Show ake THE ASHOKAN RESERVOIR the ashokan ashokam reservoir Is an aref fickal lake created as a water storage reservoir for the city of new york situated in the catskill mountains more than miles away the esopus watershed carrying the waters of the str streams enins chich flow from the high forest lands in the catskills emerged from the mountains through a deep gorge goree and drained into the hudson river the construction of 0 a dam feet long with a maximum height of feet across this gorge stopped the flow of atwater and created a reservoir 12 miles long from one to three miles wide with a maxin jum depth of IDO feet and a capacity of gallons of water in the lie cowit construction ruction of this gi gigantic gantle project acres of land on which dwelt a population of 2000 persons who had to find new homes were acquired asoo 2800 bodies from seven cemeteries were re interred 11 miles of railroad were relocated located re 64 miles of highways were discontinued and 40 miles of new highways were constructed ted wagon loads of earth and rock were moved embankments containing wagon loads of material were built and cubic yards or wagon loads of masonry work in which barrels of cement were used were constructed three thousand men 30 miles of railroad 33 locomotives cars derricks steam rollers steam shovels concrete ming mixing outfits and miscellaneous equipment without end were employed employed As the lower division of 0 the reservoir Is feet above the tide la in new york harbor the water flows to and Is delivered within the city by gravity although the water of the esopus drainage Is of unusual softness and the s sparse p arse settlement of the country makes for purity the water Is drawn from the reservoir through 1599 nozzles which break it into a spray and permit the escape of any odors or gases which it may contain the water flows for the most par part I 1 through an aqueduct feet wide and 17 feet high with an average drop of 1 1 10 feet per mile cement lined tunnels carry it through unavoidable hills and under valleys it passes under the hudson river through a tunnel driven in granite rock 1114 feet below sea level and reaches the city mains in a tunnel bored through solid rock lying from to feet below the street level leve 1 The maximum capacity of this aqueduct Is gallons per hour |