The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-28 00:00:00

had for nearly six months, from the early part of January,
a supply of water containing rather more than half from
Rivington. The calculation was about 40 million gallons
from Rivington, and 33 million gallons from the sandstone.
He asked Mr. Jeffery, or Mr. Bennett, or any other gentle-
man, to give one solitary instance of poisoning by lead
during that time. (Hear, hear.) The fact was that Liver-
pool had been in a more healthy state since the month of
January than it had almost ever✓ been for a series of years.
Upon careful inquiries at the dispensaries, and inquiries
among his medical friends, he found that nothing
approaching to lead poisoning had been seen during that
time. He had asked his friend Dr. Inman—and he shouid
like to know if any gentleman in Liverpool who knew him
knew any man of more profound talent —what his opinion
was of the Rivington water, and the reply was, that ha
considered it one of the best waters which could be sup-
plied to a large town, and a good and healthy water.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Jeffery had quoted Mr. Rawlinson, but
out of Mr. Rawlinson's own mouth he could show that if
water had an action upon lead, it was the hard water
which had the greatest action. They all knew that all
water had a certain action upon lead. The most scientific
men of the age, the greatest philosophers and chemists—
all admitted that, theoretically, water had that effect, but
practically it might be said to have no effect. Several
years ago he well recollected that the town of Liverpool was
visited with sickness and death by cholera, and the poor
people were being carried away by hundreds out of the
courts ; and what was the fact? They had not had a
teacupfull of water to wash the filth away. Now
they were giving 70 millions of gallons to the inhabitants,
and he thought both Mr. Bennett and Mr. Jeffrey, with
the talents they possessed, ought to endeavour to allay the
anxiety and to put down the ill-feeling which existed
against the Water Committee. He called upon the Council
and the town to allow the reservoirs to be fully finished
and to give the Rivington supply a fair trial.
Mr. Gardner expressed his opinion, that a great mistake
had been made in the Pike Scheme, which he was sure
they all regretted, if they would honestly acknowledge it,
and one which would be yet more expensive before it was
finished. At the same time, he was in favour of giving
the Water Committee more time before entering upon any
new outlay. There were two or three summer months
coming which would tell a decided tale. When he lately
visited' the reservoirs he was almost becoming a Pikeist,
until he saw the little effect which the filtering beds had
upon the water. If the effect was so little for the first
six months, who would say that it would be even so much
for the next six months ? If the pipes were not clear after
the water had been running through them for six months,
when would they be clear ? He urged that the committee
should act with frankness—let them have the Rivington
water in its entirety for one week, and they could then
judge for themselves. Meantime he urged that they should
not decide the question now, until they had had fuller
information, as he hoped they would not, from factious
motives, incur any additional expense.
Mr. Alderman J. H. Turner, denied that any members
of the Council wished to throw any blame upon the mem-
bers of the W :ter Committee, far the unsatisfactory state
of the water. On the contrary, the best thanks of the in-
habitants were due to the Water Committee for the un-
wearied s'al and exertions they had displayed in endeavour-
ing to get a good supply of water. They could not,
however, command success; and there could be no doubt
that any uubi assed parson who want into the next room and
looked at the samples of the water there, must be disap-
pointed. Mr. Earle had produced a sample of one
kind. He could produce another as diametrically op-
posite as it could possibly be, which was
taken from his nephew's house in Rodney-street. He
should be extremely glad to comply with the request of the
committee for further time, and he had suggested that
until the reservoirs were finished, the sandstone water
should be supplied alone during the summer months. This,
however, he understood from Mr. Hoitne, could not be
accomplished. When he first came into the Council that
day, he was inclined to vote for Mr. Bennett's motion, bet
considering the great expense of laying do .vn additional
pipes, he should now be in favour of giving the scheme
a longer trial.
Mr. John Stewart said, he was compelled to admit that
the supply to his house was not at all satisfactory, and
that it was variable, being at times very much better
than at other times. Whilst, however, he was prepared to
recommend the Council to take every means to supply the
inhabitants with a wholesome and good water, vet he was
not willing to precipitate the Council into great
additional expense. If the Water Commit cc were of
opinion that the completion of the works, or of
anything they had uow in hand would enable them to
supply the town with water of a satisfactory
description, he was in favour of allowing them a further
trial. It would be a great misfortune, if after the expense
which had been incurred, and after the labour which
hurl been devoted by one of the most zealous committees
in the council—the Water Committee—the result should
be only discension in the town. So far as he could under-
stand, they had never yet had the Rivington water alone.
