The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-05 00:00:00

gig

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1865.

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The Prince of WALES has always shown his readi-
ness to assist in any schemes for the improvement
of the metropolis, and has frequently honoured by
his presence the inauguration or undertakings
destined to increase the comfort and to promote the
welfare of the community. Yesterday his Royal
Highness celebrated the completion of the Main
Drainage of the metropolis, and thus this great
work has-begun under favourable auspices. It may
be fairly said that, without exaggeration, this is
one of the most stupendous and successful works of
its class which has ever been undertaken, and reflects
the highest credit upon all concerned in it. The
state of the Thames has long been a disgrace to the
metropolis, and seriously affected the health and
comfort of many of its inhabitants. Great laxity
was suffered to prevail in the management of the
matter ; but it is now happily un fait accompli, and
London, in the important sense of drainage, far
surpasses the other cities of the world. The Board
of Works are entitled to great credit for the perse-
verance and foresight which they have displayed in
the construction of this work, and their architect,
Mr. BAZALGETTE, deserves great praise for his ac-
complishment of so difficult a task with such skill
and industry. The immensity of the work may be
estimated by the fact that three hundred and
eighteen millions of bricks and eight hundred and
eighty thousand cubic yards of concrete have been
consumed. If at full work night and day forty-
four thousand tons of coal per annum would be
consumed. Hitherto, it is perhaps well known, the
chief object of the old system of drainage was to
render the Thames the great main sewer of London.
It is unnecessary to state that this plan was open to
the gravest objections, and the experience of the
most ignorant witnesses can attest to the impro-
priety of this insalubrious device. The expenses in-
curred by this system were enormous, and formed
the best satire on its folly and inefficiency. During
the summer months it cost about £9OO a-week to
obtain disinfectants to avert the evil consequences
of the fearful stench that arose from the river, and
it also entailed the outlay of a considerable sum to
render the sewers efficient, in consequence of their
faulty working. Mr. BAZALGETTE has succeeded
in accomplishing a work which must prove of mate-
rial benefit to the inhabitants of this crowded
metropolis, and, indeed, to the whole country, for
the health of London is of the utmost importance to
all those who have to make excursions there, or
come in contact with those who come from thence.
The plan devised for this work is an admirable one,
and if it prove successful, as in all probability it
will, the nuisance from which we have so long suf-
fered will be effectually removed from among us.
One of the chief objects of the undertaking is, that
the reservoirs may discharge themselves into the
Thames at high water, and the effect of this is a
considerable one, it being computed that the dis-
charge at high water is equal to twelve miles lower
down the river at low water. A proof of the in-
terest felt in this work may be- taken from the fact
that no " House" was made yesterday, in conse

_
quence of so many of the members attending the open-
ing ceremony, which was presided over so efficiently
by his Royal Highness. It was altogether an ani-

3natal scene which took place yesterday, and all
present seemed to enter fully into the importance of
the work and to recognise the necessity that existed
for its being carried out with spirit and enterprise.
The PRINCE listened with interest to the descriptions
given by Mr. BAZALGETTE concerning the principles
of the work in question, and received the gratifying
assurance that he was about to inaugurate an
undertaking which would be of great service to the
community in- protecting property from injury and I

preserving human life from disease and infection.
His Royal Highness started the engines amid loud

cheers, and thus the ceremony was happilyperforrned.
A dejeuner or lunch followed, at which some brief
remarks were made by the chief personages present.
The rEi.NQZ oherred that, although it witii not an