The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-13 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Town Council was held
at eleven o'clock yesterday, in the Town hall. The
Mayor, FRANCIS SHAND, Esq., presided.
OBSERVATORY COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this committee were read.
Mr. Tyrer, in moving their adoption, mentioned that
frequent complaints were made of the irregularity of
the Town hall clock, and, as the magnetic telegraph
company had now brought their wires up to the magnetic
clock at the Exchange, the committee had arranged to
take advantage of the wires, for the regulation of their
clock. This could be done for about £6O, while the
committee would otherwise have to purchase a new clock
at a cost of about £3OO. The minutes were confirmed.

THE WATER COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this committee were read.
Mr. Alderman Cooper rose to move the confirmation
of the minutes. He said—Mr. Mayor, in rising to move
the confirmation of the proceedings of the water com-
mittee, I have, in the first place, to congratulate the
council that, upon making up our accounts for the past
year, our income has now been found to reach the
enormous sum of £78,000 per annum, being an increase
upon the last year to the amount of £3,000. (Hear.)
We have, sir, in addition to that, paid the interest upon
the money borrowed upon the existing works, and also
paid the interest upon the money expended upon
tho Rivington works. We have invested a sum of
£lO,OOO to £ll,OOO, for the redemption of
Green lane,in consols, and there is a halanceconsiderably
in our favour. Therefore, I think the council have great
reason to congratulate themselves so far as the existing
works go, that they really, under all the circumstances,
have performed wonders. (Hear, hear.) I now come
to another matter. We have now introduced the water
from Rivington into the town, and I shall endeavour to
explain to the council how the water come to be deli-
vered at an earlier period than was expected. There are
several reasons why I should be more explanatory upon
this subject than upon a former occasion. Among these
reasons, one is the reports which have gone forth through
the public press, and the attacks which have been made
upon the water committee and upon the water itself.
(Hear, hear.) It will, therefore, be my duty to lay,
before the council the fullest account I can of the
matter. Sir, on last Thursday week, Mr. Dockwray
announced that the water troai Ri vington was ready for
delivery. Mr. Duncan was ordered to attend there to
receive the water. On Friday the water was passed
through the pipes into the empty reservoir at Kensing-
ton ; and from thence it was intended that the water
should be passed off into the sewers, until the whole
pipes and reservoirs had been satisfactorily cleansed and
scoured, and the water had been ascertained to be per-
fectly fit and ready to be delivered in Liverpool. That
was my intention, and that was the intention of the
committee. But circumstances frequently occur over
which we have no control. Mr. Duncan, unfortunately,
during the week, had one of the small engines break
down. One of the engines broke down at Green lane,
and on Friday morning one of the pipes burst at
Green lane. This caused a further delay, and this was a
further reason why the water could not he in tile state
it ought to be. Early on Saturday morning Mr. Duncan
found the whole of the northern district was without
water. This placed us in a very serious position ; and,
indeed, for the last three weeks, I can distinctly state
that we have been under very serious alarm respecting
the large amount of property under our care, knowing
that, in case of fires breaking out, we actually had not
water to supply the town. (Hear, hear.) Every
Saturday nigh►, for weeks past, the reservoirs have been
drained to the very bottom. We have had no surplus
quantity ready in the reservoirs, while we had arounsl us
a volume of water at any moment if we could only get
it into the reservoirs, and our object was that it shoulei
be in the reservoirs in case of fires, and in case of fires
WR should have made use of it, let the consequences be
what they may. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Duncan found the
northern district totally without water, and the question,
therefore, was, whether a very large proportion, almost
one third, of the population of Liverpool, were to be
doomed, on Saturday and Sunday, to be without water, or
whether we were to apply the water we had. Mr. Duncan
stated that he examined it very carefully, and found it
much superior to what he expected. He only ran it for
about Bor 10 hours down the sewers. Then he did turn
the water on to the northern district; and at 12 o'clock
on Saturday, when the committee sat, he informed the
commiitee that he had done so.

