The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-07 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

THE RAISING OF HOLBORN VALLEY.
A Special Court of Common Council was held yes-
terday in the Egyptian Hall at the Mansion-house
for the purpose of receiving a report from the Im-
provement Committee upon the subject of the im-
portant metropolitan improvement of altering the
present dangerous thoroughfare of Holborn-hill, by
raising what is called the Holborn valley, and also
to consider the propriety of taking such steps as
may be deemed expedient by the Court for prose-
cuting a bill in the ensuing session of Parliament
for effecting the improvement contemplated.
The Lord Mayor presided, and there was a very
full attendance of members of the Court, the ques-
tion being one of considerable public importance.
Deputy FRY, in bringing up the report, which
had been printed and circulated, said he was sure
that every gentleman present felt deep anxiety on
the important question that was about to be brought
before them. (Hear, hear.) He said it was unne-
cessary to waste any time in descanting on the cry-
ing evil that had existed for so long a period, or in
observing upon the necessity of remedying that evil.
Many plans had been suggested, but the evil still
existed; and he believed they would all agree with
him that the time had come when it was absolutely
necessary for the public interest that something
should be done. (Hear, hear.) In consequence of
the advertisements issued by the committee 84 gen-
tlemen sent in plans and designs for making the pro-
posed alteration, and he could -not help expressing
the high sense entertained by the committee of the
very great talent exhibited by these gentlemen, and
the labour and cost they had expended in prepar-
ing these plans and designs, and thanking them
most sincerely for the trouble they had taken.
(Hear, hear.) The total number of plans sent in was
105, and the committee—being of course somewhat
bewildered by having so great a number of plans
to take into consideration—felt it was necessary to
have professional assistance, and they applied to
Mr. Haywood, the engineer to the Commissioners
of Sewers, to assist them. That gentleman had sent
in plans of his own for effecting the alteration, but
he, in the most honourable and liberal manner,
withdrew these plans from their consideration, and
placed himself at the service of the committee ; but
he thought it right to say that he in no way inter-
fered with the decision arrived at by the committee
in reference to the plans submitted to them, or on
the decision they ultimately arrived at. He then
proceeded to explain that the committee, after due
consideration, reduced the number of plans to 48,
and this number they divided into nine classes, and
they afterwards reduced this number to 4. Deputy
Fry, after entering into some details, said that by
the plan recommended by the committee Skinner-
street and Holborn-hill would be entirely removed,
and a fine new street erected from Newgate-street
to Hatton-garden, or higher up if necessary, upon
the high level road ; and he said he believed that
this proposition would meet all the difficulties that
at present existed, and that the plan was one en con-
formity with the present intention of the act of Par-
liament, and which would undoubtedly receive the
sanction of the Legislature. He concluded by
stating that he did not consider it necessary to go
into further details; but he would simply observe
that the public were anxiously watching the pro-
ceedings of the corporation of London in reference
to this important question, and that it was neces-
sary this Court should agree with the recommen-
dation of the committee, in order that the necessary
plans might be at once prepared, and the formal
notices given, so that a bill might be brought before
Parliament in the ensuing session. He concluded
by moving that the report of the committee should
be agreed to. (Hear.)
The TOWN CLERK put the motion to the Court,
which was at once unanimously agreed to.
It may be stated as to the mode of making the
proposed alteration as included in class 1, :11 which
there are three candidates, namely, Mr. Frederick
Marrable, Mr. T. C. Sorby, and Mr. It. Bell, it will
be left for further consideration to decide which of
the plans will be ultimately carried out, and which
of the competitors are entitled to the premiums of
£250 and £l5O offered by the Corporation respec-
tively for the two best plans submitted to them.