The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-06 00:00:00

The Water Supply of Towns.

Within the last few yearn the question of water
supply has engaged the serious attention of munici-
pal bodies. The spread of social science has brought
home to the minds of civic authorities that pure
water is the first of sanitary agents. Towns are no
longer content to take their water from the nearest
river or canal without regard to the chemical changes
which it may have undergone in flowing from its
source to the point at which it is diverted for domestic
purposes ; nor are they satisfied with such a supply
as may be obtained by the inhabitants at a parti-
cular hour and at a particular spot. Street pumps
are all but superseded, 'even house cisterns are
not deemed sufficiently convenient to answer all
purposes of domestic use, and most of the new
waterworks are being constructed on the principle
of high-level service—that is, of affording a supply
in any apartment to which pipes may be carried,
as is the case with gas. In this metropolis the
New River Company have recently gone to the
expense of filling in the cutting which carried
the water into North London, and of laying down
large mains to take the place of an open canal. The
town of Glasgow has spent an enormous sum in pro-
curing its supply of water from Loch Katrine, and
at this moment works are being constructed to
afford a high-level supply to Dublin from water-
sheds and the River Yartry, at a point in the
county of Wicklow 27 miles from that city. It is not
surprising, therefore, that the dreadful catastrophe
wuich occurred at Sheffield in March last should, have
given rise to considerable apprehension through-
out the United Kingdom, and that wherever
great reservoirs had been recently provided, or
were in course of construction, much alarm was felt
lest they should meet with a fate similar to that
which had befallen the Bradford reservoir of the
Sheffield Waterworks Company.
The evidence taken at the inquest which followed
the inundation at Sheffield put the public in pos-
session of the immediate cause of that accident, but
since that inquiry the Town Council of Sheffield
have procured professional opinions, which, while
dealing specifically with that particular case, con•
tain a statement of general principles which are in•
teresting scientifically, and cannot but prove useful
to corporations and companies engaged in the cone
struction of waterworks on a large scale. It is the
conclusion of several eminent engineers that the
giving way of the reservoir at Bradfield was caused
by water having got under the outside slope of the
embankment, which either induced the bank itself
or the foundation on which it rested to slip. But it
is satisfactory to learn on the same competent au-
thority that the most capacious reservoir may be
provided without the dangers of any such mishap.
As a preliminary, however, a careful geological sur-
vey must be made. Whether this was done in the
case of the Sheffield reservoirs we are not prepared
to say ; but if Sir John Rennie be right it scarcely
could have been, for he tells the corporation, "I
cons der the site of the Bradfield embankment to
have been injudiciously selected—the strata con.
sisting chiefly of millstone grit, but with loose
friable shale in the deepest part, unequal in qua.
lity'and dislocated, with old land slips in the
vicinity, extensive faults in the strata, and with
several strong springs of water which it was difficult
to avoid." Other engineers are equally decided in
their objections to the site. But even supposing
that the site had been a good one, those gentlemen
state that the embankment was extremely faulty
in its construction ; and their remarks on this
head have a universal application. Most people
have seen the process of constructing a railway em-
bankment, The "stuff''' or material is deposited in
"tips"—that is, it is tilted over from a waggon,
and load after load is deposited until the required
height and width are obtained. This appears to
have been the method followed in the construction
of the Bradfield reservoir. Mr. Conybeare says
the material " was loosely thrown in by waggons,
in tips of from five to nine feet ; instead of being
evenly spread and well consolidated (by the passage
of one-horse carts all over it) in parallel layers of
only as many inches thick." Mr. Leslie observes
that in tips of that character the material may con-
tinue to sink or subside for many years after the
construction of the embankment ; while Mr.
Stevenson points out that by such a mode of
construction clods or stones must invariably
find their place of repose at the bottom, and
thus produee unsound layers or strata in the
embankment, which layers will be full of interstices
and calculated to admit the free percolation of water
Some half-dozen engineers of great experience ex-
press similar opinions, and all concur in stating that
the embankment of a reservoir should be laid in
layers of only a few inches in depth, whist' should
be well " punned," or rammed. The next point to
which these gentleman apply themselves is one of
equally general importance—namely, the construc-
tion of the pipes and the manner in which they
should be laid when passing out of the reservoir.
rvolirB
The pipes of the Sheffield Company were on
inches in diameter ; and as such conduits should be
of such a calibre as to afford an opportunity for in.
ternal examination, most of the engineers whom
the corporation have consulted hold that diameter
to have been insufficient. A still greater defect
was that the valves were on the outside of the
embankment only. Thus there was no means of
shutting off the water in the inside of the dam ;
whereas, if valves bad been fixed on the inner end