Mr. Godfrey : Did he turn it on full ?
Mr. Cooper : No, sir, it was only two turns ; about
half of Rivington and half of our own water. I requested
Mr. Duncan immediately to make a report of the water
'having been supplied to the town, which I intended
should have been entered on the proceedings. But,
unfortunately, Mr. Duncan was in contemplation of the
ieath of his mother, and he had to go away to Scotland
at one o'clock. He obtained permission of the commit-
tee, and he went to Scotland at one o'clock, without
making the report. The report, however, was made to
the committee subsequently, and is to be found in the
proceedings ()nest Sa'urday. I shall presently call for
that report, and it shall be read to you. Now, sir, I I
have had some little experience regarding the introduc-
tion of this water. I have had experienc3 of the Green
lane water being brought into Aigburth; and, at the
time it was first broughr there, the water was for three
months the colour of clay ; we coald make no use of it.
The water committee had applications from various
parties at Aigburth, that they should be allowed the
water rent for three months, inasmuch as, during
that time, they had been able to make no use
whatever of the water. There happened to be a plug
just beyond my own house, and all the residuum
from Toxteth Park worked itself down into the
end of that plug. I drew the water from the top of the
garden close to the house, and I brought it into the house
to test its qualities. The stench of the water was so in-
tolerable, th tno one could sit in the room with it. It was
so bad, and the stench was so strong, with the residuum
brought down, that we could m die no use of it ;
and even up to the present time, whenever
the plug is not frequently drawn, the water still i 3 in the
same state. Now, if our friend Mr. Jeffery, bad applied to
Mr. Duncan, instead of Dr. Sheridan Muspratt, he would
have had the satisfaction of having the water drawn off in
the lower parts of the town, and satisfactory water produced.
Some of which, I produce here to-day. That is the water
we are now supplying the town with. With regard to the
red sandstone water, there is great reason to believe that
from a mountain district—from reservoirs where there are
no manufactories—for there are no manufactories upon the
reservoirs, although there are upon the goit—they are, at
liast, as likely to have pure and clear water, as in water
(Pawn under a large town like this, where one of the wells
is within a hundred yards of a burial ground, in which
dead bodies are interred to a very large extent—the rock
Cut out and the dead bodies put in.
Mr. Godfrey : Where is that ?
Hr. Tyrer : No, no; do not name it. (Cries of Hear,
hear, and laughter.)
Mr. Cooper: I may mention that the number of com-
plaints made from the let of December, 1856, to the 10th
of January, 1857, there have been 560 complaints of no
water, while of dirty water through the whole town there
have been only 23. Since this water was introduced,. the
number of complaints was only 9—that is to say, little
more than one third of the complaints before that time.
Now, sir, I only ask the council to indulge the committee to
this extent. The public have now a fair opportunity of
taking not the opinion of Doctor This or Doctor That—we
have been doctored quite enough, we have had doctor upon
doctor—but I ask you to-day to allow the inhabitants of
Liverpool to judge for themselves. (Hear, hear.) I am
quite satisfied that, day by day, the water will improve, and
that the inhabitants, if allowed to judge for themselves,
will decide in favour of it. I had some conversation with
one gentleman, using a very large quantity of water of
different kinds, and he stated distinctly to me that the
water was highly satisfactory, and that he found it beneficial
for manufactures ; and, in addition, he stated that he made
use of it for washing, and found it beautifully soft, (Hear,
hear.) I shall now ask the Town Clerk to read Dr. Tay-
lor's analysis.
Mr. Godfrey : Give us the date.
Mr. Cooper : It was received this morning.
Mr. Robertson thought it very improper to interrupt by
asking questions. (Hear, hear.) When Mr. Cooper had
concluded, gentlemen could then make any observations
they thought fit. (Hear, 'bear.)
The Town Clerk stated that three samples of the water
had been submitted to Dr. Taylor; one sample taken out
of the reservoir at Rivington, another of water taken out of
the Kensington reservoir as supplied to the inhabitants, and
the third from the reservoir at Prescot. The first was before
the water passed through the pipe : the second as it stood
at Kensington reservoir for delivery to the inhabitants ; and
the third after it had passed through the pipes from Nor-
wich to Prescot.

Mr. Earle • A question has been asked, by an astute
Pikeist, as to who took the water. Some persons appear
rather scep'ical that some roguery has not gone forward.
Perhaps you had better explain the matter for their satis-
faction.

The Town Clerk said the samples were taken by the
servants of the corporation.
Mr. Banner : I am sure nobody mid suspect that the

samples were not properly taken. ([Tear, and cheers.) Was
the first sample passed through the filter beds
The Town Clerk replied in the affirmative.
The following analysis was then read :-
15, St. James' Terrace, Regent's Park, London,
January 11th, 1857.
LIVERPOOL WATER.
Sir,—l herewith forward to you the results of my
qualitative examination of the three samples of water
remitted to me for this purpose. Should it be required
a more minute examination can be made at a future
period, but, in the mean time, it appears to me sufficient
has' been done to solve with certainty the question
whether the samples do or do not contain any matters
injurious to the public health, and whether they are or
I are not fit for the supply of a town. The only objection
which can be urged to the Rivington water, (whether
fron Rivingtun or Eccleston a reservoirs), is that it is
slightly coloured. Chemically speaking, it is so pure—
so free from mineral ingredients, that it is equal to the
best loch waters in Scotland, or the water derived from
the melting of Wenham lake ice. The colour may
depend on temporary causes.
With regard to the solid mineral contents, these, as in
other cases, are liable to vary in amount at different
periods of the year, being influenced by the effect of
rains, floods, &c. This may especially happen to that
portion of the mineral matters which is loosely diffused
through the water, and deposited as a sediment or stand-
ing'. A range in this respect of a few grains in the
gallon at different seasons, supposing the organic matter
is not liable to undue increase, cannot effect the
qualities of these waters in a diatetic or domes ic point
of view.—l am, yours faithfully,
ALFRED S. TAYLOR, M D.

W. Shuttleworth, Esq.

Report on three samples of water, Rivington, Ken-
sington, and Ecclestone.
The samples sere delivered to me by Mr. Gerratt and
Mr Quick.

RIVINGTON SAMPLE.

This had a pale yellowish brown tint when looked at
in a mass of a quarter of a gallon, the colour being sitni•
far to that imparted to water by a eery slight impreg,ha-
tion of heat. It contained a small quantity of undis.
solved matter, mechanically diffused through it. This is
found more or less in all terrestial waters which have
not undergone filtration. It became clear, although it
did not lose its golour on standing. It had no decided
taste that I could perceive. The application of the
usual tests showed that it was a water which contained
but a very slight amount of mineral impregnation: In
the entire water there was a slight trace of lime existing,
probably as sulphate, and also a slight trace of chlorine
from the presence of common salt. There was no
evidence of the presence of carbonate of lime, oxide of
iron or magnesia in a state of solution in the entire
water. By the evaporation of the unfiltered water, a
brownish colour residue was obtained, which, when
submitted to it red heat, became carbonized, and evolved
the odour of burnt vegetable matter. Calculated for the
imperial gallon. thesolid contents of this simpleamounted
to 2.7 grains, consisting of mineral matter, chiefly com-
mon salt and sulphate of lime, (with traces of oxide of
iron) and selica, 2 grains ; organic matter, of a vegetable
nature, 7 • being grains in an imperial gallon 2.7. On
Dr. Clark's scale, the hardness amounted to about 14degrees.

