The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-18 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF

SEWERS.

A Special Court of the Metropolitan Commissioners of
Sewers was held yesterday at the office in Greek•etreet.
Present—Mr. R. Jebb (in the chair), Lieutenant-Colonel
Dawson, R.E., Mr. G. S. Smith, Mr. George Baker, Mr.
T. F. Gibson, Mr. Thomas Hawes, and Mr. D. B. Gordon.
THE GREAT PLAN FOR THE DRAINAGE OF DISTRICTS

NORTH OF THE THAMES.
MR. ROBERT STEPHENSObi'S REPORT.

Mr. Woolrych, on being called-on by the chairman,
read the following report by Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P.,
on the plan proposed by Messrs. Bazalgette and Heywood,
engineers to the Metropolitan and City Commissions of
Sewers, for the drainage of the districts lying north of the
Thames:—

" 24, Great George-street, Westminster, May 15:

" Gentlemen—Absence from England prevented my uniting
with Sir William Cubitt in drawing up his remarks, dated
February 25, .1854, on the joint report of Messrs. Bazalgette
and Heywood, on a proposed system of intercepting drains
throughout that portion of the metropolis lying on the north
side of the river Thames.

" I therefore now take leave to lay before you a few obser-
vations on that report, and before doing so may premise that
it is not my intention to revert to those points touched upon
by Sir Wm. Cubbitt, as I entirely concur in the opinion he
has given respecting the general merits of the plan, and the
estimated cost of carrying it out.
" My observations will rather have reference to the general
principle of intercepting sewers upon which the design is
based, and to one or two of the localities where it has been
deemed advisable to depart from this system to meet special
conditions.

" With respect, then, to the application of the principle of
intercepting sewers to very large towns, and more especially
to the metropolis, where it has become imperative to lessen as
far as practicable the nuisance of discharging the sewage di-
rectly into that part of the Thames upon which the metropolis
is situate, I believe there is considerable unanimity of opinion
among engineers who have been called upon to direct their at-
tention to the subject. When I was a member of your body it
fell to my lot to examine upwards of 150 suggestions for im-
proving the drainage of London, among which were many from
professional men of experience; and by far the majority of
these, when a comprehensive study of the subject had been
made, agreed on adopting a series of intercepting sewers, as
the only method affording a simple awl efficient system of
drainage, and at the same time freeing the Thames through
London of pollution.
" The plan which was afterwards submitted by Mr. Frank
Forster to the commissioners may be regarded as embodying
most of the useful views which such of these plans contained
as were based upon the principle of interception by main
lines of sewer, carried to a point on the river so far down as
to prevent the reaction of the tidal waters bringing the
feculent matter back among the inhabitants of the metro-
polis. .

" The design now produced by Mr. Bazalgette and Mr.
Heywood may he regarded as the extension of Mr Forster's
views, adapted to the new features which every suburb of
London is yearly presenting. They have also made some ju-
dicious modifications suggested by time and further informa-
tion, one of the most important of which is the removal of
the lowest intercepting drain from the shore of the river, as
such a position, although chosen for the purpose of making
the system of interception complete, would have been carried
out with the utmost difaculty, in consequence of the loose
nature of the soil, and at a cost incapable of any certain cal-
culation beforehand.

" The construction of this novel intercepting sewer does
not, however, press for immediate attention, for it is clear
that, of the three intercepting sewers comprehended in
Messrs. Bazalgette and Heywood's plan, the construction of
the upper and middle levels should be proceeded with first.
Their completion alone will greatly relieve the Thames of im-
purities by lessening the direct discharge, will render the
construction of the lowest level less difficult and less costly.
Indeed, it is not improbable that by the diversion of so large
a portion of the sewage matter from the river as would be
under the control of the middle and upper lines of intercep-
tion the formation of the lowest would become comparatively
much less important, and might be postponed for some length
of time, and so relieve the demand upon those who supply
the funds.
" The two upper lir.es of interception would, in fact, leave
less offensive matter to be discharged into the sewers than has
taken place in any time within living recollection.
" It is the only mode of procedure which seems adapted
eventually to remove, and at once to mitigate, many of the
chief difficulties and annoyances attaching themselves to this
complicated question.
" In this design the system of interception is applied to the
whole of the metropolis on the north side of the river, ex-
cceopmtpinrifsiangpoaintioanrewa hoifchabiosutdleBsigsqnuataerde
mthiele, westerns district
commencing a;
little to the east of Brompton and Chelsea, and extending
westward as far as Broutford. The level of all this district is
so low that it is impossible to obtain any other natural means
of drainage than into the river, as at present. To obviate
this objection it is proposed to treat the western district by a
different method, which appears to me well calculated to
overcome the obstacles arising out of this circumstance,
namely, to direct the whole of the sewage to one point ou the
shore of the river near the entrance into the Kensington
Canal, and there take means for separating the liquid and
solid portion of the sewage before the former is discharged
into the river. Experiments on a large scale with this pro-
cess are now being made, and with such result that its ulti-
mate success may be fairly deemed probable.