;eee2'

of the pipes, access could have been 1 lad to them
when the reservoir was full. TI Lie !,'.P ungement is
strongly commented on by the en gine( 'es. -But per-
haps the most important question ton( !heenpon in
the professional reports is that of t he manner in
which pipes should be laid from thi 3 reservoir to
beyond the embankment. In the cast 3of the Bred-
field reservoir they were laid in a trot eh under the
dam. The engineers whose reports the Sheffield
Town Council publish are nine in iturn-ber—Mr
Leslie, Mr Stevenson, Mr J. Murray. I Ur Cc nybeare,
Mr Lee, Mr Barlow, Sir John R: mnie, Mr C.
Vignolles, and Mt M. B. Jackson ; and several of
them in unequivocal terms condemn that
,plan.
Leslie considers it a much better course, when
practicab:e, to drive a tunnel in the solid at
the end of the embankment, in v -hie' tunnel
the pipes should be laid. Shou.,d there be
no suitable ground for tunnelling, he would build
a culvert of very substantial masonry, large enough
to carry floods during the time the bank was in.
progress of construction, and in which the pip(
could afterwards be inserted. Mr. Murray slat :a.s
unhesitatingly that the tunnel for the pipes oug,bt
to be laid in the solid ground, and others of the re-
porting engineers speak with Equal confidence to
the same effect. Mr. Barlow, though of opinion that
no pipes should be laid under an embankment un-
I less the embankment rests on a rock foundation,
and the pipes are laid in excavations, eo that they
are well below the surface, does not think it im-
portant that they should be laid in a culvert el'
tunnel, as brickwork is more liable to fail than ircea,
and if it failed the pipe would probably be destroyed
at the same time. But Sir John Rennie states that
the proper plan is to carry the pipes through the
solid ground or strata in tunnels of masonry either
on one side of the embankment or the other, but
wholly independent of it; and Mr. Jackson goes
the length of saying that the longer a storage re•
servoir has existed with pipes laid under or through
an embankment, the nearer it is to inevitable de-
struction, unless preventive steps be taken. Cast
iron, he says, is a treacherous material as well as a
perishable one; and he advises that the pipes whicl
run under the embankments of the Sheffield reser—
voirs should be permanently plugged up, and that
fresh means should be provided for the discharge. of
the water. From this gentleman's report it wonld
seem that there still exists a doubt as to whether
the water got into the embankment by leak age
through the pipes, or by a leakage under or through
the puddle. With respect to the comparative merits
of a constant water supply and an intermittent one,
Mr. Lee remarks that in the case of the latter the
water is less pure at the taps than in the reservoirs,,
because when the pipes are empty oxide of iron i a
formed, and discharged with the water on the ne:et
delivery.
It is but fair to say that the reports from wliich
we have been quoting formed part of a case pre.
pared by the Sheffield Town Council against an
application to Parliament by the Waterworks Com-
pany for additional powers. The battle between
the two bodies has been fought and decided, and in
its details the public would probably not take much
interest ; but there can be no doubt that in obtain-
ing the opinions of so many eminent engineers on
the construction of water reservoirs for the supply
of towns, the corporation have done a service, not
only to their own constituents, but to all the cities
and towns in the empioe.

The Perth Albert Memorial.

PERTH, Monday.

The following communications have been received.
by Sir David Ross, Lord Provost of Perth, in answer
to the addresses delivered at the inauguration of
the Perth Albert Memorial, on Tuesday, the 30th.
of August :

" Balmoral, Aug. 31.
" am commanded by her Majesty to convey
to you the expression of her Majesty's entire satis.
faction with the arrangements which had been
made by yourself and the civic authorities of tha
city of Perth for the ceremonial of yesterday.
Nothing could be more gratifying to her Majesty's
feelings on the occasion of inaugurating a statue t,o
the memory of the Prince Consort than the d
meanour of the people, which showed how co n-
pletely they felt the character of the day's proce ad-
ings, and the quiet order with which every part of
the ceremonial war: conducted.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient
servant, " CHARLES WOOD."

" Balmoral, Aug. V-.
" Sir,—l am commanded by her Majesty to ex•
press to you the satisfaction with which her Masi
jesty has received the renewed expressions of
loyalty and attachment to her throne of the Lord
Provost, magistrates, and Town Council on behalf
of the community of the city of Perth.
" Her Majesty witnessed with deep satisfaction
the inaguration of the statue which has been raised
in Perth in testimony of the gratitude, affection,
and respect entertained for the Prince Consort. Her
Majesty cordially concurs in your hopes that the
sight of such a memorial may stimulate those of
future generations to the practice of those virtues
which have rendered the memory of her beloved,
and great husband so dear to the people of this
country, the recollection of which has led to Cab
erection of this statue, and of other similes proofs
of their lasting gratitude.
"I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
" CHARLES WOOD."

Railway Accident.