kENSINOTOII SAMPLE.
This was less coloured than the Rivington. It had a
slightly yellowish tinge when viewed in the quantity of
a quarter of a gallon. It was tolerably clear, and contained
less mechanical impurities than the Rivington sample.
It had a slight taste. By the evaporation of the unfiltered
water a fawn brown coloured residue was obtained,
which, when submitted to a red heat, acquired a dark
grey colour, and evolved a smell of burnt vegetable
matter. Calculated for the imperial gallon, the solid
contents of this sample amounted to 9.6 grains, thus
constituted :—Mineral matter, as above described, 7.2
grains; organic matter, 2.4—total, six imperial gallons,
96. The hardness, on Dr. Clark's scale, was about
6 degs.

ECCLESTONE RESERVOIR.

This sample was slightly coloured like the Rivington
sample. It had neither smell nor taste, and contained
but a small quantity of mechanical impurity. The
application of the same tests to this water, in the entire
and unfiltered state, showed that it contained the same
mineral constituents as the Rivington sample. The
effect of the tests were so nearly similar in the two cases
that the waters might be taken for parts of the same
sample. The only mineral ingredients found in the
Eeclestone water, in its entire state, were a minute trace
of lime and a slight trace of common salt. If any
difference could ba suggested from these comparative
results, it would be that the lime and common salt were
more decidedly indicated by the tests in the Ecelestone
than in the Rivington sample. I could perceive no
difference in the amount of the mechanical impurity in
the two samples. Time has not permitted me to deter-
mine the amount of solid contents, including organic
matter, in the Ecelestone sample ; but judging from the
great similarity in the action of the tests on the entire
waters, the difference in the amount of solid contents,
if any should exist, cannot he very great. The hardness
by the soap test is about 2 Begs.

CONCLUSIONS.

There is nothing of an unwholesome or injurious
nature in any of these waters. O'n the contrary, they
contain less mineral and organic matter than is
frequently Grind in waters supplied to towns. The
two samples lire called Rivington and Eccli'stone, by
their comparative freedom from saline ingredients, as
well as by their softness, nearly approach to the purity
of 1,,,ch Ness, supplied to Inverness, and of other loch
waters supplied to the towns of Scotland. The water of
these samples has a pale yellowish brown coloar, which
may be derived either from peat, or from decrying or
decayed vegetable matter at or near the source of supply.
This may depend on local causes of a temporary kind.
Such a colour is occasionally met with in the purest
water under floods or after the long contiruance of wet
weather. This colour confers no noxious or injurious
property on the water.

Chemically speaking, the Rivington and Ecclestoue
waters are perfectly wholesome and proper, and by
reason of their softness, and the smaller amount of
mineral matter contained in them, they are preferable
for the supply of a town population to the sample marked
Kensington.
The samples contain no foul effluvium; None can be
detected by taste, smell, or by the application of chemi-
cal tests.

ALFRED SWIINE TAYLOR, M.D., F.R:.S.,
Lecturer on Chemistry and Medical
Jurisprudence, in Guy's Hospital.
15, St. James' Terrace, Regent's Park,
London, January 11, 1857.

Mr. Cooper said, after hearing the testimony of Dr.
Taylor, one of the greatest chemists of the day, in which
was given so full an analysis of the qualities of the water,
he would call, in confirmation, for Mr. Spencer's analysis.
Mr. J. R. Jeffery: Mr. Spencer's analysis was made in
July. Ido not see the use of reading it now.
Mr. Cooper : It was taken during the wa•m weather of
summer, and before it had been filte ed or gone through
any alteratii-rn.
Mr. Earle : There have been so many falsehoods that we
cannot have too much evidence. There are some gentlemen
who do not like to hear it.
Mr. Spercer's analysis was then read. It was in sub-
stance similar in its conclusions to that of Dr. Taylor.
Mr. Cooper : I am sure that must be highly satisfactory
to the inhabitants of Liverpool, I now call for Dr. Lyon
Playfair's analysis of the water previous to the works
having commenced.

Mr:' Godfrey : I think we have had enough of the
analysis. I think it is all Greek to the members of the
council.

Mr. Cooper, however, urged that the analysis should be
read ; and, accordinzly, the report of Dr. PlayLir, dated
February, 1847, and which was laid before the louse of
Commons, was read. It was an exceedingly long and
minute analysis of the properties of the water, and arrived
at conclusions as favourable to its salubrity as the reports
previously read.
Mr. Cooper : We have now had the opinion of three
eminent men upon the quality of this water, and they all
agree upon its purity and salubrity. lam perfectly satisfied
with the result, and I only ask tie council and the in-
habitants of Liverpool to give the water a fair trial, to take
no one's opinion but their own, to judge for themselves, and
1 am sure they will be satisfied. (Hear, hear.) Mr.
Cooper then asked that the report of Mr. Duncan should
be read.

