Report on the drainage and sewerage of the City of Montreal, shewing the location, and estimated cost of the system of main outlet and intercepting sewers proposed to be constructed for the thorough and effectual drainage of the city.

At the Quarterly Meeting of Council, held at the City Hall on 9th of September, 1856, a Resolution was passed to the effect that the City Surveyor be instructed to make such examinations and surveys of the City as would enable him to project and lay down such a system of main sewers as would thoroughly and effectually drain the City, and to submit plans, sections and estimates of the cost of said main sewers so required.* The plans, sections, and detailed drainings of the sewers have not been litfr >- graphed, owing to the cost and delay of time which would be incurred by so doing; but a topographical plan of the City, shewing the position and direction of all the main sewers, as well as the valley of the River St. Pierre, has been lithographed, and is attached, to illustrate this Report.water and sewerage passes into the river.Should it be possible to lay down a system of which the old sewers would form a part, then a great saving would arise from not having the portion of the old sewers retained to construct anew.It is evident, then, the first ground of inquiry should be as to the present state of the main sewers, their levels and construction, and generally whether they would be of any value in a properly extended sys- tem such as the one about to be proposed.The whole of the sewerage, soil water and rain water, passes into the river now through three outlets, representing three of the largest natural drainages into which the City is divided.The first, and by far the largest of these, outlets into the Elgin Basin, opposite the Custom House.It takes the whole of the drainage of the City lying between St. Lawrence Main Street and the ridge dividing the waters of the creek which runs by the Lachine Railway sta- tion from the River St. Pierre, the waters of the swamp under Coteau Baron ; as well as the drainage of Point St. Charles which comes through the Culvert under the Canal.These seve- ral drainages unite at Dow's Brewery, and flows through the College grounds in an open channel to St. Ann's Market, and from thence in a covered culvert, built of stone, and arched over, to the outlet at the Elgin Basin.It will be seen that a large portion of this sewerage water flows in open courses, the sides and banks of which are very dirty, from the accumulation of filth of all kinds from time to time deposited there and left by the water, when its depth and flow was not strong enough to remove it.This drainage division of the City embraces Griifintown and the most thickly populated portion of the Craig Street valley.The rainwater and sewerage of the Craig Street valley from Saint Lawrence Main Street, flows through the main sewer known as the Craig StreetTunnelto St. Antoine Bridge, and thence in open cut to Chaboillez Square and Dow's Brewery, joining the creek coming by the Lachine Railway station, mentioned before, shew- ing that at Dow's Brewery the principal drainages of this division meet and unite in one stream.The Craig Street Tunnel Sewer, between St. Lawrence Main Street and St. Antoine Bridge, was originally a circle of about 7 feet diameter, constructed of 8 inch brick work in common mortar.From quick sand having been * This old sewer can be made available for the drainage of this district, should it be thought advisable to delay the construction of the new main sewer which would occupy its place, and running west to Visitation Street, until the other main sewers are laid down, and when the district by being built on would, for drainage purposes, require it.

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