Sewer History: Photos and Graphics


For Reference	The New York Public Library has a large collection of digitized graphics, including several plumbing catalogs from the late 1800s and early 1900s. See the Cities and Buildings > Collection Guide > Contents for a list of links. Of particular interest: Catalogue 'G,' Illustrating the Plumbing and Sanitary Department of the J.L. Mott Iron Works. (1888). See web pages 20 and 21 (and, to a lesser degree, pages 5, 12 and 18) for cast iron and other metal plumbing fittings and pipes.
	Cast iron pipe laid in Clermont-Ferrand, France, to bring water overland to the Gardens of Versailles, 1748-49. Still in service in 1914. Source: Cast Iron Pipe, Standard Specifications Dimensions and Weights (Burlington, New Jersey: United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Co.,1914).
	Advertisement about the history of cast iron pipe -- "Cast iron pipe laid in London before the Battle of Waterloo is still in service." Source: Sewage Works Journal, Volume XVI, No. 4 (July 1944), p. 20 (in advertising supplement).
	Advertisement about the history of cast iron pipe -- "In the year 1831...the City of New York authorized the installation of a cast-iron water main in what is now 'Greenwich Village'. It is still in service." Source: Sewage Works Journal, Volume XVI, No. 5 (September 1944), p. 26 (in advertising supplement).
	Wrought iron water pipe (early 1880s, Tombstone, Arizona). This piece of pipe is from a water delivery system that was installed in the early 1880s – from a source of fresh water high in the Huachuca Mountains, thence 25 miles across the San Pedro River Valley to Tombstone, Arizona. The entire system is still in service today – almost 120 years later – and is still an integral part of Tombstone’s water supply system. This particular piece was removed from service in the 1990s as part of some improvements at the system’s receiving reservoir. The pipe has an internal diameter of seven inches. It had individual laying lengths of 16.5 feet, and utilized threaded couplings – 8000 of them – over the 25-mile route. The greatest hydraulic head on the pipe in this system was/is 840 feet, or 360 psi. The pipe and couplings were made by Pennsylvania Tube. [Note: This pipe was installed at the same time that the “Gunfight at the OK Corral” occurred. That event took place on October 26, 1881.] Source: Courtesy of the City of Tombstone, Arizona – Kathy Miller, City Clerk; and Alex Gradillas, Public Works Director. A special thank you to David S. Fabiano of Stanley Consultants, Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona, for his assistance.
	Steel spiral-wound riveted iron water pipe. This 8" dia. pipe was used for over 40 years to convey water from Blue Lake (elev. 12,200) to the Bridal Veil Falls Hydroelectric Plant (elev. 10,250) near Telluride, Colorado. The power plant went into service in 1907. Source: Courtesy of Rick River, Idarado Mining Company, Ouray, Colorado.
	Unloading 48-inch cast iron pipe from 5-ton motor truck. Winches are operated from the engine. 1914. Source: Cast Iron Pipe, Standard Specifications Dimensions and Weights (Burlington, New Jersey: United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Co., 1914).
	Motor truck and trailer carrying pieces of cast iron pipe, 1914. Source: Cast Iron Pipe, Standard Specifications Dimensions and Weights (Burlington, New Jersey: United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Co., 1914).
	A five-foot riveted steel sewer for temporary use in connection with New York subway work. An A-framed derrick, as described in the article, handles these pipes. Circa 1914. Source: J. F. Springer, "Iron and Steel Sewer Pipe," Municipal Engineering, Volume LI, No. 3 (September 1916), p. 87.
	Inverted sewer siphons of cast-iron used in carrying sewers under the subway in New York subway construction, circa 1915. Source: J. F. Springer, "Iron and Steel Sewer Pipe," Municipal Engineering, Volume LI, No. 3 (September 1916), p. 88.
	Two cast-iron storm sewers below, each five feet in diameter. Temporary steel pipe flume above to carry sewage during construction of the inverted siphons under construction below. Circa 1915. Source: J. F. Springer, "Iron and Steel Sewer Pipe," Municipal Engineering, Volume LI, No. 3 (September 1916), p. 89.