The following report was then read :
TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER COMMITTEE.
Introduction of Supply of Water from Rivington.
Sir, By arrangement with the parties having charge
of the Rivington main, I met them at the Old Swan on
the morning of Friday, at eleven o'clock. The Green lane
engines being stopped, and such valves as would admit
water to flow from this main to any subsidiary mains
being also closed, the valves to Kensington reservoir No. 2
being open, that on the 44-inch main at Knotty Ash, as also
the 24-inch valve on the Edge lane branch being opened, the
water was permitted to flow to Kensington, and on to the
top of Parliament-street by the Edge-lane branch, where it
was stopped by a valve. From the Edge-lane branch the
turbid water was allowed to flow off through Tue Brook,
and:through the sewer which passes under the Botanic
Gardens. At Kensington it was allowed to pass through
the reservoir, down the tunnel, under the Prescot•road,
thence by the boundary sewer to the river. This was
continued up to ten o'clock at night. In consequence of
the stoppage of the Green-lane engines, and the previous
scarcity of water, a number of manufacturers and brewers

in Vauxhall.road and neighbourhood had not been
supplied during the day, from several of which, com-
plaints had been made of the loss which would be
sustained by not receiving a supply. besides great incon-
venience to their business. At ten o'clock, the water
having been running through for ten hours, and having
ascertained by repeated trials, that it had become com-
paratively clear, and was good portable water, fit for
drinking, it was introduced into the main supplying:the
town. The time which would, under other circumstances,
have been necessary to let the water waste through the
main, was fortunately shortened, as the water had passed
for some time previously through the mains from Prescot
to Old Swan, and returning back, where it was emptied
through the scouring valve in the hollow on the Prescot
side of Knotty Ash. After the water had been introduced
into the mains, I visited several places where it had been
received, and was then running, in order to test its
quality. I found it slightly coloured at one place only.
The best test of its quality I take to be the Complaint
Book, which is transcribed thus :
January 3.-22, Button Street, Robinson ; dirty water.
Report--Water good when called.
January s.—Vauxhall Road, Acker's Brewery ; dirty
water. Report—Run the water out of the cistern, and
filled it with fresh.
January 6.-8, Clayton Street ; dirty water. Report--
Attended to, and pipes cleared.
January 7.-36, Oakes Street ; dirty water. Report—
End plug drawn.
January 8.-26, Brownlow ; dirty water. Report
—Plug drawn, and water run clear.
Jaauary 9.-4, Pembroke place ; dirty water. Report—
End plug drawn, and water clear. Near end plug
January 9.-28, Brownlow-hill ; dirty water. Report—
End plug drawn, and water clear. Near end plug.
4•Since my return to town, I have called at several
places, and have examiaed the quality of the water
delivered. In every instance I have found it pure and
sweet; such also has been the result of several examina-
tions on complaints having been made. Doubtless, the
main being empty on the water being introduced into it,
any sediment would be washed to the lower parts of the
town. General orders were immediately given to draw all
end pines—the frost, however, in some measure interfered
with this operation—it is now, however prosecuted, and I
doubt not all complaints of discoloured water will cease
to be presented. I have put on several districts a constant
service, and will continue to add additional districts, until
the great object of constant supply shall be accomplished.
atn, sir, your faithful servant, Taos. DUNCAN.
Complaints in December, 1856 and 1855:-1856, no
water, 554; dirty water, 22. 1855, no water, 692 ; dirty
water, 6.
Mr. Cooper moved that the proceedings be confirmed.
Mr. Earle seconded the resolution, stating that he
would reserve any remarks he had to make.
Mr. Alderman Bennett said, in the first place, he
should be allowed to remark that he was greatly
astonished at the discrepancies between the observations
made by Mr. Cooper in the opening of his speech and
the report just read. These discrepancies must have
ssruck every member of the council. Mr. Cooper stated
that the water from Rivington had been too hastily
applied to the uses of the towa, in consequence of the
breaking down of an engine. But, Mr. Cooper well
knew that the engine broke down long before, and that
the trifling repairs were performed. The number of
complaints was also stated sery differently in the report
from what Mr. Cooper had stated. Passing on to the
general question, after remarking that there were other
discrepancies also, Mr. Bennett said the water committee
had unfortunately lost their head They had lost the
gentleman who, by the calmness of his judgment and
his prudent remarks in that room, kept a great many
matters under a cloud, and away from the council,
vihich the body, who now represented the com-
mittee, had rot the tact to do. They had at
length got the Riving ton water in Liverpool.
At least they had a smai2 portion of it, for the quantity
of Rivington which had yet adelterated their own supply
was indeed very small. In speaith:; with the water
engineer, on Saturday, he (Mr. Bennet;; found, that
