The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-08 00:00:00

THURSDAY JENA? 8, Ina

STATE OF THE THAMES.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE (THIS DAY).
Tnec.murnittee appointed to inquire into the etnte
the Tliame:i re-abstnblcdiu room Nf.;. 11---Mr.
in the chair. The members pr,,e,tiit were Sir B. 'Rail,
Mr. Aekriiyd, Mr. The, Mr. Roupell, Sir J. Y. Buller,
Mr. Locke, Lon', John _Manners, Sir J. V. Sheikh and
Mr. R. Stephenion.

Tie first witness examined this morning was
Mr. Maugham, a consultation chemist, and lately
lecturer at Charing-cross Hospital—l know a part of
Mr. Gurney's scheme is to burn the noxious gases arising
from the sewage. I have made experiments in this
house. I yesterday ermined the air of the sewers, and
p:evious to burning the gas I placed a slip of paper
which had been subjected to a chemical process in the
sewer shaft, which clearly proved the presence of sul-
phuretted hydrogen, by colouring the paper. After the
gas had been burnt according to Mr. Gurney's plan, I
placed a piece of paper similarly prepared, and the result
was that the paper came out perfectly white, clearly
showing that the gas had been destroyed. The foul air
rushed out of the shaft at the rate of 10,000 cubic feet
per minute, and I was surprised to find that sewage gas
contained 21 per cent, of hydrogen. I think it possible
to construct chimneys sufficient to consume the whole of
the noxious gases that,arise:from the sewers of the metro-
polis. I do not think that noxious gases would be gene-
rated in the river if mud banks in the Thames were pre-
vented from forming.
Mr. Tite—To what do you attribute the smell that
arises from the Thames at high water when the mud
banks are covered I

Mr. Maugham—The odour arises from such a number
of gases that I think it would puzzle all the chemists in
the world to decide from what it arose.

Mr. Tite—What in your judgment causes this noxious
gas to arise 1

Mr. Maugham--I think it is caused by the stirring
of the mud banks, which is all brought hick by the flood
tide.

The Chairman—Does the gas burn freely in the fur-
nace I

Witnesq—.The gases burn at a low rad heat in the
furnace, and after cornbu4tion the resulting air I found
to contain 20 per cent. of oxygen.

Sir B. Hall—After the gas has been burnt, do you
think the whole of the filth remainii,g might go into the
Thames without causing annoyance?
Witness—The filth goiruA into the Thames undoubtedly
would. calm soma annoyance, but it must be decomposed
somewhere.

The Chairman—ln which would the sewage undergo
decomposition the quickest—the sewer or the river ?
Witness—lt would not undergo decomposition so ra-
pidly in the Thames as in the sewer, owing to the great
dilution.

The Chairman—What is the offensive sour smell ?
Witness—Tne offensive sour smell arises from forma-
tion of acetic acid, arising from decomposition of vege-
table wa.ter.

The Witness, in answer to further questions, said—l
consider the sulphurous acid produced by the combustion
is a great amelioration of the atmosphere of London. The
application of steam is necessary to facilitate the coin
bustion of gases. The steam forms a sort of flux to the
gases by arresting the passages of the gases and giving
the flame of the furnace time to o ,nsurne them. There
is no fear of explosion either with or without steam.
Mr. Hayward—l have been for 13 years engineer t
the City Sewers Commission. I have heard of the
plan of burning the gas that arises from the sewage. I
have made no experiments on the anki.ol., hilt it is my
impression that there will he gr,at (lath:kitty in doing it,
if 1, p.;3sible to do it all. The difficulty to be over-
come would be gigantic, and the cost would be enormous.
I cannot give the committee any idea of the cost of such
a proceeding—there is no statistics on the subject. The
shafts would cost a great sum, but the main expense
would be caused in extracting the foul air from the
sewers. I think it impossible to ventilate the sewers on
the same principle as coal mines, because there are be
tween forty and fifty thousand inlets to the sewers o
the metropolis, each of which would have to be her.
metically sealed in order to accomplish the ob ect.
The cost of such a plan would also be enormous. If
it was possible to discharge the foul air arisiug from the
sewers at a sufficient height above the ordinary a' mos-
phere, I should think it would be advisable to do so,
but a chemist would be the beat person to inform the
committee on that point. I don't think it possible to
burn the gas arising from the sea era entirely. In al
these plans a little is accomplished ; but then the thing
to discover is if it can be done effectually, and, if not,
whether it is worth while to incur the expense of doing
the thing only partially.
Mr. Tite—Can you enter the City sewers without
danger to human lie?