Bramr.wonAlsr, Monday night, 10 p.m.
An accident, nearly attended with very serious cense•
quences, occurred at the London and North-Western Com-
pany's station, in this town, to-night. The 6 o'clock express
from London, due hero at 9 p.m., arrived punctually. The
engine had passed through the tunnel on to the line in the
station; at this point the engine, tender, and guard's van,
with one passenger carriage, passed on all right. The socond
and third carriages were thrown off the rails, and the fourth
carriage was thrown on its side. In it unfortunately there
were only two passengers, who almost by a miracle escaped
without being much hurt. They were extricated through
the windows on the upper side. The remaining portion of
the train, consisting of three or four second class carriages,
with the last guard's van, remained on the rails. The train
having been brought to a stand the carriage thrown on its
side was dragged along a few yards, and ultimately the end
of it came in contact with a portion of the platform, which
it tore up. A part of one large flagstone, three feet in length,
was forced into the carriage which had been thrown over.
The passengers above referred to were extricated, having it
is hoped, sustained ne very serious injuries, and Mr Oliver
Pemberton, the company's surgeon, was in a few minutes
on the spot, ready to assist the passengers, many of whom
were in a state of great excitement. Mr Roberts, the
general superintendent, was also at the scene immediately,
and every effort was made to clear the line, which just now
is much thronged. This was done as speedily as possible.
Major Dixon, of the Ist Royals, was standing on the plat-
form when the accident occurred. He was knocked down
and much shaken. Two causes have been assigned for the
accident. One is, that the turn-table, over which the train
had to pass, had been left improperly fastened; the other
is, that there was something wrong in connection with the
points.

THEATRE INTERESTS IN LIVERPOOL.—The
Liverpool magistrates on Friday cancelled the fol-
lowing rules relative to the theatres in the borough, inas-
much as they had been instructed by counsel that they had
no power to impose their terms upon the managers
the :---
saay,theatres
main-
tain ;
h
" That no common prostitute, or reputed thief, or other
any
best of
of
his
id
ability, notoriously disordered person, shall be knowingly admitted
into or permitted to rsemai, aiin in
but that the manager to the
and keep good order and decent behaviour in the
theatre during the hours of performance." " And every
manager or other person having the care or management
of any theatre who shall make default in compliance with
these rules. or eithgr of them, shall forfeit and pay for such
offence a sum not exceeding £20." It was stated that
similar rules to those existed in Birmingham, Manchester,
and elsewhere.

[ADvEßTisEmEyr.]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.--
All persons afflicted with bad legs, sores, ulcere, and skin
diseases, who, from want of means, or other reasons, can-
not avail themselves of surgical treatment, may release
themselves from their complaints by using Holloway's
purifying, soothing, and healing remedies. In every out-
ward ailment this wonderful ointment brings about the
most beneficial results by checking inflammations, cleans-
ing ulcerations, and restoring soundness. Internal pains,
rheumatic and gouty tortures, enlarged joints, scrofulous
swellings, and contracted sinews may be overcome by dili-
gently rubbing this cooling unguent into the skin. In all
maladies of unusual severity or excessive duration, the pills
should be taken internally to root out the last seeds of the
disorder and to hasten the desired cure.

B. ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS
1 .1.. EVERY EVENING, at Eight.
RO YAL ITALIAN OPERA 'HOUSE, COVENT-GARDEN.
Mae. C. Patti, Mdlle. Krebs ; Mr. Levy, Mr. G
el e. Perren,
N. 110111118eall, Ali Ben Sou- ale, and 31. A RBAN, the c-
brated French Cornet-a- Olsten performer (his first app
ante ear-
in
England these twelve years). The Faust Selectv.)n,
]sand of the Coldstream
MrGuards, ,tc
-MELLON.
.
Conductor, . ALFRED
Promenade, Amphitheatre Stalls, and Amphitheatre, One
Shilling ; Dress Circle, 2s. Cd. ; Private Boxes, II is. and
10s. Cd.
To-reorrow (Thursday), Second BEETLIOVEN NIGHT.
On Friday next, a VERDI NIGIIT.
------------

♦ 0 YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
RA) Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Gco. Vining.
THIS EVSNING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Paddy
O'Rafferiy, Mr. Dominick Murray.
After which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs.
Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fi her. D. Murray, J. Nelson, H.
Forre,tcr. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma
Barnett, and Miss FAnny Gwynne.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPiii."""
8010 Proprietor and A1ank2,21% Mr. B. Webster.
TO-NIGHT, A WOMAN OF BUSINESS. Messrs. J, L.
Toole, Billington, and Mr-. Stirling.
—After which, MASKS AND FACES. Messrs. B. Webster,
j Bedford, R. Phillips, Billington, Stuart; Mrs. Stirling*,
Xra. Billiug,ton. and Miss H. Simms.
To conclude with THE ACTOR'S 'RETREAT. Messrs.
J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, R. Plinks, and Miss Woolglr.
Commence at 7.