" I agree, therefore, with the recommendations made in
this report as to the method to be applied to the western
district, in consequence of its extremely low level.
" With the general lines of direction which have been
selected for interception I also concur; but, in anticipation
of the success of the method for extracting solid manure from
the sewage and its becoming remunerative, it is suggested,
that considerations may arise seriously affecting the scheme
proposed,' and a question is raised, whether it would not
then be advisable, on the score of economy, to modify the
designs presented for the middle and low-level sewers, and to
abandon the chief portion of the line between the river Lea
and Barking Creek.' Iu this Ido not go to the full extent
with Messrs. Bazalgette and Heywood, for, although the pro-
cess for the manufacture of manure may prove successful, I
do not think this probably would tend to, still less would
justify, the delay of the construction of the middle level
works. These seem to me to be absolutely necessary to

rectify the present defective system of drainage, whatever
shape the manure question may eventually take. I have
already stated that the middle•-level is calculated, when
properly dealt with, to ameliorate the evils so much com-
plained of in so marked a manner that the execution of
the lower level may perhaps safely be postponed for a time ;
but I can foresee no degree of improvement in the manufac-
ture of manure in prospect that would tend to any material
alteration in its construction, or position, or cost. It strikes
at the root of many of the existing evils in the most direct
manner, while it comprehends within its scope and influence
so large and important a district that I think no minor ob-
stacle ought to stand in the way of its execution. The ex-
tension to Barking might, I think, be dispensed with, as
suggested.
If in extending and perfecting the drainage of London
the chief objects be the improvement of the general sanitary
condition of the inhabitants and the purification of the Thames
from noisome matter, I cannot help repeating that I regard
the middle intercepting sewer as one of the most important
features of the scheme on which I am now reporting, and,
indeed, without it either object, and the last especially, could
only be partially attained, for no arrangement in the extrac-
tion of the solid matter from the sewage that I can conceive
-would prevent the frequent discharge of the usual amount of
noxious filth into the river.
44 This can only, I believe, be avoided by the intercepting
system being fully carried out, and no part of the proposed
plan is more effective than the middle interception, and none
can be so ill spared or postponed.
I am induced to express this opinion somewhat decidedly,
because, having had my attention called to several methods
that have been proposed for the extraction of manure from
sewage, I have been led to the conclusion that, instead of
multiplying such establishments within the precincts of towns,
as some contemplate, a complete system of interception, with
the concentration of the manure process on a few points, is
that which is best calculated to attain success.
With reference to the dimensions of the proposed sewers,
I have not been able to go in the details of the calculations,
but, having examined the tabular statements attached to the
engineers' report, and having received explanations from them
respecting the directions of the flow in the various sewers in-
tended to take place, I have every confidence in the correct-
ness of their conclusions.
I have only further to add, that I regard the design of
Messrs. Bazalgette and Heywood as comprehending, in a very
practical shape, all the essentially useful suggestions which
have, from time to time, been made by engineers respecting
the drainage of the metropolis ; and I have no doubt what-
ever that if the commissioners be put in a position to carry
it out it will be found effective.
4' I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
" ROBERT STEPHENSON.

t, To the Commissioners of Metropolitan Sewers."
The CHAIRMAN said they had met that day to sanction
the execution of works that had been considered and recom-
comended by the committee for the adoption of the Court
to the amount of 122,6101., and among those works now
brought forward were comprised six or seven large blocks
of houses that were to be furnished with sewers, and some
entire new works of great magnitude, involving the entire
reconstruction of the Counter's Creek sewer from north to
south, at an estimated cost of 51,3001. Those works were
considered to be necessary in order to save an enormous
loss to the property that annually occurred from the Thames
to the Norland estate and the north of Kensington. There
had been a great number of complaints upon the subject,
which
bad engaged the anxious consideration of the com-
missioners for a long time past. He knew that such com-
plaints had been frequent ever since he had been chairman,
and for years before. The commissioners were most
anxious to accomplish a work of urgent necessity, but
hitherto, in consequence of their peculiar situation, they
were unable to do so, through the difficulty they had in
raising the money. The works for which they had ob-
tained the sanction of Parliament to raise 200,000/. would
cost more than a million and a half, and included the
Hackney-brook sewer and the districts north of the
Thames ; and there was a second plan for districts south of
the Thames. They were about to devote 150,0001. towards
the last-mentioned works, reserving 50,000/. for subsidiary
works, but the commissioners did not feel that they would
be justified in expending that amount without the sanction
of Government, and that it was required, as the commis-
sioners alone were responsible for the outlay, and they had
no wish that any responsibility should rest on others that
fairly devolved upon themselves. They had applied to
Parliament, and, unless the commissioners were assured
that they would have funds for completing certain works,
they must decline commencing them, unless with a cer-
tainty that they would be finished. Having, therefore,
but 200,0001. for works that would cost 1,000,0001., they
had applied to the Government for means, but had as yet
not received any answer. There had been some delays
as to the opening of the court, and the committee had
come to the conclusion that it would not be desir-
able to encroach on the 150,0001. until they got a final
answer. They
bad required him to snake an appli-
cation for a more definite answer, and until they,
saw the intentions of Government the commissioners con-
sidered they could come to no conclusion, however in-
convenient such a course might be, and if any inconve-
nience was felt the commissioners were satisfied that no
blame rested on thorn. He found that the 50,00j1. set
apart for subsidiary works, added to the current receipts
of the districts, would do all they proposed except for the
works for the Counter's Creek district which were esti-
mated at 51,0001., and it would be for tho Court to order
them or uot, with the ressrve of that 51,0001. for the pre-
sent. The Counter's Creek district was suffering from
great evils, from the want of a proper sewer, and repeat.
edly had been the complaints from owners of houses tbat
they could not find tenants, for want of drainage, and that
the cellars of their houses were flooded with water. They
had not funds to do what was required, and they (lid not
think themselves justified in applying the 150,0001. until
they got the sanction of Goverrit9ent, and which they were
pledged to the public to expend in main drainage works.
Lieutenant-Colonel DAWSON said, with regard to the
present state of the metropolis, the sum of 150,0001., which
might be considered a large sum, was but a small one in
MaPirliA9U with the works of urgenoy required for the