with the exception of a few millions of galions, the
usual quantity of spring water had been pumped and
delivered in Liverpool. The only cessation had been in
the night work of one or two of the old engines, such as
that at Copperas hill or the Bush. Therefore, all the
complaints they had heard as yet, all the discoloured
water they had seen, had arisen from a few millions of
gallons from the Rivington works adulterating their
present pure supply. They hal had the water of the
reservoirs now for eight days. At first it was put in with
too liberal a hand. The outcry against it was general.
One could not meet a gentleman in the street—and he
spoke now before the members of the council, every one
of whom had, no doubt, had the same remark made to
him—but the question was immediately asked—" How
is it that we have this rubbish supplied to us —this dark,
discoloured water ?" For the last three or four days it
had been gradually lessening, and the water was
beginning to assume its former clearness, but it was not
owing to the water from Rivington improving—only to
the fact, that a lesser and lesser quantity of such
water was being mixed with the home supply.
They had had, in fact, the water from Riving-
ton about a month _
ago. It was turned into
the Kensinglon reservoir, some of the committee said by
mistake, others to try its quality. The engineer told
him that a mere amount of 10 inches was passed over
the surface of the Kensington reservoir, and yet it was
perceptible to all parts of the town. This accounted
for Mr. Beckwith and other gentlemen asserting in that
room that the town had the water. Although he (Mr.
Bennett) was upon the water committee, he knew veiy
little of the proceedings. Now, as regarded the present
state of the works, the water committee passed a
resolution daring the last month, that the committee
should proceed to examine the whole of the Rivington
works, in order that a report should be submitted to the
council on the state of the works and on the quality and
quantity of the water to be derived from them. That
resolution passed without any amendment in a full
committee, only one or two members, he thought, being
absent. He therefore expected that on the following
Wednesday, the day named, there would be a good
assemblage of the water committee, and that they would
go fairly to do that which their resolution pointed out
fur them to do. What was his surprise when the very
night before starting a gentleman, who was now near
him, called upon him, and told him that he was the only
one of the whole number who had consented to go to
Rivington. The town clerk had sent round to every mem-
ber a circular, requesting each to inform him whether he
intended to be of the party, in order that arrangements
might be made. Although that request was made, still,
up to the night before the journey, only one gentleman
besides himself had consented to go. He told that
gentleman that if he went alone, he would go—and go
he did at the time stated—a quarter past seven o'clock,
by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Mr. James
Holme, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. Woodruff, also went.
They commenced at the head of the works at Roddles-
worth embankment, and came down to the filter beds at
Iforwich. It was a most happy thing that delay had
been caused by the Liverpool agitation, for it had tended
very much to the safety and stability of the works. At
the first outset, if the ill-digested plans of the engineer
had been carried out in their integrity, they might have
been subject to the fearful calamities which had occurred
in different parts of the country from the same cause.
The council would recollect that in September, 1851, the
contracts for the works were passed in that room, and
in February, 1852, but a few months afterwards, that
dreadful calamity which caused so much loss of life and
destruction to property—he alluded to the Holmefirth
reservoir—awakened the engineer to a sense of the
danger ; the foundations shown upon the plans were
put asde, greater depth attained, and the works
designed of a most suitable character—and
although this, and other such matters, cost
the council some hundreds of thousands, still the
cauncil could not regret what had been expended, rather
than to be exposed to such losses as they might have
been subject to if the arrangements had been carried
out as originally designed. He would now read the
report he had drawn up of the state of the works, which
he read to the engineer, Mr. Duncan, and of which Mr.
Duncan approved. He had also read it to the water
committee, but they did not think proper to enter it
upon their books. Mr. Bennett then read the following:
Sir Thowas's-buildings Iron Foundry, Liverpool.
December 24, 1856.
This committee having decided, in consequence of state-
ments made in the Liverpool papers, to visit the works at
Rivington, and to ascertain, from inspection and investigation
on the spot the truth or falsehoods of these statements, beg to
offer the following report to the council:—
State of the Works, commencing with the uppermost portion,
and coming down to the filter beds at Norwich,
First, Roddlesworth Reservoir:—This reservoir is now
completed, with the exception of the Wining of the banks,
and could bo ready for impounding water in a few weeks ;
the workmanship is good and substantial, and in every respect
satisfactory.