Mr. Hay ward—l never found any inoonvenierce in
entering the sewers in the City of London. The danger
is not from the gas arising from the sewage, but from
the leakage of the gas pipes.
Mr. Tite—Suppose this plan of burn!cg the gas was
carried out, how many of these venti!ating shafts would
be required for the City of London

Mr. Hayward—l have made no calculation; but I
should think eight at least.

Mr. Tite—What is the internal temperature of the
City sewers I

Mr. Hayward—With an external temperature of 60
the internal temperature of the City sewers would be 62.
Mr. Tite—Supposing this plan of burning is carried
out, do you think the state of the Toames would be
improved I

Mr. Hayward—The state of the streets might be im-
proved, but there does not seem to me to be the slightest
probability that the river would ba at all beurfitted by
such a proceeding.

[At this point a steamer was heard to pass, and in a
few minutes the room was filled with ouch a disagree-
able stench that, on the suggestion of Lord Palmereton,
the windows of the room were ordered to be closed.]
By Mr. Tite—The sewers of Paris are not so offensive
as those of London because the feculent matter is carted
away from the houses in the night.
By Mr. Stephenson—lf the burning system were
carried out great alterations would have to be made in
the present system of sewers. lam aware of a plan to
ventilate sewers by mums of the rein water pipes of
homes. I have made experiments to test the value of
the idea. The result of those experiments was that you
got the stink from the sewers at the house tops instead
of in the streets, and I dont think it was any improve-
ment. (Laughter.)

By Lord Palmerston—The gases disengaged from the
sewers are lighter and sometimes heavier than the at.
mospberic air, and they rise in obedience to the laws of
diffusion. It has been discovered by Professor Graham
that if two Phials were filled, one with light gas and
the other with heavy, that in time they would mix and
become diffused. Supposing the furnaces of Mr. Gurney
improved the streets it would be of advantage, but I am
of opinion the expense would not compensate for the
advantage. Chemists would be better able to speak to
that part tban myself.
By Sir J. Shelley—l estimate the working expenses
of Mr. Gurney's plan, after all the works have been.com-
pleted at 50,000/. or:60,000/. a year, but I should not be
surprised if it amounted to 100,000/. I d n't think,
supposing the sewers could be ventilated, according to
Mr. Gurney's plan, it would be worth the expenditure of
60,000/. per annum.
After a few unimportant questions' the committee
adjourned.

SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT IN GLASGOW.--
About three weeks ago a person residing in Cadrgan-
street Glasgow, threw a pennypiece out of a third storey
window to a band of musicians playing below. The coin
unfortunately fell on the head of a little boy, son of Mr.
Geo. Crawford, W.S., inflicting an injury which proved
fatal on Friday last.
IRISH MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS —We have the plea-
sure of anncut.cing that her Majesty the Queen, upon
the recommendation of his Excellency the Lord-Liente-
Dant, has been pracioudy pleased to appoint James W.
Cusack, M D., President of the Royal C :fleets of Sur-
geons in Ireland, and University Professor of Surgery in
Trinity College, to the office of surgeon in ordinary in
Ireland to Ler Msjes v, in the room of Sir P. Crampton.
deceased ; an honour which, wv fuel assured, will give
general satisfaction to the prtfes,ion in this country, as
no one enjoys more of unlimited confidence and general
respect.—Saunders's News Lette.
EAST INDIA Housz.—Yesterday afternoon a Special
Court of Directors was held at the Mist India House,
Leadenball-street, to approve and confirm the resolu-
tions of the 29th ultimo, granting a pension of 2,000/.
per annum to Gen. Sir Colin Oampbe.l, and 1 0001. per
annum to Sir James Outram, for their gallant services
in India; and, furthermore, to consider a motion which
had beon placed on the notice paper by Dr. Beattie, to
the effect that the pension to Sir James Outram be con-
tinued to his eldest son. After considerable discussion,
during which several amendments were moved and
negatived, the motion for the confirmation of the resolu-
tions was put and carried. Dr. Beattie's motion was
also carried, on a division, by 25 votes against 7. The
special business being concluded, the meeting resolved
itself into a General Court of Proprietors to proceed
with the consideration of the India 8,11. The Chairman
stated that it was intended to take the opinion of coun-
sel as to what would be the exact status of the East
India Company—its powers, privileges, and liabilities—
after the bill became law. The Court was "counted
oat," And, only 17 members being present, adjourned.