Necessary Additions Most water works use steam-powered pumping systems. The image at top left is from 1835, showing Philadelphia's improved water works. Fire departments install telephone-like call boxes, and need long ladders to reach higher floors downtown. Trash and waste are growing issues, as horse manure accumulates daily from all the carriages, trollies and delivery wagons.

	Water From a Tap By 1890, America has 25,000 miles of water mains. To create pressure, water is pumped into tanks above street level, so it flows down by gravity. New York originally fills its reservoir near City Hall with well water (top left). This is replaced in 1842 with a much larger reservoir (top center), fed by a river 40 miles away. Brooklyn gets water from a giant well in Prospect Park (top right), pumped up by a steam engine. Boston uses a gravity system to feed from surrounding reservoirs on higher ground (bottom center).
	Horses and Ladders Steam-powered fire engines are still pulled by horses, but can develop enough pressure to allow fire hoses to reach the top of the tallest buildings (left). Every large city needs a fire department. Topeka has just 30,000 residents, but an impressive list of fire stations and fire alarm call boxes (right).