Goit between Raddlesworth and Rake Brook Reservoirs.—
This work is also nearly complete, and only requires the banks
dressing and levelling to be ready for use.
Rake Brook Reservoir The principal embankment of this
reservoir is, as the Council is aware, being considerably
strengthened in consequence of showing signs of weakness from
a defect in the foundation ; a large body of mon are employed
upon this work, and eTery exertion will he made to complete it
with thie least possible delay
fi : with this exception the reservoir
is eon lete.
Goit between the Rake Brook and Anglczark Reservoirs...—
This portion of the work appeareA.o your committee
unsatisfactory and imperfect por:tAni-ot the Whole. It t bßAists
of a canal four miles in length,:eskt through the soil,
either shingling. or pitching. The sides and button/ of this
pit are already covered with a rank grass, and:. tinewhole has
a dirty and slovenly appearance. Owing to a misunderstanding

of instructions, several drains from property on the line have
been allowed to empty themselves into this goit ; but a catch-
water sewer is now being made, which will intercept all that
is objectionable. Until this is completed, none of the water
from this goit will be allowed to empty itself into the Angle-
Lark reset voir, nor has any water from this point gone into the
reservoir for the last three months.
Anglezark Reservoir.—This reservoir is complete in all its
parts, and the workmanship is of a most satisfactory character;
the embankments are all firm, and the mechanical arrange-
ments perfect. The reservoir has been full to oveifiowing
several times, and all the portions of the work subject to their
full strain.
Rivington Reservoir.— This portion of the work is also
complete, and, with the exception of a leak in the lower end,
sit sfactory. Mr. Oakes is now engaged with the assistance
of a powerful engine and pump, and a large body of warkmen,
in endeavouring to ascertain the source of this defect ; and
your committee entertain the hope that, in a few months,
the leak will be effectually stopped.
Filter Beds.—These are now in operation, and every part of
the workmanship appeared of a superior character.
l'qualizing Tanks.—The same may be said of these as of
filter beds, and nothing is wanting, so far as they ate
concerned, to immediately commence a town supply.
He considered that a very fair and truthful report,
although it was the report of an individual. Although
it was from his own pan, he did not think any member
of the committee could gainsay any portion of it. Of
the pipe line to Liverpool, little could be said, except
that here again delay had been a benefit to the engineer.
One remark he wished to make. What would have
been the case during the past summer if the council
'had not come to the very wise determination of putting
down the third pumping engine. The water engineer
told him on Saturday that they would have had the town
in a mutiny. He felt confident that the members of the
water committee dared not show their faces in the streets
in the hot weather of the past summer, had not such an
auxiliary been brought to their aid for the supply
of the town. It was a Rise plan in every respect, advan-
tageous aud sanitary, and he felt great pleasure in having
been one of the first movers of it. (Laughter.) There
was quite a misconception as to the time when the water
was to come from Rivington. They were told it would
he here in April, and powerful speeches were then made
as to the non-necessity of any engine, as it was said that
by the time the engine could be ready the water would
bo the-re. July came, and no water. On the 29th of
August Mr. Hawksley said he saw no reason to suppose
that it would be delayed longer than the end of Septem-
ber. September passed, October, November, and Decem-
ber, and so far as the committee's minutes would inform
tee council, the Rivington water had not come yet. There
had been a secretness connected with it from first to last,
which was to him very inexplicable. Who would have
dreamed, years ago, that the water would have been
smuggled into:the town like contraband spirits. (Laugh-
ter.) Who would have imagined that when the pipes
were laid, and the supply was at their doors, it would be
surreptitiously turned on by half a turn of a screw,
mixed with the other water, and brought into the town
in a manner the most disreputable to all who had a hand
in it ? He expected, when the chairman told them years
ago, that fountains of water should be flowing everywhere,
the most brilliant and sparkling, that when the water
arrived in Liverpool they should have a general holiday
and procession.
Mr. Hodson : A champagne dinner. (Laughter.)
Mr. Wagstaff: We c.it have the celebration yet,
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Bennett thought it more likely that they would
have one dead in every house in Liverpool, ZOlt, oh,
and laughter.( He would nosy go to the oisticon of the
quality of the water, which was by far the most serious
question involved. Before doing so, he should state,
however, that he did not underrate the value of Rivinx. ton water. He knew that there were many purposes to
which that water could he turned, which did not apply
to the human system. He knew that there were many
'uses for which it suited without being used for
'drinking. But for drinking, he contended that it would
not suit the 'palates of the inhabitants of Liverpool, and
That ;*
would not be safe for the corporation to venture
give it to them, for although they had heard reports
rem Dr. Taylor, Mr. Spencer, and Dr. Playfair, yet
these reports did not allude to one mort important
....übject, the action of the water upon lead. (Hear, hear.)
The quantity of the water was also left in uncertainty.
His own opinion was, that in dry seasons they would
notionly have foetid and unwholesome water, but that
the quantity would be insufficient. Mr. Bennett then
produced samples of the water taken at the different
points of the works, reservoirs, and filters, calling the
attention of the council to the fact that there was a
sediment in the water which no filtration could get
rid of.
Mr. Earle : Let us have no legerdemain, if you please.
(Laugb'er.)
Mr. Bennett : I do not 1,.n0w what Mr. Earle means
by legerdemain. L t him explain.
Mr. Earle. I thought you were putting the samples in
a different way.
Mr. Bennett also stated that the girl who waited on
the members of the committee, when they dined at the
hotel at Rivington, said the people in the house would
not drink such stuff as the water—that they used it for
sleeps, but always fetched spring water from half a mite
off. She said she supposed it, was good enough for
Liverpool chaps. (Laughter.) Wherever they made
enquiry, not only then but previously, they always found
that the people retched their water from the spring. Mr.
Bennett then said he had obtained from a chemist in that
town, of high repute, a young man who was rising into
great celebrity, a man v‘hose character was at stake on
what he wrote, an analysis of the water. The gentleman
to whom he alluded, Mr. Nathan Mercer, was a fellow
of the Chemists' Society, was high,, respected by all who
knew him, and was a man on whoa. he (Mr. Bennett)
could with as much confidence rely for ‘.he results of his
analysis as upon Dr. Taylor or Dr. .V
.ayfair. Mr.
Mercer had made a very careful analysis of she samples
sent him, and he reported as follows :-
7, Church street, Liverpool, January 2nd, 1857.
Dear Sir,—l have examined the three samples of water;:ou
bent to me, which I distinguish as under :
No. I.—That taken from the surface of the Rivington
reservoir.

No. 2.—Water taken from the equalising tank, after
filtration.

No. 3.—Water delivered into the Prescot reservoir.
I find them all to contain vegetable matter in suspension,
such as peat, moss, leaves, &c. No. 1 contains the largest
amount, but the quantity in Nos. 2 and, 3 has not been much
diminished by passing through the filters. No system of
filtration on a large scale yet adopted will deprive water of those
impurities which will not spontaneously subside. No. 3,
Prescot reservoir water, contains eight grains of solid matter to
the gallon, the inorganic portions consisting, principally of car-
bonate of lime and oxide of iron. The bulk of the solid
impurities washed into reservoirs fed by surface drainage
gradually subside, and, if allowed 'to accumulate, undergo a
series of chemical changes which soon materially affect, and
render ❑nft for use, the purest and beet of water. These
chemical changes depend altogether upon tho nature of the
depos t. If decaying vegetable matter, carbonic acid, carburetted
hydrogen, and sometimes sulphuretted hydrogen are evolved ;
if decaying animal matter, then ammonia, sulphuretted hydro-
gen, phosphnretted hydrogen, and other deleterious compounds
result, most of which are taken up by and impregnate the
surrounding water.

