The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-19 00:00:00

DAY.
c!. E.,. POO MOl\
TH7j,,„ NORTHERN

add taxation to the price of the commodity on

set of mains would cost, probably, 'about 50,000/. ;
but before any additional expense is incurred, let
the quantity forthcoming be well tested. If the
supply can be had, the consumption will be ample
to relieve the non manufacturing inhabitants of
their present Pike water rate; but to think of
supplying it for table or culinary use, is quite out
of the question. Advertisements have already
appeared, recommending those who wish to escape
poisoning by the Pike water, to go over to Birken-
head to reside, and the instant the true qualities
of this "poisonous liquid" are found out, the
owners of property will be compelled to sink .-Wells
at great cost, to keep tenants in their houses. The
Pikeist may boast of their triumph, and endeavour
to lead a credulous public to believe that they
have it all their own way, but they seem to forget
that they are tampering with one of the most
important necessaries of life, and that there can
be no such thing as an end to the agitation they
have created.

which he employs labour. Hence, it will be
observed that, if the London Times, in all the full-
ness of its craft, could shew us that the realised
property of the three kingdoms would be able to
bear the entire expenses of the Exchequer, by
paying a 10 or 15 per cent. tax, there would still
remain a grave question of expediency for the
nation to consider. Property, whether it consists
of land, houses, ships, railways, merchandise, or
money in the bank or funds, is the capital on which
the labour market has to depend, and it would be
just as much injury to the working man to see that,
capital lavishly expended on non-productive ob-
jects, as it would be to take the same amount from.
his daily wages. The mere shifting, then, of the
burthen of taxation from one shoulder to the other
will not meet the financial difficulties of the times.

The popularity which direct taxation enjoys at
present arises from the desire felt by the capitalists
and mercantile men to extend the field of employ-
ment, and to open up more remunerative channels
of employment for money and time. They find
they cannot ask to have one single item in the
tariff reduced until they have first made a certain
provision for revenue. Retrenchment is a word
scarcely thought of in a comprehensive sense. The
PALMERSTON Cabinet have became the leading
patrons of increased local taxation, and the existing
House of Commons will grant any amount of
supplies asked for ; but there is a financial crisis at
handles we see indicated by the Income Tax agile_
tion, which may teach both the value of a little
more discretion. The falling off in the supplies of
almost every staple commodity we import will
urge forward the discussion of Free Trade.
Another season or two of deficiencies will
leave us in a very awkward plight. Further reduc.
tions in the tariff must be resorted to, and how
shall we be able then to enforce direct taxation on
all classes when the prices of the chief necessaries
of life have risen to a still higher level than they
have reached within the last two years ? No low
gold standard of value or Bank screw can prevent
these things coming to pass. They may, on the
contrary, precipitate them by depressing prices
below the lowest margin of remuneration, and by
detering merchants from sending out orders, in
due season, to supply our growing wants; and
until we see some measures adopted which shall
enable the producers to add taxation to price, we
should be sorry to see direct taxation extended to
the whole community.
The mere political advantage which such a
change would produce is not to be weighed for one
instant against the social consequences it would
lead to. It would give the people a direct con-
troling influence over their rulers ; but it would
throw the dead weight of taxation on the multitude
without giving them the means of supporting it:
which would be most suicidal, and rather than
advocate such a course, we would advise the
Financial Reformers to consider well the evils which
lie at the bottom of the question of taxation. Let
them look carefully to the operation of taxation on
production and prices generally, commencing with
the daily wages of labour, and ending with the
floating capital and immoveable wealth of the
nation. The present compound system of indirect
and direct taxation is eating up both ends of the
empire's means, and unless they look sharply to
the real want of supply—the money means we are
allowed wherewith to pay taxes—they may expect
to find the two extremes of society protesting
with equal vehemence against an injustice which
will be too palpable to bo endured. The Financial
Reformers, to cope with the London Times, must,
in fact, call the Currency Reformers to their aid.
and not continue to lend the Bullionist indirect
help, for which nobody thanks them. The
Government want more money, and so does trade,
commerce, and industry, and until our rulers can
supply this want, they must expect to be overtaken
by financial, panics periodically, just as we are iu
the corn, cotton, and discount markets. Our
monetary basis is too circumscribed to give -us
what we all seek, and if it is not enlarged in time,
and in perfect good temper, it will enlarge itself
after a fiscal year or so more, such as the last two
we have witnessed.

