The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-21 00:00:00

VIE WATER SUPPLY AND DEEP DRAINAGE

OF DUDLEY:

On Tuesday evening, at a special meeting of the
Dudley Town Council, the Mayor (Mr. Joseph Stokes)
read a lengthy report from Mr. Bateman, as to the
water supply of the borough.
The following is a condensed account of the paper :
After showing the various Acts of Parliament which
relate to the company, and giving a history of the case
up to the point where the judge at Worcester made him
the reference, Mr. Bateman says : —Under all these
circumstances . . . I direct as follows :
(1) That the South Staffordshire Waterworks Com-
pany shall carry out their intention of executing the
works authorised by the Act cf 1875.
(2) That they shall erect duplicate engines and pumps
at Wood Green, and lay an independent main pipe
from thence to the Shaver's End reservoir, near Dudley,
all for the exclusive supply of Dudley, and such parts
of the neighbourhood as are included within the limits
uf the Dudley Waterworks Act of 1834. and as can be
supplied by gravitation from the Shaver's End reser-

voir.
(3) That the water shall be delivered into this reser-
voir at the end farthest from that at which it is taken

out for the supply of the inhabitants.
(4) That the water from this reservoir shall, before
being supplied to the inhabitants, be strained through
copper wire-gauze of 40 stands to the inch, of
sufficient area to pass the full quantity of water re-
quired.
(5) That three years from the present time shall be
allowed to the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company
to complete the works authorised by the Act of 1875,
and the erection of the engines and pumps at Wood
Green, and the laying of the independent main-pipe to
the Shaver's End reservoir, and the necessary or cjn-
templated alterations at Coneygre.
(8.) That the storage of water at Coneygre, previous to
its being pumped to Dudley, shall be immediately dis-
continued, but the Coneygre engines and pumps shall be
maintained not only for the supply of Dudley and
Shaver's End reservoir pending the completton of the
works eGntemplated, but subsequently for the supply
intermittently of such high parts of the district included
in the limits of supply of the Dudley Waterworks Act
of 1834 as cannot be supplied from the Shaver's End
reservoir.
(7) That an efficient supply shall be calculated at 20
gallons per head per day upon the inhabitants supplied
for domestic purposes, exclusive of demands for
trade. _ _ _ .

(8) That the pressure of the water within the pipes
within the limits of the Dudley Waterworks Act shall
not be less than 50 feet above the level of the street,
except where the level of the Shaver's End reservoir
will not give this, and that this inability shall be calcu-
lated at a loss of 12 feet of pressure per mile.
(9) That provision shall be made against breaks-
down,' by keeping up the connection between the Wood
Green and Coneygre pumping stations, and that
duplicate engines shall for the same purpose be
erected. _ _

(10) That necessary interruptions shall not be com-
plained of.
(11) That the water in the Shaver's End reservoir
shall be maintained as far as possible, and as far as is
consistent with the irregularity of the day's demand, at
the top war level.
(12) That in the event of the water in the Shaver's
End reservoir becoming injured or contaminated by its
exposure in an open reservoir, or by the contiguity of
furnaces or manufactories, the reservoir shall be
covered. (Loud applause.)
His Worship said the company would be compelled to
do all that the award otdered, for the court over which
the judge presided had the power to compel. They
would agree with him that when the work was carried
out it would be the greatest sanitary improvement
hitherto adopted. There was no doubt that a great deal
of the sickness was due to the foul water sometimes
supplied to the town. (Hear, hear.) He congratulated
the Council on the result of the work—a result which
exonerated them from the charges of unfairly treating
the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company. He
suggested that the report should be published, together
with the rates for water which the company were able
to charge, showing the difference between the rates
before the opposition and after. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Finch moved, and Mr. Crew seconded, a pro-
position embodying the Mayor's suggestion, and this was
carried.
Mr. John Dunn then moved the following resolution :
—" That, as the proposed sewerage of a portion of the
borough does not include the wards of Netherton and
Woodside, that portion only of the borough which shall
be drained by the proposed sewerage shall form a dis-
tinct part or area for sewerage purposes, and shah i bear
the whole expense incurred and to be incurred in the
construction and maintenance of the proposed works,
and a separate assessment shall be made for such pur-
poses upon such part only."
Mr. Job Garratt seconded the motion.
Mr. Wainwright, in moving an amendment, that the
proposition should be deferred three months, said he
felt certain that the majority of the Council we 93 in
favour of even-handed justice, and that Netherton and
Woodside would be treated in exactly the same way that
Dudley was to be. There was a scheme which would
arrange for the carrying off of the sewage of Netherton
and Woodside, and he would foreshadow it. By a joint-
stock undertsking with Cradley and Stourbridge the
sewage might be taken from Netherton and other places
to a place called Wittington where there was a vast tract
of sandy land which could receive the sewage. This
land belonged to lir. Foley and others. The Rivers
Pollution Act would come into operation in 1877, and
then a penalty of £5O per day for pollution might be
levied; The scheme was, he believed, in the hands of
Mr. Marten, of Stourbridge.
Alderman J. FL Smith, in a long speech, held that all
parties, wherever their houses or places of business,
would really benefit by the draifiage of Dudley proper.
if the payment of the sum was to be made by the latter
place it would cost is 2id in the pound. He hoped Mr.
W'ainwrlght would withdraw, and then he would move a
direct negative.
Mr. Wainwright withdrew.
Mr. Phillips said the representatives of Netherton and
Woodside were in the hands of the town wards repre-
sentstives ; but he would remind then. that owners in
the places he had n entioesed had to build their houses
every three or four years in consequence of mining
operations. Some consideration ought to be made for
then-.
Alderman George Bagott give a list of figures to show
how rapidly the expenses of the borough had risen. He
seconded Alderman Smith's :amendment for a direct
negative.
Mr. George Dunn supported the resolution, and ex-
pressed his opinion that the scheme suggested by Mr.
Wainwright would land the Corporation in bankruptcy.
Mr. E. M. 'A armington thought the matter might be
farther discussed with advantage. There was much to
be said on both sides, and a rate might be so levied as
to meet the burdens. He suggested lb it Mr. Dunn
should withdraw his resolution and bring it forward at
some future time, when the matter had become more
developed.
Mr. James Crew complained of the wrongs of Nether-
ton, which had not its fair proportion of light and
road-mending.
Mr. Job Davis supported the resolution.
Mr. John Dunn replied, and thanked Mr. Warmington
for lifting the question.out of the rut in which it had
travelled for some time. Netherton was willing to
drain itself, and only wanted from Dailey what it would
be willing to give to Dudley were the position changed.
He begged the Council to temper its power with mercy,
and do no injustice to Netherton.
Messrs. John Dunn, Llewellyn, Phillips, S. Garrett,
Fletch sr, Davies, G. H. Dunn, and Crew voted for the
resolution.
Against: Aldermen Dudley, Smith, Budge, George
Bagott, Edward Bagott; Councilors Wainwright, Smith,
Dawes, Carlisle, Challingsworth, Astley, Harper' Hall,
Thompson, Corvesor, Wright, Warmington, North,
Howat, Waring, Finch. and Clark. The resolution was
herefore lost by 8 to 22.