The injurious effects that would arise from the use of water
eantaminated by these products of decomposition, are partially
remedied by the existence of living organic impurities—con-
fervre, algae, animalcule, &c., all of which are in direct depend-
ance upon decaying organic matter, vegetable or animal, and
from it derive their nourishment and support. They are thus
emi..ently useful in absorbing organic matter into their own
tissues, which would otherwise be traasformed into a number
of most deleterious and offensive gases and compounds. With
respect to the influence of water holding organic matter in
suspension or solution, upon the health of, the inhabitants of a
large town, I am not in possession of sufficient information to
enable me to give an opinion; but would strongly advise you
to obtain information on this subject from those medical men
who have wade it their study. Tht; water now obtained from
the red sandstone is entirely free from organic matter, and I
do not think the people of Liverpool will be at all satisfied to
have their present bright and sparkling water replaced, for
drinking purposes, by such water as is at present contained in
the Prescot reservoir.
And there is another point in connection with Rivington
water, which has a very important bearing upon the interests of
Liverpool as a seaport. Will it keep in a good condition on
long voyages, and exposed to a high temperature ? This is a
question which can only be decided try experience, but it is my
opinion, from the amount of organic matter at present carried
through the filter beds, and from the increased quantity likely
to be present in warm weather, that it will be much more liable
to change than our present supply.
Knowing the importance you attach to all information on
these subjects, I shall be glad at any time, to render you any
assistance in my power ; and remain, dear sir, yours faithfully,
NATHAN MERCIR,
Fellow of the Chemical Society.
This was a very important letter. A few days afterwards,
oa January 6th, he received the following letter :-
7, Church street, Liverpool, January 6th, 1857.
Dear Sir,—ln my report of the 2nd ult I suggested the
probability of Rivington water not keeping good and sweet in
long voyages, or in high latitudes. To-day I hear that the
town is being supplied with Rivington mixed'with our ordinary
spring water, and I think it proper to call your attention to the
fact that this mixture entirely alters tho character of the water,
and that it now contains within itself all the elements neces-
sary for decomposition, when excluded from the atmosphere, as
it is on sea voyages. Rivington water contains organic matter,
the red sandstone water sulphate of soda, and when these two
compounds are fonnd in the same water, and this water is kept I
in close vessels, such as casks or tanks, the organic matter will

1 rob the sulphate of its oxygen. Sulpher in combination with
hydrogen is set free, and the water rendered cffensire both to
the taste and smell.
I hope to be able in a few days to furnish you with a
report of the action of Rivington water upon lead, and remain,
dear sir, yours faithfully, • NATHAN MERCER.
Fellow of the Chemical Society.
He had also received, since coming into the room, the
following letter from the awe gentleman :
No 7, Church street, Liverpool, Jan. 12, 1857.
Dear Sir,—l have made several experiments to ascertain
whether or no the Rivington water had any effect upon lead,
and find that it has a much mote rapid action than the water
with which the town ttas hitherto been supplied.
With this I send you two bottles containing water which
has been kept upon lead four days, and into which a stream of
sulphurated hydrogen has been passed to ascertain whether or
no any lead had been taken up.
No. 1 is sample of the red sandstone water ; No, 2 is a
sample of water from the Present reservoir. They speak for
themselves.—ln great haste, I• remain, dear sir, yours faith-
fully, NATHAN MERCER,
Fellow of the Chemical Society.
Ho had here a letter from Dr. R. Gee, ou this subject,
which he would take the liberty of reading:-
110, Oxford street, Liverpool, Jan. 6, l 857.
My Dear Sir,—Observing in the newspvers that you have
lately visited the Rivington reservoirs, and brought samples of
the water home with you, will you allow me to suggest that
some of it should be placed in the hands of a chemist, in order
that its action on lead may be tested.
The water is reported to be VERY soft, and consequently
must be deficient iu those inorganic snbAances which, in our
present supply, constitute our safeguard.
I trust you, as a member of the water committee, will
hesitate (unless experimen:s have already been made), before
you introduce water into our cisterns which may have a most
pernicious effect on the health of the community.
The subject is of grave import, and deserves your immediate
and most serious consideratiou.—l am, dear sir, yours very
truly,
ROBERT GEE.
Mr. Bennett continued to say, that a large amount of
the water drunk in dwelling houses was contained in
cisterns, and was admitted .into the houses by means of
lead pipes. He spoke to another medical gentleman,
and asked him what the effect would be in the poorer
parts of the town, where they had no cisterns, and
where the water remained in the pipes during the night.
The answer was " highly poisonous." Now the question
was, what were they to do with the water ? That was a
question upon which they would have to arrive at a
conclusion, and he hoped and trusted they would arrive
at a right one. There were many differences of opinion
even in the committee upon the subject. The chair-
man of the committee, in the first instance, thought that
the home supply should be continued in the present
pipes, and that the Rivington supply should be given
separately, He (Mr. Bennett) did not at first approve
of that idea, but really when the matter was now forced
upon him in such a shape, and upon such authority, he
did think that the chairman was a foreseeing man in
that respect, and that they must arrive at that or some
similar conclusion. Another gentleman proposed
that it should be left to a jury of old
women, who, when they had washed in it for
a short time, and Made tea with it, might think so
highly of it, as to induce the town to take it, (Laughter.)
Another gentleman thought, that mixed with a certain
I portion of the present supply, it could be forced down
the throats of the inhabitants. Another gentleman made
a calculation of how much water was actually used for
drinking, and asked whether the Rivington water could
not be used for all purposes except drinking, and the old
water carts called out again, to go round to the different
pumping stations, and let the water be sold from house
to house. As the water committee were not unanimous,
it would be for the council to decide what was to be
done. It•had cost time and money enough to get it, and
the least ttie committee could do was to tell them what
to do triili it. There were many other. matters upon
which he had not t inched, which would be very serious
to the corporation in a short time, such as water corn-
, pensation, fracture of pipes, cleansing out the foetid
matter which would very soon deposit at the bottom of the
reservoir, and must be cleansed out. There were many
such questions, each of which separately deserved
serious consideration. But sufficient for the day was
the evil thereof. Finally, Mt, Bennett, having
referred to one or two other toints, expressed a
hope that the speakers who should sicceed him, would
keep to the serious business they had in hand, and not
fly off at a tangent, making eloquent ani telling speeches
without any meaning in them; but that they would
combat argument by argument, and arrwe at length at
some truthful solution of the very, knotty point which
they had to decide. He hoped the council would not be
carried away simply by eloquence unaccoolpanied by
facts ; but that they would be able to discert for them-
selves which was wheat and which chaff, ani that the
conclusion at which they would arrive might 1-1, one for
which they should not have to feel shame, or even a
deeper feeling than shame, hereafter. He proposed, as
an amendment, that the Rivington, water be kept in
readiness, in case of any fires, but be not supplied for
domestic purposes at present.
Mr. Godfrey seconded the amendment, reserving his
observations.