The gentlemen who talk so fluently about the
injury done to individuals by draining their wells,
also forget that the supply taken from their pumps
is to be found in their pipes, and that the Cor.,
poration's wells only share with the public the
wholesome beverage which was previously
monopolised by the rich. It is found in our street
fountains, and in the poor man's cottage, and if it
is to be restored to the few who formerly enjoyed
it, and the Pike's " polluted liquid" supplied in its
place, the sooner our street fountains, at all events,
are stopped the better. Still we do not apprehend
that the obstinacy of the Water Committee, and
their majority in the Council, will be suffered to
bring such evils on the community. There are
movements on foot which must make some
impression upon them, or the higher authorities of
the country. Corruption and inflexible contempt
for popular opinion have overthrown dynasties,
churches, and all the organisations of party, but
such things cannot take place in these days. The
men who have truth on their side, be they ever
so few in number, must prevail, and where
they ask for nothing 010U1 than protection for
the public health, they cannot be scattered by the
vapouring of jobbers, nor vanquished by faction.
Every day's experience of the character of the Pike
water will add force to all that has been written
and spoken in opposition to its use for domestic
purposes. If our wells are thrown out of work,
and a few cases of lead poisoning occur, what is to
become of Liverpool? If diarrhoea should increase
or cholera revisit us as the season advances, who
will answer for the consequences, after the people
have been told on chemical authority that the Pike
water contains the seeds of both?

Should either of these frightful events take place
between this and next November, those gentlemen
who voted so cheerfully with the majority must be
aware of the execration which will await them at
the municipal hustings, and we would strongly
recommend our cotemporaries to say as little as
possible about victories until they see the upshot
of the next corporate elections. The Pike job did
its work in Lime street last November, and it
will do wonders in Liverpool before this year
expires. If the Burgesses should find that nothing
but a majority of independent men in the Council
will rid them of the danger in which the public
health has been placed, the number required will be
found. We are by no means ambitious of winning
a victory which " peat" or " heat" may demolish.
We took our stand on well known chemical laws,
and every fact brought to light by the analyses which
have been publ: ;bed, show that there is danger in
introducing the Pike water into our pipes and
cisterns. This danger may not be immediate. It
may not show itself for a few months to come; but
there is the deliterions water, and its effect on the
health of the town must follow. As the chemical
investigation now stands, it is purely a question of
time as to when and how the evils so generally
apprehended are to develope themselves. We are,
according to the official statement, receiving 'only
three-sevenths (Query one-seventh) of the Riving-
ton water just now,and it is rather early to crow over
a triumph surrounded by so many startling ambigui-
ties. We have been given to understand, however,
that this week will not be allowed to pass over
without some demonstration on the part of the
Ratepayers and inhabitants generally, which will
preve to the Pikeists, in and out of the Council,
that whatever else they may think proper to do
with their " polluted liquid," they must not think of
forcing it down the throats of the public.

THE sapient oracles, who would have their
readers and hearers believe that the opponents of
the Pike water poisoning have experienced a signal
defeat, must be surprised to find when they go
abroad, that nothing else is talked about. It is
the only topic which commands a patient hearing
out of doors, and some of the leading members of
the Water Committee have been heard to question
the propriety of continuing the supply. They
dread the consequences in the cholera months of
July, August, and September. Should any serious
mortality occur at those periods it will be attributed
to drinking the Pike water, and the public peace
will be placed in jeopardy; and such risks ought
not to be run merely to give eclat to a corporate
job. The Council have not satisfied the inhabi-
tants that the water for which they are to pay is
fit for domestic use. The statements made by the
Liverpool Mail of Saturday last, with regard to the
quality of this water, are wholly untenable, as Dr.
LYON PLAYFAIR, whose name has been mentioned
as one of the eminent chemists who is in favour
of the Rivington water, confirms the opinion
given by Dr. MCrSPRATT, an equally distinguished
chemist, and one who has for many years enjoyed
a European reputation. " Organic matter," says
Dr. PLAYFAIR, "is never to be desired in water;
" the principal evil is that it acts upon the
" sulphates, usually contained in water, produe-
" ing suiphurated hydrogen." This is what will
take place w.th the Pike water, and especially if
it be mixed with the water from the red sand-
stone; for then the mixture will contain, in large
quantities, the sulphates so much feared by Dr.
PLAYFAIR.