(Cheers,) Now, that was to his mind a very important
tact. (Cheers) It appeared to him, that the variableness
in the quality of the water supplied, must be attributed to
the circumstance of its having a greater proportion of the
well water, or a greater proportion of the Pike water.
(Cheers.) If, however, the committee would say that they
thought the completion of the works, in some short period
of time, would give a reasonable probability of the water
being generally of a better quality; and if then they
would furnish to the town not mixed water, but water
entirely brought from Rivington Pike, he thought all
parties would have a fair opportunity of judging whether
it was of a quality satisfactory to the inhabitants at large.
(Cheers.) This might perhaps render unnecessary what
he should certainly consider a great misfortune—the
expense of a double supply. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. A. Thine observed that some of the observations
of Mr. Jeffery called for explanation at his hands. He
(Mr. Tinne) was surprised at the large and wasteful exse n-
diture of water in the town, and in consequence of that
extravagant waste, he was one of the principal parties in
the committee who had the resolution passed, directing
Mr. Hawksley to report upon the general system of supply
for the iuhabitats of Liverpool ' • in order that the waste,
which they all perceived, might be prevented. Mr. Hawks-
ley then stated that in the city of New York, where a
most abundant supply of water was anicipated, it was
likely to be of very little advantage to the inhabitants,
because of its very great waste ; and it was in consequence
of that observation that he (Mr. Tinne) thought it best
that at the commencement of their new supply some
system should be adopted to prevent any waste. As to the
driving of the piles, the mere fact of driving them would
not enable any one to ascertain the quality of the strata
through which the pipes were conveyed : nor did it follow
that the whole depth was peat. With regard to the disap-
pointment which Mr. Jeffery expressed with respect to
everything connected with the works, he did not think that
there had been any disappointment expressed on any he scl,
excenting.witn regard to the colour of the water. He
• should candidly confess that he was disappointed with the
wisteria that respect, and he believed that no one connected
with the committee from the commencement ever expected
that the water would be discoloured. They wtre under
the impression that it would he clear ; but yet, seeing the
character which was supplied to his own bowie, and those
of many of his friends, he had listened with surprise to the
remarks made by.ldr. Turner as to the water supplied to
his house and that of his nephew. Were he in Mr.
Turner's position, he would call the attention of Mr. Den-
man, the engineer, to the .crater, and would ascertain if
there was any local defect.
Mr. Clint quite agreed with the gentlemen who said
that the settlement of this question should not be based in
• pounds. shillings,, and pence. The question of the supply
of water was of more impor'aece than that, affeetitig as it
did, the health and morals of so largeta.community as that
of Liverpool. He veoald go so far us to say, that what-
ever might be the cost of -giving the double supply,
he, for one, would vete for it the momery
that the necessity was made clear. At. present Mr. Ben-
nett predicted that all the " plagues of Eypt" would
spring from Rivington water, 'out on the other hand, Mr.
Alderman Holmes declared that it was the nant beneficial
thing that could be given to the inhabitants. Perhaps
the safest course would be the middle one, between these
extreme parties; bat he certainly considered that up to
tae present moment they had not heard evidence sufficient
to justify . in incurring the. large . expense which a
double supply would entail.
Mr. Fernihungh said that be had been an anti-
Pikeist, and that it was beyond denial that .' the
assertions of those who opposed the scheme as
to the extent of the hone supply had been
confirmed by experience. In 1849, the yield from
the wells was from 27,000,000 to 28,000.000 gallons per
week—now it was from 40,000,000 to 50,000,400 gallons
per week. (Hear, hear.) The question, however, now
assumed a different form. The money was spent—the
works when completed would remain a noble monument of
skill, and as to the quality of the water, he believed that its
discolouration was much exaggerated. He had uo doubt
that in course of time it would become pure and clear, anal
would prove a blessing to the town. As to his own ward,
he did not hear of a single complaint there against the
water, and on the whole, ho thought that a full and fair
trial should be given before a decisive opinion was pro-
nounced on it.
Mr. Crosthwaite detailed the measures he took on the
occasion of the recent visit to Rivington, to ascertain the
colour of the water. Attaching a piece of white card
bound to a wire, he sunk it in the reservoir at several
depths, and being provided with a box of colours,
sketched on the spot the appearance which it
presented. In the Anglezark reservoir at four '
feet the card was invisible ; at three feet it presented
a very dark colour; at two feet three inches the colour