The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-22 00:00:00

NORTHERN DILUNAGI.

The high level sewer on the north side commences at
Gospel Oak-fields, near the foot of the Hampstead hills,
and proceeds in an easterly direction, passing under the
North London Railway near Gordon House-lane, the Great
Northern Railway at Holloway, sod Sir George Duckett's
Canal near Victoria-park, to the River Lea at Old Ford.
The total length of the sewer is about 8 miles, the size a
4 ft. barrel at the upper end, terminating in a sewer 9 ft.
6 in. high, and 12 ft. wide, with a fall varying from 74 ft.
to 4 ft. per mile. Connected with the execution of these
works et their outlet was the construction of the double
storm outlet channel, a part of the northern outfall sewer
from the River Lea to the divergence of the high and mid-
dle level sewers, the double overflow channel, for relieving
the high and middle level sewers when overcharged, and the
formation of a retaining wall along the western boundary of
the River Lee. The engineer's estimate wee 179dX46/., and
the contract was taken at 152,430/. The whole of this work
bias been completed, and it now in operation. The middle
level sewer on the north commences at the Counter's
Creek sewer, user the Great Western Railway at Kensal-
green, and passes southward towards, and then eastward
along, the Uxbridge-road, Oxford-street, Hart-street
(Bloomsbury), Old-street (Bethnal-green), and Old Font-
road, to its point of junction with the high level sewer at
Old Ford. Its length will be about 124 miles, including the
branches, and will vary in rise from 4 ft. high by 2 ft. 8 in.
wide, to 9 ft. bin. high, by 12 ft. wide at the outfall. the
fall varying between 25 ft. and 2 ft. per mile. Half the
work will have to be executed by tunnelling, and for nearly
two mileswill pass under houses sad other private property.
The works were originally let by public tender in the month
of February, 1860, for the sum of 264,533/., the engineer's
estimate being 280,000/. The contractor, after having com-
pleted works to the extent of about 12.4511., failed, and
the board, acting under competent advice, again submitted
the works to public competition, and a contract was subse-
quently taken for the sum of 329,8001. The value of the
works executed up to the date of the last report was
39.000 f., and to the 30th June last 145,0001. The low level
sewer on the north side will commence at a junction with
the Raoslagh sewer at Chelsea, and will proceed in an
easterly direction to the Victoria-street sewer. The execu-
tion of this part of the main drainage scheme has been de-
layed until the question of the Thames embankment should
be settled, and as parliament has now confided to this
board the execution of that extensive and important
work, the sewer will be continued within the embankment
from Whitehall to Blackfriars-bridge, and thus avoid any
interference with the Strand, Fleet-street, lee. It will then
proceed eastward towards, and pass near the Bleckwall Rail-
way at Towel-41in, and under it at Stepney, and under the
Regent's Canal at Limehouse, the Dock Railway, and the
River Lea at Bromley, to Abbey Mills, in the Essex
Marshes, where its contents will be raised by steam power
into the outfall sewer. At the lower end, this sewer will
be about 9 ft. in diameter, and at the upper extremity
probably 4 ft. by '2 ft. 8 in., with a fall varying from
4 ft. to 2 ft. per mile. As already intimated, this
work has not- yet been contracted for but
will, in connexion with the Thames Embankment,
receive the immediate consideration of the board. Another
important work on the north side of the river is that desig-
grated the Acton branch of the western sewers. This work
extends from Notting-dale westward along the Uxbridge.
road to Acton-bottom. Its entire leegth is 7,350 ft., and it
varies in size from 4 ft. by 2ft. Bin. to 3 ft. 9in. by 2 ft.
the average depth being about 15ft. from the surface of
the ground, and the fall 4 ft. per mile. The engineer's esti-
mate for the work was 8,500!., and the contract was taken
at 8,8504 The whole of this work has been completed
at a cost of 9,820/., and the sewer is in operation.
In connection with the drainage of the western mea, certain
lengths of sewers, making in the aggregate 44 miles, and
varying in size from aft. 9in. by 2ft. Gin. to a 41t.
barrel, will have to be constructed. These winks will com-
prise two Ikea of sewers, one of which will commence near
the river Thames at Fulham, and terminate near Chiswick,
and the other will proceed from the King's road Dear Sand's
Eod-lane to Fulham-bridge. The engineer's estimate for
this work is 57,000/., and the contract has just been let at
46,644/. ; and the work will be proceeded with at oboe.
[Since the date of the report, the contractors having
withdrawn their tender, the board have felt it
necessary again to submit the work to public competition.)
It bee also been proposed to form a covered reservoir, and
deodorise the sewage of the western area at Fulhaturields,
near the Kensington-canal, but in consequeuce of a nume-
rously signed memorial having been presented, urging the
board not to adopt that course in consequence of anticipated
nuisance, the board have referred the subject to a com-
mittee, who are now carefully considering the important
matters involved in the reference. Another extensive work
on the north side is that known as the Banelagh overflow
sewer. This work is in connexion with the middle level
sewer, and will form a storm overflow at its point of junction
with the Ranelagh sewer at Knightsbridge ; it will also divert
from the Serpentine the overflow sewage and drainage which at
times pollute that ornamental piece of water. The sewer
commences at Uxbridge-road, sod passes though Kensing-
ton-gardens and Hyde-park, terminating at Knightsbridge ;
it is about 5,700 ft. in length, and the size varies from
8 ft. 6 in. to a 9 ft. barrel, the depth being from 11 to 44 ft.
below the surface, with a fall of about 12i ft. per mile.
The engineer's estimate for this work was 24,6401., and the
contract was let for 23,500/.; the out of the work executed
up to the end of June, last year, was 15,500 f., and the work
has been since completed, at a total art of about mow.
By far the most extensive work yet let is that is connexion
with the northern outfall sewer. This work comprises
'about 54 miles of double and triple sewer, making in the
whole about 143 miles of 9ft. by 9 ft., extending from the
River Lea, near Old Ford, to Barking-creek. The engineer's
estimate was 635,000/.. and the contract let for 625,0001
The work done, as stated in last year's report, amounted to
39,0001., and the value of the work executed up to 30th June
last was 320,000 f. The whole length of this sewer will be
formed in au embankment of earth and concrete, varying
in depth from 2ft. to 27 ft. The River Lea and six other
streams will be crossed by means of iron tubes supported by
iron girders. The sewer will also pass under one,
and over two lines of railway. The sewage will be de-
livered into the Thames, during the first two and a half
hours of ebb tide, at Barking-creek, about 12 miles below
London-bridge, from which point it will be carried many
miles lower down the river before the return of the rho,'
tide. The works for the Northern drainage, to which the
board have yet to direct their attention, are—reservoirs and
works at the Barking outlet, the pumping station and
engines at Abbey-mills, and the further works for the west-
ern area.