuylkill Valley. The project was under the direction of E. F. Smith, engineer and superintendent of the Schuylkill Navigation Co. which was originally chartered in 1815 to make the Schuylkill River navigable., Title supplied by cataloger., Drawings dated by artist May 1891., Majority of drawings numbered in upper right corner with a Roman numeral or Arabic number: 0-1; 3-4; I-VIII., Majority of drawings signed in lower left corner: Emil L. Nuebling, Del., Plan Elevation and Section of Schuylkill River Bridge Near Belmont and other Crossings on line of Proposed Aqueduct from Norristown Dam to the Pumping Stations of the City of Philadelphia (P.2008.12) signed lower left corner: W. S. Davis, Del., Drawings include horizontal and/or vertical scales., Many of the drawings include “Schedule Numbers.”, Some of the drawings include compasses., Some of the drawings vary from their published versions including 1. Map of the Drainage Area ... which does not include a “Table” (P.2008.13.10) and Plans and Elevations of Inlet and Gate Houses ... which does not include “Elevation” views., Manuscript note on verso of P.2008.13.10: Map of the Drainage Area of the Schuylkill River. Showing locations of Pools and Canals., Stamped on verso of P.2008.13.10: Case 4; Box I-5; No. 6238., Gift of David Doret., Emil L. Nuebling, a Reading, Pa. native and civil engineer, trained in Reading and Newark, N.J. before receiving by 1891 an appointment under E. F. Smith of the Schuylkill Navigation Co. He also worked for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad before becoming engineer and superintendent of the Reading Water Works in 1895. He worked as Reading's water engineer through the early 20th century.
Creator
Nuebling, Emil L., -1926, artist
Date
May 1891
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department rolled maps - Schuylkill - Box 1- Box 3 [P.2008.13]