The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-24 00:00:00

CITY SEWERS COMMISSION.

A meeting of the members of this commission
was held in the Court-room at the Guildhall yes-
terday, under the presidency of Mr. Henry De Jer-
sey. Among those present were Alderman Besley,
Deputies Reed, Pewtress, Lorkin, Elliott, Lott,
Bower, Unwin.Whiteside, Lloyd, Obbard, Rathbone,
Fuller, Annie, Harrison; Messrs. George Walter,
Croucher, C. Young, Lester J. T. Young, Dr.
Abraham, W. Aleock, J. E. Saunders, J. Symonds,
Green, Kebbel, Owden, Humphreys, Matthew, J.
Waterlow, &c.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WARD OF FARRINGDON
WITHOUT.
Mr. H. R. NEWTON attended before the Court,
and submitted drawings and a model showing a
proposition for the relief of the traffic at the cross-
junction of Fleet-street, Ludgate-hill, and Bridge-
street, a question, he said, perhaps of more especial
importance than ordinary to consider at the present
moment, because the traffic would be rapidly in-
creased beyond its present excess by the opening
of the widened Blackfriars-bridge, and the estab
lishment of railway termini adjoining, namely, of
the London, Chatham, and Dover Company, in
Farringdon-street, and that of the Metropolitan
Company in Victoria-street. The proposition was
to sink, by a gradual incline, to the depth of about
20 feet in the centre of the road in Farringdon-
street and Bridge-street (the site of the present cab
stands), commencing at about Fleet-lane on the one
side, and at Union-street on the other, so as to form
a free passage under the old Fleet-bridge for a
double line of carriages, for what might be termed
the Blackfriars-bridge and Holborn traffic, thereby
intercepting any collision between it and the cross

traffic of Fleet-street and Ludgate-hill. For equal-
ising the general width of the approaches a slight
alteration of the pavement in Bridge-street would
be required, and also the setting back the railings
in the open space in front of Crescent-place, under
which spot runs the main sewer. Without alter-
ing the levels of the existing street the gradients
could be easily formed to pass under the cross junc-
tion of from lin 20 to lin 30. There were, how-
ever, favourable circumstances of another character
to consider, as the cross junction was now raised
5 feet above the general levels of Farringdon-street
and Bridge-street, and thus approached by inclines.
If, therefore, this cross junction was raised about 3ft.
more, it would be possible to descend under it, and
ascend by the side-roads to it by inclines all exactly
of the same length and precisely the same gradients,
namely, 1 in 40; and it was obviously a point of
the greatest importance to attain, so far as heavy

traffic was concerned, that in providing an alterna-
tive road, it should be, if possible, as convenient in
every respect as the ordinary road, otherwise that
particular traffic would perhaps be influenced not to
make so much use of it as it really might. By rais-
ing the cross junction only 2 feet the gradients in
both cases would be still 1 in 20, but the inclines
under the bridge would be longer than up to the
cross junction. To form the lower road the crown
of the sewer would have to be removed, but the
width in no case would be interfered with, and,
without raising the levels of the cross junction, the
height of the sewer could be five feet ; but, if the
cross junction was raised three feet, the sewer would
obviously be increased to eight feet, a height to
nearly which, he believed, the water rose only on
rare and exceptional periods. As the southern inter-
cepting main sewer in the Thames would be circu-
lar, and only six feet in diameter, it would have one
quartcr tho capacity of the Fleet sewer reduced to
eight feet in height, which reduction would pro-