LIVERPOOL versus LONDON.—Recent advices from
Melbourne give us some information confirmatory
of the opinion that we have often expressed as to
the superiority of the Liverpool Australian clippers
over those sailing from London. By the accounts
alluded to, we learn the Ocean Chief, Captain
Tobin, which sailed from Liverpool on the sth
August, arrived at Melbourne on the 19th of Oct.,
after a rapid passage of 74 days. The Blackwall,
belonging, to Green's London line, which sailed
from London on the 3rd of July, and Plymouth
on the 11th of July, did not arrive at Melbourne
until the 18th of October. The passage from
London took 106 days, and from Plymouth 98 days,
leaving a balance of no less than 24 days in favour
of. Messrs. Baines & Co.'s vessel, the Ocean Chief.
This is not the first, second, or third time in which
the Black Ball line of Australian clippers have
signally eclipsed the performances of their metro-
politan competitors, and proved themselves among
the fastest sailing ships in the universe.

THE RIVINGTON WATER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—The organic matter is nearly wholly in a
state of chemical solution in the Pike water; hence
the injurious ingredients of the Rivington supply
cannot be removed by filtration ever so perfect.
Professor Way, of the Royal Agricultural Society
of England, confirms Dr. Muspratt and the other
chemists with regard to the hurtful effects of
organic matter. In his evidence on the Bagshot
water, he says, " I have before stated my belief
that rain water collected in a pure atmosphere,
and on surfaces uncontaminated with decaying
animal or vegetable matter, or with soot, ,t c., is the
most perfect form of water. It is, in fact, the
nearest approach to distilled water, but having the
advantage over artificially distilled water of being
well aerated, and therefore agreeable to drink. The
Btigshot water possesses all the advantages of soft
water; it ontaics but little carbonic acid, alkaline
or earthy carbonates ; it is almost free from organic
matter, an(l AS the little it does contain is of a
harmless description, capable of separation byfiltration,
not the slightest cause of apprehension would exist
of the production of disease from its use." Organic
matter dissolved in water is highly injurious, and all
chemists and medical men of any note, denounce
any water for dietetic purposes, containing it.
A—*

We have, moreover, seen a letter from a
celebrated medical man and chemist, addressed
to Dr. MusPaArr, concurring in all he has said in
his report on the Rivington supply; but we have
something more than mere opinions to rely upon
in support of the opposition raised against its use
for domestic purposes. On Saturday we wero
credibiy informed that one of our Liverpool
brewers had lost a large brewing owing to the
impurity of the Pike water, and that he talked of
sueing the Corporation for damages ! What a
hopeful beginning ! Who is to pay the
piper? The Committee are not, unfortu-
nately, individually liable for the mischief
they do in their Corporate capacity. The
Ratepayers are responsible from first to last. The
Pike water will do very well, however, for steam
and other manufacturing purposes, and since we
have paid for it, let us have it, by all means, if the
Water Committee's engineers can really bring it
to us according to contract, to save our sparkling
and wholesome well water. Laying down a second

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—There is nothing perhaps which enters more
into the local healthiness or unhealthiness of every
place than its water. The spring may be pure and

t
healthful, or otherwise—whatever it be results
I follow on animal life just as effect follows its

cause.
Many years of experience show the T iverpool
sand stone water contains no quality injurious t
animal life, whilst compliments have always been
paid it by strangers for its clear and palatable, and
refreshing qualities.
Why should any change be made in that so
approved of so long, as a supply can be obtained ?
The supply is adequate to the demand of the
town, at least for domestic purposes—let the
Rivington lake water stand as a reserve—keep our
houses and our health as we were It the Town
Council will not seek any advice on the subject of
Rivington water, let the people of Liverpool
demand of the Board of Health an investigation of
its qualities, and should any unfavourable report
be made, there will be ground enough to have the
matter brought to some different conclusion than
arrived at in our Town Council. If the Board of
Health has power to condemn meat, flour,
provisions, Sze. as unfit for human food, so .they
can of water which is as much a matter concerning
the health of the people, as any of the articles
above ennumerated. Hoping you will press this
matter.—l am, sir. yours, Sza W. E.
Liverpool, 17th January, 1857.