THE WATER SYSTEM At the first meeting of the Directors, held at the house of Edward Barden, Innkeeper, on April 11th, 1799, the following Directors were present: DANIEL LUDLOW, JOHN WATTS, JOHN B. CHURCH, BROCKHOLST LIVINGSTON, WILLIAM LAIGHT, PASCAL N. SMITH, SAMUEL OSGOOD, JOHN STEVENS, JOHN B. COLES, JOHN BROOME, AARON BURR, and RICHARD HARRISON, Recorder of the City of New York, Ex. Officio, the only absentee being William Edgar. Daniel Ludlow was chosen President, and the following minute was made: The principal object of this incorporation being to obtain a supply of pure and wholesome water for the City of New York. RESOLVED that Samuel Osgood, John B. Coles and John Stevens be a committee to report with all convenient speed the best means to be pursued to obtain such supply. [Illustration: OLD WOODEN WATER MAINS] On May 6th, 1799, the water committee was empowered "to contract for as many pine logs as they may think necessary for pipes and also for boring the same." [Illustration: Contemporary Cartoon] A number of wells were sunk, reservoirs and tanks built, and the distributing system extended generally through the city south of City Hall. About 1836 the system was extended north along Broadway as far as Bleecker Street, and at that time the company had about twenty-five miles of mains and supplied 2,000 houses. [Illustration: MANHATTAN COMPANY RESERVOIR ON CHAMBERS STREET]