The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-04 00:00:00

Nocal nub pistrict

COMMISSIONERS' mrETtNo.

The monthly meeting of this body was held
on Monday last, in the Board Room; Captain
Walker in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Hughes, Billingham, Stringer, McEwen,
Edwards, Perkins, Emery, Newnatn, Woolley,
and the Rev. D. Maginuir.
The minutes of the last ineetinu were read and
confirmed.
' ' "

A number of accounts were ordered to be
paid on the recommendation of the Finance
Committee.

The Clerk then introduced the estimates.
For the Highway rate for the ensuing year, lid
in the pound would be #:473 61d. The Im-
provement of 9d in the pound for the ensuing
half-year would be £585 19s 10d. This was
agreed to.
The insurance of the Corn Exchange building
was increased by £l,OOO more,
The Rev. D. Maginnis, in accordance with the
notice given, called the attention of the meeting
to the appointment of a permanent committee
to facilitate the transaction of the business of
the Board. His reason for doing so was that
matters were frequently brought before the
Board of which no previous intimation had been
given. He ventured to group the business of ,
the Board under three heads. First, the Fin.
ance Committee, to certificate accounts, and re-
port upou estimates and other matter referred
to them. Second, the Improvement Committee,
to consider matters relating to the laying out of
streets, erections, alterations, or removing of
building, sewage, and railway and other arrange-
ments affecting public convenience. Thirdly, a
General Purposes Committee, to consider and
report upon the cleansing of streets, regulating
markets, and sanitary matters. He concluded
by moving that the above committees be formed,
which was seconded by Mr. MeEwen, and carried
unanimously.
The following gentlemen W ere elected on the
various committees:—
.

-------- •
inunce Committee : etiptain Walker, Messrs,

lialiughain, Hughes, PaelZwoud, and HeEwen.
The: Improveumnts Committee : The Chairman,
Messrs. Allsop, Stringer, Billinghatu. Blunsum,
eEwen, Edwards, awl the Itev. D. INlagitguis.

,
6curral Pnri.oses Coomittee : 'l'ie Chainoto,„
Mo,bre. Huglo.s, I.'crk:•, Newnan', .1..t0t1,,
Met nen, Hnzleolue, Poisins, Woolley, and tilt,
tkv. D. Magiunis.

the town sewage which abould on many accouuts be
avoided) it a point where the greatest fall can to
secured. I have marked this propos,d sewer on the plan,
and the section shows a fall of 1 an 10-i feet. With these
exceptions I think due provision ghee ly exists for pro.
perly draining the centre of the teen.
I am bound, however, to report thet many parts of the
township possess no teases whatever for carrying away
the am face water or the drainage of he dwelling-houses
in these loealities. I ref to such jJeces as Bouchall,
The Heath, Gig Bib, I ',glands, and Beauty Bank. In
these several distrirte, the total length of streets and
roads which it is desirable to drain is b 275 yards, and the
total number of houses situated !herein is 799. With
regard to those uudrained distric'e, a reference to the
plan before you will indicate the .•atlines of some general
scheme for the thorough drainse, of Cie town. It may
be shortly described as follown • wee from the Heath,
across Pargeter.ntreet and Hill-st• cot, to the town newer.
Thie will effectualle drain that part of the township.
This is marked on the plan as O.N. Another sewer
marked KG. fri m 10118111114 hernia Brook-street mid
Bowling Green I ace to Beauty Itiehl you'd furnish the
means for draining shot district. •• the exception of
those parts near the Washing • Here, however,
another sewer meted P. 0., ale, • s sty Bank, falling
towards Summer dreet and Et • ,t, eet, would meet
the want, of that Ist. set. I tb: would be necessary
so as to thurougl v drain the t.,,g Mill, to eouistruct a
sewer from that part and bring it across the limser-road
along the Washing Pool Meadow, and join the main
°titian near the river Stour, as indicated on the map.
This sewer is marked P.A. Bouchall caa be readily
drained by sewers down the streets of that locality, ter-
minating at the Stone, or joining the main outfall sewer
hereinafter proposed to be ceeetructed along the valley
of the Stour. Those principal sewers laid down !dialler
places may be readily constructed therewith by means of
id-inch socket pipes.
Au important question arises,—what is to be done with
the sewagewhen thusearried away. At present it drains into
the Stour, and it may be queetiuned wheiher on econo-
mical, as well as sanitary grounds, such should continue
to bathe case. Taking the population of the township
at the lowest calculation 9,200, and the value of the sew-
age according to recent calculations at be tee ton per
head of the population, the grime, value of the town sew-
age may be set down per annum at £3,080. Hiving
regard therefor, to the possibility at some not distast
polo& that the sewage must be diverted from the river,
I have ventured to mark on the map an outfall sewer
commencing at Bagley'a Mill, and exteuding along the
valley of the Stour, for the purpose of showing how the
various drains may be brought into one outfall, and the
sewage dealt with as may be thought most expedient.
This 0011511 flower is marked A.E.
There are three schemes vie., the chemical processes, •
which are of two kinds—one which professes to purify
the sewage by using lime as a chief constitutnt. The
other known as the A.B.C. process, which professes at •
cost of 30s per ton to produce manure worth £1 per ton.
Filtration (or downward filtration). This has been tried
but it is urged that the nuisance arising from bad smells
prevents its being relied upon as sufficient for the purifi-
cation of town SI,WIRIL Were an agent such as charcoal
used, probably the evil complained of would be
removed.
krigation.—This hoe an advantage probably over all
other., and so far as your town is concerned it may be
accomplished by carrying the ...mute down the valley of
the Stour thaough Wollaston, and using a on the land
to be found in that direction. Considering the population
of the town. about 180 acres of land would be required
for that purpose.
In say opinion the total coot of these new sewers and
others along the streets and road, not drained would be
£1.034 168. This its exclusive of e main sewer beyond
the township and the cost of irrigation. The work, how-
ever :au be done in sections, and I would advise that the
Heath, Longlands, and Beauty Bank districts should Le
first atteuded to.

Mr. IVlaginnis then remarked that the question
was a very important one, especially when they
considered that 799 houses were without means
of drainage. The scheme in its entirety could
not be carried out at present ; but he thought
whatever was done should be so carried out that
it would not interfere when the whole town was
drained. He thought the matter should be left
for the Improvement Committee, and for them
to report upon it at the earliest opportunity.
Mr. Edwards suggested that the matter should
be deferred sine die.
Mr. McEwen seconded the resolution.
Some discussion here ensued, and the resolu-
tion was withdrawn, and the following substite-
ted:—" That the report be received, and that
the question be referred to the Improvement
Committee to report upon such portion of the
recommendation that they think desirable to be
carried out."—Carried unanimously.
The Clerk then read the report of the Gas
Committee, as follows :