Читать книгу Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct - F. B. Tower - Страница 14

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Rome is now supplied with water by three Aqueducts, being three of the ancient works restored in modern times.

First, Aqua Virgini, called by Frontinus, Aqua Virgo, or Virgin Aqueduct.

The trunk of the Aqueduct having been injured, the reparation was began under the Pontificate of Nicholas V. and Sextus IV., and completed under that of Pius IV. in 1568. This water supplies the beautiful fountain Trevi, thus named from the three discharges issuing from it, or from its being placed at the junction of three streets. The water this Aqueduct furnishes is 2,322,762 cubic feet (14,168,848 gallons) daily, discharging through 7 principal conduits, at 13 public and 37 other fountains.

Second, Aqua Felice. This is a part of the ancient water of the Claudian and Marcian Aqueducts united with many others, and collected under Sextus V. The daily quantity it furnishes is 727,161 cubic feet, (4,435,682 gallons,) and supplies 16 public and 11 other fountains. The Moses fountain discharges from this source.

The Pauline Aqueduct, called Aqua Paola, is the third of the ancient works restored. The water is collected within the territories of Arcolo and Bassano, and conducted along the ancient Aqueduct of Alsietina. This was effected under Pope Pius V., and directed by Charles Fontana, an eminent Hydraulic Architect, who constructed the great fountain of S. Pietro-in-Montorio. Additional water was also taken from Lake Bracciano by Fontana in 1694, under Clement X. The whole quantity in 24 hours is 3,325,531 cubic feet, (20,285,739 gallons,) about one third of which goes to feed the fountains of St. Peters, and those of the Pontifical Palace on the Vatican Hill; the rest is distributed among 8 public and 23 other fountains, as well as to 21 work-shops, (usines) in St. Pancras-street.

An evidence of the durability of these old Roman structures is furnished in this junction of water from Lake Bracciano by Cardinal Orsini, under authority of Clement X., upon condition that a part of the water should be used to feed a second fountain about to be built in St. Peter’s Square at Rome, and the rest to be divided between the Apostolic Chamber and the House of Orsini. From the lake the conduit leads to the old Alsietina Aqueduct, in which it flows 20 miles to the city, and it was found to be in so perfect a state when the trial was first made after the restoration, October 13th, 1693, that all the water which entered the old Aqueduct was discharged at Rome without any loss, after its use had been suspended nearly 1000 years.