The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-23 00:00:00

P..4ELTAMENTARY COMMITTEES'.

EMBANKMENT OF THE THAMES.
The committee continued their sitting yesterday,
Sir J. Paxton in the chair. The other members
present were—Lord J. Manners, Sir J. Shelley,
Mr. Philipps, Mr. Beamish, Lord R. Montagu, Mr.
Walter, Sir M. Peto, Mr. Alderman Cubitt, and
Mr. Tite.

Mr. Fowler, civil engineer, was called and exa-
mined. He said he was at present employed in
carrying out the Pimlico Station and the various
railways approaching that terminus, and also the
Metropolitan railway, and in connexion with this
had projected an embankment, on which would be
a roadway and railway, on the north side of the
Thames, a model of which was before the commit-
tee. The embankment would commence at West-
minster-bridge, and proceed to Blackfriars-bridge
in the first instance, where it would form a junc-
tion with the London, Chatham, and Dover line or
any other railway that might come to that point.
The levels were so arranged as to render it unneces-
sary to alter the present level of Blackfriars-bridge
or the plans of the new railway. The roadway on
the embankment would be 80 feet wide, and join
New Bridge-street, Blackfriars. The public ob-
ject gained by this plan would be a new road
from Westminster-bridge to Blackfriars-bridge,
an improvement in the navigation of the river,
the disappearing of the mud banks; and also af-
ford the means of carrying the low level sewer
along the banks of the river, thus preventing the
interruptiom of the street traffic. lie believed
it would be impossible to give sufficient relief to
the street traffic without a railway in addition to a
roadway. For the accommodation of the river traffic
there would be docks within the embankment.
One of these docks would extend from Whitehall-
place to Waterloo-bridge, and with two entrances.
Another would be formed between Somerset-house
and the Temple-gardens. The third would be at
Whitefliars. The total amount of dock accommo-
dation would be 7 acres 3 roods. The whole plan
was quite consistent with an extension eastward to
Southwark-bridge. In the first instance, he pro-
posed to stop at Blackfriars-bridge.
The Chairman remarked that the great object
was to carry the embankment as far as possible
towards London-bridge, and to relieve the traffic
eastwards from Blackfriars-bridge.
Mr. Fowler said that object would be in a great
measure accomplished by the extension of the new
road from Blackfriars-bridge to New Cannon-street.
The railway which would run at the back of the
roadway on the embankment would, as he had
stated, join the railway station at Blackfriars-
bridge, thus giving railway access to Smithfield-
market, and by means of the Metropolitan Rail-
way to the Eastern Counties Railway. The total
cost of the work from "Westminster-bridge to the
railway station at Blackfriars-bridge and the road-
way to New Bridge-street, exclusive of compensa-
tion and the erection of
,buildings would be
£700,000. For that cost there would be a railway,
a roadway 80 feet wide, and a sewer under the
embankment ;an improvement of the navigation of
the river, and a removal of the mud banks. If the
public contributed £280,000 towards the road,
£lOO,OOO for the facilities given for the construc-
tion of the sewer, and £50,000 for the improvement
of the river, making a total of £400,000, he thought
it would be a very advantageous arrangement for
them. He had not the least doubt that with such
a contribution a company would undertake the con-
struction of the works. The question of compensa-
tion might be put in this way. If the company
were allowed the disposal of the land gained they
would settle the question of compensation. If, oe
the other hand, the public retained the land the
public must pay the compensation. He, believed,
however, looking at the improvement which would
be effected in the value of the property along the
waterside, that the amount of compensation would
not be very large. He proposes to have railway
stations at llungerford and Waterloo bridges, and
thought that, including stoppages, the speed might
be set down at 16 miles an hour. The height of
the embankment before Temple-gardens would be
about 15 feet, but the gardens inside would be
greatly enlarged. The expense of making the
roadway 100 feet instead of 80 would not be very
great. The additional 20 feet might be dedicated
to a promenade. The embankment would not
injure the property on the south side of the river.
Mr. Saunders, who occupies extensive premises
at Queenhithe, was next examined. He stated
that the occupiers of property in that district felt
mu-h alarm at the interference which the embank-
ment might cruse in their business, and at the
increased taxation which was likely to take place.
He thought, however, their objections would be
removed if the requisite accommodation was given
to them.

Mr. Hawkshaw, civil engineer, believed the pro-
posed embankment would materially improve the
Thames, provided it was carried out without trench-
ing too much on the river. Three or four years
ago he had projected a railway from the west-end
to the east, passing along the Middlesex shore, the
outside part of the embankment to be appropriated
to wharfage purposes. Since he had seen Mr.
Bidder's plan, he had come to the conclusion that a
roadway would be better than a railway. He did
not think sufficient space could be found for a road-
way, a railway, and docks, without trenching too
much on the river space. Mr. Bidder's plan was
the best and most simple that he had seen. He
did not think the scheme could repay itself, and
was of ophition that public contributions would be
•
required.
Mr. Lees, silk mercer, of Fleet-street, was next
examined, and stated that the occupiers of property
along the line of the projected new sewer were
greatly alarmed at the interruption which their
trade would experisnce. He believed that if carried
along Fleet-street it would ruin nine-tenths of the
tradesmen of limited capital, by driving their cus-
tomers to other quarters. He was decidedly favour-
able to the embankment, which would include the
sewer, and prevent the interruption of the City
traffic.
The commit tee then adjourned.

Premature Greyness, Weak or Falling Bair, Neuralgia,
1 •
Nervous Headache, Rheumatism, Stiff Joints, &c., are reme-
died with ease and certainty by HERRING'S Patent Magnetic
Brushes and Combs. Their use is an absolute luxury. His
newly-invented Teazle Brushes for Colth, Velvet, &c., are
admirable—they not only cleanse, but preserve the fabric iu
a remarkable manner. The Manufactory is 32, Basinghall-
street. The public arc cautioned a2.4.4,i fit counterleita.--ADvT.