Mr. J. Holme said, that he was no chemist, nor theorist;
he only proposed to deal with matters in a common sense,
and practical way. It was seldom that they found unity of
feeling and sentiment predominant, even among all the
members of a private family ; and it was not, therefore, re-
markable that it should he equally wanting in an assembly
like the council—composed as it was of sixty-four gentlemen,
and wh le he was free to admit that every gentlman who
occupied a seat in the council chamber, had a right to express
his sentiments upon every question, be claimed an equal
right for himself, and would express himself with all freedom
on the subject then before them. (Hear, hear.) To this
unfortunate water scheme, upon which so much agitation
had taken place, it was with great regret that he found that
gentlemen entered the room with a determined opposition
to it, notwithstanding that the water committee had simply
endeavoured to carry out the instructiors and duty imposed
on them by the council. The Rivington scheme had, un-
fortunately, agitated the town for a considerable period.
When he first entered the council, he believed he was right
in stating that he found that an Act of Parliament had been
obtained to give an ample supply of water to this large and
• growing borough. He was elected a member of the water
committee, and from the very commencement he had simply
endeavoured to perform the duty imposed on him, to the
best of his ability, in tarrying out work prepared by one of
the most eminent engieeers in the country, and similar to
those of Glasgow— (hear)—Bolton, Manchester, Bristol,
Leeds, Boston, Nottingham, and fifty other places in the
kingdom. The object of the committee had been to fulfil,
efficiently, the duties imposed on them;. and, now that they
had discharged their duties, end brought the water into the
town, they were blamed for having done so. It reminded
him very much of the, story he ased to read when he was a
boy, of an old man and his ass, in endeavouring to please
everybody, the fear was that they would please nobody.
There was no intention on the part of the committee to
introduce water surreptitiously into the town—(hear)—
but, on the contrary, it was necessity alone that drove
them to make use of it. It lay at their very doors, and he
would ask any gentleman whether, supposing a fire similar to
that which broke out in Lancelot's Hey a few years since,
took place on the 2nd of this month, when their reservoirs
were empty, and where property to the extent of half a
million, equal to the cost of the Pike itself, might be
destroyed—he would ask whether, under such circumstances,
the council wculd not blame, if, having the water at their
very doors, they had omitted to make arrangements for
availing of it ? (Hear, hear.) Now, as regarded eke time
the engines broke down. The first broke down on the
17th of Dec., and was not got to work until the 19th of
December ; the Green lane engine broke down on the 19h,
and was not got to work until the 21st of December; and
what was the result ? Why, instead of having a supply in
the reservoirs in case of need, they had no supply whatever,
the reservoirs being perfectly empty. Mr. Bennett, as a
member of the committee, knew that very well ; and there-
fore he (Mr. Holme) thought that though it escaped the
memory of the chairman, he (Mr. Bennett) should not have
availed himself of the omission., When he met Mr. Bennett,
who was a practical man, in private business, they never
disagreed, but on this question, ha regretted to say they
always disagreed. They were both tradesmen, they under-
stood common sense, and he was surprised that in a matter
involving the prosperity and fu'ure com Fort of the inhabi-
tants of the town. Mr. Bennett should set himself up and
endeavour to deprive them of one of the greatest of blessings,
an ample supply of the pure water of heaven. (Hear, hear.)
He was one of those who had always looked at the question in
a commercial point of view, and considered how they could
get the greatest quantity of water at the least possible
expense. He hoped he would be excused if on the present
occasion he gave a few facts, however dry. and unpalatable
in a general meeting, as to the cost of the undertaking, and,
first, in regard to the cost of the old works.
Mr. Godfrey ; What has the cost to do with the quality
of the water ? (Hear, hear, and cries of " Order, order.")
Mr. J. Holme, before replying, said that he would have a
glass of water

A Voice : Which water ?
Mr. J. Holme : I will have Rivington. (Laughter.)
Mr. Holme then drank of the deliterious compound, and
lived to proceed with his address. He continued : The
corporation paid for the Bootle water works, after deducting
for the sale of land for the church, £193,454. They paid
for the Harrington works £368,355, besides a loss of
£4.539 which they suffered on erre .rs of rent which they
took over from the company. The expense of conveyance
and antingent expenses connected with taking these works
amounted to £12,802, making a gross total of £599,150.
They paid for the Green lane works 70,985, which, from