Tea Water

Steam engine on bank note used to finance Colles' project

Christopher Colles Had a Good Idea

Whoever had the idea that the streets of New York were paved in gold was lucky enough to miss about 100 years of filth flowing down the streets and fouling the drinking water. Good thing someone thought to pipe in fresh water. Did it work? No….

Rogers, William Allen, 1894. Source: NYPL

Tea Water Pumps

Manhattan’s drinking water has always been famous. However, in the 18th century, you were lucky if it made decent tea.

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