The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-31 00:00:00

seven separate bodies—who exercised their large powei's in
a somewhat irresponsible manner. Some of them were com-
plained of as expansive anti iaeffhient in the management of
the funds, whilst others were spoken of in terra' of com-
mendation. As soon as an order in council, directing a
district to be brought under the provisions of the act, should
be issued, these commissions would be superseded, and the
rate-pa en would be empowered to elect their representa-
tives fur aanitory purposes, the crown having the power
of adding a number not to exceed one-third. Ile believed it
would be found essential to the successful working of the
scheme, that isogon as the act came into operation within
any prescribed locality, all conflicting jurisdictions should
cease, and therefore he proposed to take a power that the
crown should, by order in council, extinguish any local hody
of trustees exiAing fur similar purposes. No point had been
more stronaly ured in all the recommendations on this
subject than the necessity of getting rid of all conflicting
powers. He might read on this head the following Mort
extracts from the second report of the commissioners for
inquiry into the health of towns :
" For three resew we recommend that Ike meeeginnamt of the
drainer nth, entire area, as doing for essinlishist, hyphen aim
thejuradiction dam_ body. We thereibre sesennead hat he Wee
struction chewers, human seloses, ion leen dui sbe enowoled to
the local administrates* beity. Wog Ile whole din bah* and We
constrootioo of the =rhea et mil shwels, eon% ont allePle=
ender the ni nagenen d Ws ism wattaceity as the
and that the limbo at helium he both wbss.
ever practicable, be es,. e. Mot the pewaaer ha heal sass,
noting the rest is nd dint, oink ant MPS refine d the bed ed.
in!ntstrotive body he as pre* god tUt tho denies et mil
privies ad compoolost pryer Om, awl dam awls be exclave,*
entrusted to it. Whit he view et assarbags selimiemt supply mod
proper distribution ef woke he oft ohms, we recommend that It be
rendered ireenentive en an pal administrative holy, ehargot with
the maragemeet of the 111111Melamd draiaage, to procure a
ei water ta odielent unalgiles, not rely for &mettle *antis ?die
inh ibitast& bat olio gw eisessimg the street& scouring the 'swan
and drains, and the exthistios et are. For thin purpose we mom-
moat ;hat the said body hen power to contract with computer, or I
other parties, or maks othsr mensiary arrangements."
It was right to say that japt and proper compensation would ;
be given to all existing officers. He knew that great opposi-
tion woand be manifested by the existing bodies ; but the
government having decided so to the best local body to which
the powers of the bill could be entrusted, they ought to die-
regard all opposition. He hoped the importance of the
duties entrusted to tho town councils would call forth talent
sufficisat for their proper performance ; bat even if thisshonid
not be the case, he believed they would derive some of their
best checks and control from some of the provisions of the bill.
In reference to this part of the subject. he would read some
extracts from the report of which he had so frequently
• spoken. The report says :
That the interests of the community should be protected by the
supervision eta competent, impartial, and responsibie public afcer
named an inspector. That before new works are undertaken, full and
eampreheneive surveys ehooM be made by competent memos.
That, plans of complete works should be prepared by responeiblepublie
officers, locally examined by them with the eetimates. That excesti-
they reports should be drawn up for local publication, in order that
the advantages of new works may be thoroughly cincture& by all par.
tug interested in them. That the whole of the works should be main-
tained as well as executed by contract. That the performanee of the
eontract shotid be supervised by a competent, and remonslble
local Wither ; and that the true cause. of di'n'e a death should be
ascertained, and the spread of diseases, more especially epidemic
diseases, should be ehockei, by the appointment in thstricte of askilksi
and respousitde medic officer, called en officer of health.
They intended, therefore, to make provision for the ap-
pointment of an inspector, whose duty it would be to irmti-
tate preliminary inquiries, and when that was done, and a
local body constituted, it would be his duty to visit the towns
and districts where he was required, to sec what was
going on, to examine or prepare plans and surveys, and to
make reports to the central body. Besides this inspector,
who would probably be an engineer of some eminence, it
was proposed to appoint a medical inspector who would have
to visit the district in lain charge. They thought it better
that the medical inspector should not be connected with the
town, sad thtt be should be disengaged from any local inte-
rest that might be brought to bear upon him. The town
council or town commissioners would have the appointment
of the local surveyor, but he was to be approved of by the
central board. His duty would be to superintend the
drainage and contract works authorised by the act. Betides
which the town council, or town commissioners, were em-
powered to appoint so inspector of nuisances, for the purpose
of Providing for the summary removal of those nuisances,
which so much affected the public health. Provisions would
be incorporated in the bill, to prevent the nuisance of smoke,
and to provide that in any buildings intended to hold great
numbers of persons, ventilation should be properly attended
to. Provision would elan be made to enable the commis.
'loners to light towns and cities, and to make contracts with
gas companies for this purpose. With respect to tho im-
portant subject of having a sufficient supply of water, he
would observe that it was indispensable to proper drainage,
and that drainage, without a sufficient supply of water to
carry off the matter and relate, only tended to propagate and
increase the evils it was intended to remedy. The nse of
tubular sewers, with an ample apply of water, was necessary
for an efficient artem of drainage. It would be acknow-
ledged that the supply of water in large towns, in-
cluding the districts of the metropolis, was both too scanty
and too expensive. There was a great accumulation of evi-
dence and argument, to show how much preferable was a
conetant supply of water to an intermittent supply :
lie found it anis stated by Mr. Toynbee, that "the water is gene-
rally laid en in the mil, and a supply gine throe times a
week, and, at each time the water dames on, the elm of dust and
Mack, that has been deposited on the surface is mixed usi4with. the
previntia accumulation.. The • awe water is used for m bread
by a biker who supplies a great number of the poor." Dr. mid,
that "the water retained la the rooms of the poor for domestic per-
posies soon become* covered with black scum, and there is generally a
filthy eiocumulation on the surface of the water-butts. The fatigue of
fetching a proper supply, which ought to be forty-fire gallons • day
tar a egtage, Is most wearing." Mr. liawkeeley stated, that "ft is
perfectly well known to those acquainted with the feelings and habits
of I .bowers, they regard ft con intolerable DULOZICC °albeit return
a dke...noe out of doors, in cold or in we in frost or in mow."
It scented, then, that they had not advanced much siace the
days of Andromache, fated . .

„to b!ing

14e. ireig!it a ...ter from

rower would be ioiioeweno asks sea-
tracts with mime oemlinsint; end, if nesseseiry, to mat
*sin to esil task water worth, securing te the
full rate of their dividends. There was a provisisse=laakin.g
the supply of water co-extensive with the &stoop, without
which all their other attempts for improviugt die routitery
eondition of the people would be thrown away. la ems of
soy permanent works, where any unusual expealitanwestld
be incurred, power would be given to borrow aseney,. the
principal and interest of which would be levied by a series of
not from the owner, but the occupier, who
to be benefitted. And in this way they
the chief obstacle to the Improvement of
the opposition of thy swum of propert) o

easy instalment', I
wu the person i
remove
• .