The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-07-30 00:00:00

tr* 3toarbrille OTaseriler.

SITURDAY, JULY 30th, 1881.

WATER SUPPLY.

To say that water is one of the chief neces-
slries of life is but to make a statement which
from time immemorial has passed into a proverb.
The farther civilization has advanced, and the

more thevAlue of sanitary science has been recog-
nised, the greater the attention paid to furnish-
ing our large towns with a pure and ample
supply of water. The largest cities in the king-
dom affords examples of splendid enterprise in
this direction. The water delivered in Glasgow
comes from Loch Katrine ; while only within

the past few weeks, pictures in the illustrated
papers have shown us that Liverpool has gone
to the mountains of Wales for a
_necessary

quantity of this precious fluid. London draws
its water from several sources, principally the
Thames and the Lea, while the New River,
made so long ago by Sir Hugh Middleton, comes
all the way from Hertfordshire, a course of eight
and twenty miles, before it threads its way
through the crowded districts in the northern

side of the metropolis.
There can be no question that a prolongation
of the drought which has marked the present
summer would have disastrous consequences.
There is an old saying that "drought never
bred dearth in England ;" but at this time of
day we are not inclined to attribute to old say-
ings that degree of profound wisdom which was
attached to them by our forefathere. For in-
stance, nothing could be more fal'acious than
the ancient proverb that "a green yule makes a
fat churchyard." The idea that a mild Christ-
mas sends people prematurely to the grave is
shown by experience to have no foundation
whatever. The ticts sr, indeed, jast the re-
verse. It is when the bitter winds sweep down
upon the land, and vitality is lowered. that aged
people and little children are carried off, and not
when the soft south-westerly breezes are borne
towards us from the sea. So with regard to the
dictum already quoted as to drought never
breeding dearth in this country. However
applicable it might have been when it was first
laid down, it is altogether obsolete now. When
the rains which foil were allowed to remain in
the ground, a protracted period of dry weather
did no great barm because the soil had a reserve
of moisture on which to draw. The system of
arterial drainage has, however, revolutionised
the former method of agriculture, and the re-
moval of the water from the land is now rapidly
effected. Hence there is no reserve, end a pro-
longed spell of dry weather might therefore be
very calamitous. Besides, whether drought
tends to dearth or not, if it led to pestilence
there would not be very much to choose between
the two alternatives.
At one time during the late fierce heats,
through an accident to a water main, a portion
of London seemed threatened with the incon-
venience which would arise from a scarcity of
water. At this season of the year, such an event
would be of serious consequence to many of the
inhabitants of the metropolis, for here is a popu-
lation of nearly four millions, totally dependen!
on the smooth working of Nature's lawe for its
supply of one of the foremost essentials of life.
Fortunately there are at present no symptoms
of any epidemic, and the recent outbreak of
small-pox has much diminished in it severity.
Upon the whole it would seem as if London had
suffered less from the heat than has Paris, where
water could hardly be obtained, and where cases
of sunstroke have been more than usually numer-
ous. Although there is little reason to fear any
intermission of the daily supply of water in Lon-
don, yet the incident just referred to serves as a
reminder of the sltnder thread of safety upon
which great cities depend for their water and
gas supply. What has happened in London
might occur in any town in the kingdom. A
casualty to a main cuts off the water or plunges
a considerable section of the people in darkness.
Gas and water companies take every care to
prevent these catastrophes; but experieuce has
shown that such will happen, and it is not easy
to point out a remedy. Duplicate supplies of
gas and water pipes over such a wide area as the
Metropolis are, of ceurse, impracticable, but
arrangements are possible by which one company
is able to help another in case of such accidents
occurring, by having connecting points between
the mains of the various companies, In these
days of engineering wonsers it ought not to be
beyond the power of science to defign some plan
by means of which it would be all but impossibl:
for the bursting of one main to cause so serious a
disturbance of the water supply as that which
lately occurred in London. The incident is one
which is not of merely local interest. The vas;
.population of London is connected by ties of
relationship and friendship with the whole of
the kingdom, and its safety is that of the
'country generally. Even were this not so, thi
chance of a water or a gas pipe bursting is one
which might befal any of our great towns, and
with more serious consequences than those
which have now been reported.

THE IRON TRADE.
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.
A moderate number of merchants and manu-
facturers were on 'Change this afternoon, and
the business tone was tolerably cheerful. Many
of the finished-iron people have a great deal of
work on their books, some of which has been
taken at higher prices than ruled before the
quarterly meetings. The prospects of the future
are generally regarded as very hopeful, and cer-
tain makers incline to the idea that much better
prices will be reached before October. Marked
bars are very firm at the list quotations, whilt.
none of the unmarked people will accept their
prices of a month ago. This week's contracts
for common bars arc all worth from 2s ed to 3a
a ton more than those signed in June, and the
enhanced value of galvanisers' sheets is full)
sustained. Hoops and angles are in steady re-
quest, and there is a great deal of buying going
on among the strip manufacturers. Girder
plates are in better inquiry among the construc-
tive people, owing to the receipt of some good
orders. Galvanised sheets are selling well, both
for export and home supply; many of the agri-
culturists are ordering it for rick covers. Boiier
plates are in very slow demand at late rates.
The heavy irenfounders are doing a great deal
more in mill and forge work, chilled rill orders
being sent in without looking after. Tha pig
makers are in better spirits; some of them have
a number of valuable contracts under execution,
!Which will take a large proportion of their next
two months' make. All-mine iron is quotably
strong, and a number of the part-mine makers
will not sell heavy parcels without getting an
extra 2s 61. Northatupton forge and Derbyshire
foundry pigs are in very fair demand, and sellers
of hematites decline forward contracts. Iron-
stone is in better demand, as smelters' stocks
are small, and there is more doing in manufae.
tnring fuel, but prices remain unimproved. The
earning of a 7 per cent. dividend by the Sand.
well Colliery Company is regarded a fortunate
circumstance for the shareholders, while so
many coaltnasters are getting nothing on their
output.

ADVICE TO MOTFIERBI—Are you broken in your
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little cherub awakes "as bright as a button." It
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pain relieves wind, regulates the Lowels, and is the
best' known remedy for dysentery and diarrhcea,
Whether arising from teething or other causes. • Mrs.
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apaywkers as is. lid. per bottle.

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skiii. I.w.kyei's is equal to the most expensive is
the h.. t f r tept,rin.z o,rey hair to its former colour.
Pr do-es p, if et:y natural shade. Valuable for d,,s.
tr ping scurf en .4 .7; •,-zing growth of TJCY? hair.
Iphar being iilmuiy pied for its stimulant, cleansing
h. •itlanl action on the hair glands, Lockyer's Restorer
is str n.y ecomruendrd. It is most agreeable in use,
and rer,r fells in its action. No other hair dressing is
3.l,43u:site. Large Bottles, Is 6d. Sold by Chemists,
Hairdressers, and Perfumer everywhere.
" ger PROLINE Lortori."—An external Means of
CUR NG DISEASKS. There is sesrcely any
e,upti lie wi.i iii to" Sulpholins" in a few days,
awl ceosnun e t.; fa le away, even if it seems past cure.
ordatary pimpU,s. rcdne:s, blotches, scarf, roughness,
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ever deeply rowed they may be, " Sulpholine" will
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cans. these unsightly, irritable, painful affections
7;_ a procinc,s a clear, healthy, natural condition
of he skin. " Sulpholine" Lotion is sold by mu.t
Clangists.
Bottles, 2.