bably only diminish by 25 per cent. its own sec- beast tried to rid himself of these truly piquant
tional area of discharge. Should, however, it be decorations in vain, and pursued the toreadors—
considered advisable to preserve for storm waters that is to say, the whole lot of miscreants who were
the maximum sectional capacity of the Fleet sewer, engaged in tormenting him. Competent authority
it would be perfectly practicable to do so in two deeming that he had now been tortured enough,
ways—First, by forming on one side of the street a and had better be put out of his misery, the tram-
short length of additional sewer, to make up the pet again sounded, and in came El-Tato, the chief
deficiency of 25 per cent ; and secondly, because the and popular matador, to perform that act of mercy.
sewer in Farringdon-street was a double one (and This artist, a well made, handsome man, with calves
would be on either side of the proposed road), and that a London footman would envy, was dressed in
if they joined at the Fleet-bridge, from whence the a purple jacket braided with gold, and breeches
sewer at the other end passed rapidly out. The east which were mauve behind and gold-laced before.
side of Bridge-street, consequently, if the double He was armed with a sword, and carried a red flag
sewer were prolonged in a straight line towards the called a muleta. He attacked the bull bareheaded;
Bridge-street sewer,might be joined to it somewhere his black hair gathered up in a knot behind, like
opposite Crescent-place. This would completely re- that of a female. He also danced before the bull,
move the sewer from under the cross junction ; but and dodged him with extreme activity; on one
this he did not anticipate would be considered neces- occasion, when the bull stopped short, taking the
sary in any way. The expense attendant upon these opportunity to strike an attitude, and stand with
operations would vary according to what was deter- a coquettish tenure of his scarf in relation to the
mined on ; but if, on inspection, it was found bull. This pose drew down thunders of applause,
practicable, with due regard to headway and the which were repeated when he sat down on the ledge
gradients of inclines, &c., to use the old Fleet-bridge of the arena facing the bull and kissed his hand to
as it was, and yet have sufficient passage way .him. After some further capering he proceeded to
for sewage water, and all the levels of the street business, and made en unsuccessful blow at the bull,
remained as at present, he did not consider that the but his second thrust was a home one. He stuck
works need cost more than £2,000 ; but if, as he his victim over the left shoulder, apparently through
should recommend to be carried out, the course was the heart. The animal fell dead. Three horses,
raised some two or three feet, in the way he had decorated with flags, and harnessed to a long bar,
described, he estimated that in any way the maxi- were then galloped in, and the bleeding, quivering
mum cost would not exceed £5,000; and the con- carcase, attached by its head to the bar, was dragged
struction in either case would not interrupt the twice round the arena, and then out. El-Tato,
traffic for a single day. with his blood-bedraggled flag and bloodstained
Several questions were put to Mr. Newton upon sword, then knelt to their Imperial Majesties, and
the subject, and ultimately the matter was referred the spectators shouted their applause. So ended the
to the Improvement Committee to consider and first part of this pretty entertainment, of which the
report.
witnesses mainly consisted of the most fashion-
SANATORY CONDITION OF THE CITY, ably attired ladies, in addition to the Authoress of
Dr. Letheby, the medical officer of health, re- Crinoline. One of them threw her fan into the
ported to the Commissioners of Sewers for the city ring as a testimonial of her approbation of El-tato.
of London on the state of 194 houses that had been The second part was a repetition of the first, with
inspectedduring the week, and he submitted a list additional atrocities. To enhance the gratification
0f79h0 houses for sanatory improvement. The medical afforded by the spectacle, the mangled horses were
officer likewise reported that since the last meeting again ridden in until one of them fell from mere
of the Court, he had obtained returns of all the wounds, and was then kicked off. The second
inspections which had been made during the present espada who came to kill the bull after the torture
year of the three places which were said to have inflicted by the banderilleros, was a muff. He made
been neglected, and also of the number of orders five or six ineffectual stabs, inflicting a wound each
issued for their sanatory improvement ; from which time, until the poor beast streamed with blood.
it appeared that the nine houses in White Lion- Loud cries were raised for El-Tato to give the
court had been inspected 24 times, and 31 orders cachete or coupe de grace; but professional etiquette
issued for sanatory improvement ; Holborn-build- prevented him from obeying them. At last the
ings had been inspected 20 times, and 40 orders bull, exhausted by bleeding, fell, and, yells of dis-
hed been issued ; Plumtree-court had been visited approbation greeting the clumsy slaughter, one of
23 times, and 72 orders had been issued; altogether the toreadors thrust a short dagger into his:medulla
there had been 107 inspections of the houses in oblongata, and killed him.
White Lion-court, 170 of Holborn-buildings, and Part the Third differed from the others only in
280 of Plumtree-court since the Ist of January, and the circumstance that one of the picadors, more
there had been 143 orders issued by the Court for miserably mounted than the rest, walked his horse,
a
sanatory improvements. The particulars and dates poor white beast, which seemed resigned to its
of the inspections and orders were submitted to the fate, deliberately up to the bull to be gored. Stream-
commissioners. ing with blood from its lacerated chest and side,
The markets and slaughter. houses had been duly this horse was led in front of the Imperial box, and
inspected in the course of the week, and the officers could scarcely stagger from the arena.
had seized 1,3721b5. of meat as unfit for food. It con- During Part Two, El-Tato cut a caper too much.
sisted of 3 pigs, 9 well itmight—and he was
of meat, and 162 head of sheep, 3 quarters of beef, 5 joints His foot slipped--as
game and poultry; all of within an ace of being gored. Other toreadors,
which bad been destroyed. The occupiers of two of however, diverted the bull's attention, and debarred
the slaughter-houses of Whitechapel had been sum- the ingress of daylight into El-Tato's interior.
Incased before the justices during the week, for Another less satisfactory bull would not show fight,
neglecting the orders of the commission, and had and the spectators howled and shouted, Otro toro!
been fined, mad as demons.
The medical officer submitted his quarterly report Mr. Punch went away at the end oflPart Three.
of the illuminating power and chemical quality of He had seen as much as he could stand. The results
the gas supplied to the city of London daring the of the day's sport were, he understands, six man-
summer quarter, from which it appeared that the gled bulls and seven gored horses; but no injury to
gas had any human brute.
illuminating power of the Great Central
been equal to 12.61 standard sperm candles, that of If anybody wants to see a bull killed, Mr. Punch
the Chartered 12.85, and that of the Commercial recommends him to go to a regular slaughter-house,
14.02. These were the results of 424 examinations, t where he will at any rate witness the slaughter of
With reference to that part of Dr. Letheby's re- an ox, if the butcher does not happen to deal in
port referring to the visits and orders made in re- bull beef. The stalwart exercise of the pole-axe,
spect of the houses in White Lion-court, Holborn- and the happy despatch of the victim, will please
buildings, and Plumtree-court, it was resolved that
him more than the stiletto practice of embroidered
the particulars referring to such Nisi to by the inapec- dancing-oleo, As to the horses, whoie death and