The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-21 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Ti DAT —Morn., 6 min. aft.lo —Even., 42 min. aft. 10
To-MORROW—Morn., 18 min. aft. 11—Even., 0 min. aft. 0

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1858.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into

matters relating to the Thames have published
their report, which will be found in another part

of this day's impression. They have examined
many witnesses of great skill and experience in
their professions as engineers and chemists, but
have been linable to find time sufficient to examine
others, who had suggestions to offer, and informa-
tion to give, which might be found worthy of at-
tentive consideration. They felt that it was an
imperative duty to state the views they had
taken and the conclusion they had arrived at on
the evidence already before them. There can be
no doubt that in so doing they exercised a wise
discretion, more especially as they completely dis-
posed of Mr. GOLDSWORTHY GLZNEY'S plan, to
which their attention was particularly directed by
the terms of the resolution under which they were
appointed.

We are happy to say that plan has been unequi-
vocally condemned. Indeed, it would have per-
petuated the evils against which so many just
complaints have been preferred. It is sufficient
to say that he proposed "to discharge all the sew-
age of the metropolis into the waters of
the Thames within the metropolis itself."
Thus making " the silent highway" still
" the cliaca maxima," into which all the filth and
sewage matter of two millions and a-half of people
should be discharged. There was to be no attempt

at deodorisation—nothing to preserve any portion
of the valuable manure, and thus give increased
fertility to the soil in the vicinity of London,
which, properly applied, would double the pro-
duce of the land. These facts alone would be
quite sufficient to prevent its adoption. But it
is also based on sundry theoretical assumptions,
which might all turn out incorrect after a heavy
outlay had been incurred ; and the Committee
were of opinion that " the parts of the plan which
relate to the river were not calculated to effect
the"purification of the Thames." They also
thought that " the furnace system"—that i 5) the
burning of the gases which would be retained in
the sewers--although "possibly very efficacious for
a apartioular and a limited area, °mild not be relied

upon for the general ventilation and purification

of the sewers of the metropolis at large." Mr.
, GURNEY'S plan is thus at once and for ever defi-
nitively abandoned.

. NO of
,the most interesting portions of the
rePO is that which relates to the deodorisation of
thosewage, respecting which they have taken much
"reliable evidence. The Committee report that—
It appears to be easy to separate the more solid
from the liquid part; of the sewage, and to de-
prive both of all offensive smell. By an infusion
of lime into sewage the solid matter is rapidly
precipitated, and the water that is left above the
precipitate is cleared of all the matter which it
held in suspension, retaining only some salts,
which it holds in solution. If the sewage of
London could be so treated, and the solid pre-
cipitate could be got rid of in a satisfactory man-
ner,- the liquid might be discharged into the
Thames without injury or inconvenience, provided
that no nuisance arose during the process of
deodorisation."

This is not mere theory. The question has
been. practically tested, and with the best results.
We are told that " the system is now adopted at
Leicester, and, in as far as it is a sanitary
with complete success. The town
arrangement,
is freed from all offensive matter, and tlie liquid
which is discharged into the river does not pol-
lute the water of the streams." If it has so goin-
pletely succeeded in one place, there is no reason
israppose that it would not prove equally
44scious in a larger area, and with in
efealed means. The Committee, however, felt
Ykat: the decision on that point should
be left in the hands of the Metropolitan Board—
who pcmiless ample means for making all the
necessary inquiries.
Many opinions of eminent engineers have been
given in favour of embanking the Thames, and it
certainly seems to be indispensable to the proper