The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stu,—You are aware that a bill under the above
title was introduced into Parliament this session, by
which it was proposed to accomplish the following
objects :—" To afford means for effectually draining the
Metropolis—to preserve the Thames from the pollution
at present passing into it—and to preserve the contents
of the sewers for agricultural purposes."
These objects were to be secured by the construction
of a tunnel sewer on each side of the Thames, passing
under and intercepting the contents of the present sewers,
conveying the same to a distance from the Metropolis,
and there, by deodorising and precipitating it, to form
an inodorous and dry manure.
This bill was referred to a select committee before
whom, during an investigation of seven days, the fol-
lowing facts were proved by evidence :
That the proposed tunnel sewers were capable of car-
rying off 37,000,000 of cubic feet of sewerage per diem,
whilst the daily amount of sewerage, according to the
highest estimate, is only 12,000,000 of cubic feet.
That by these tunnel sewers, and by no other means,
can the whole of the low-lying districts of the metropolis
be efficiently drained.
That for the ordinary rain-fall ample provision is made,
the flushing or scouring power of which will carry down
into the tunnel sewers all the foul matter that may be in
the general sewers, leaving them clean channels through
which any amount of storm water will afterwards pass
into the Thames.
That the proposed terminal works were sufficient for
the purpose, and that the process of manufacturing the
manure was so inoffensive as to admit of the works ter-
minating at the River Lea, 34- miles short of the distance
proposed by the plan.
That the tunnels could be constructed without inter-
fering with the traffic of the thoroughfares under which
it
proposed
passtunnelt
ly constructed for the sum and
sewers, branch savers, and
workswas nto
f
couldthe
the
n debd to
ffieiee e 900,0001., eminent contractors being fully
prepared to
Ta
ti
undertake the contract.
The minutes of evidence taken before the committee
were ordered to be printed, on the moti •on of the chair-
man ; reference to which will confu at the foregoing
statements.

This important public work, originating with, and now
proposed to be carried out by, public enterprise, and in
all reasonable probability without charge to the rate-
payers, could not fail to confer such incalculable advan-
tages upon the metropolis that it was deemed reasonable
that the parishes benefited should share the risk in a
small degree. A clause was, therefore, inserted in the bill,
providing that they were to contribute towards a divi-
dend of 3 per cent. on the outlay (not exceeding 900,0001.),
in so far as the sale of the manure failed to produce that
rate of interest.

This guarantee was to extend only over 25 years, and
to be altogether extinguished whenever the profit
amounted to 3 per cent. Under this clause the greatest
amount which, under any circumstances, could be pay-
able by the metropolis would be 27,0001. per annum for
twenty-five years, equal to a present value of 450,0001.,
or one half the cost of the works.

The parishes, the parties really interested, did not
oppose the bill in committee, which was opposed only
by the representatives of the two Commissions of Sewers,
and on them, therefore, will rest the responsibility of
any delay that may occur in the carrying out this work,
or of devising some better plan for the drainage of the
metropolis, and a more advantageous method of raising
the capital.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
W. C. STEPHENS.
291, Royal Exchange, July 13th, 1853.
By the minutes of evidence taken before the coin-
mitteee, you will see that the commissioners do not con-
template taking any steps for relieving the Thames from
its pollution ; but, on the contrary, they contend that
such pollution is not particularly injurious, and that
they intend to confine their labours, for many years to
come, to the formation of extended inland sewers in
connection with the present outfall sewers, which will
greatly increase the pollution .of the Thames, and 'still
further endanger the health of the metropolis.