The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-31 00:00:00

TEE THAMES EMBANKMENT.

The select committee appointed to consider the
best means of providing for the increasing traffic of
the metropolis, by the embankment of the Thames,
have considered the matters to them referred, and
have agreed to the following report :
" Your committee beg leave to report to the
house that they have carefully considered several
well-devised plans for the embankment of the
Thames, which have been brought before them,
and that they have received much valuable evi-
dence on the subject. In connection with the
matter referred to them your committee considered
it necessary to inquire into the line proposed for the
low level sewer about to be made by the Metro-
politan Board of Works, and they find that if that
sewer were carried under the Strand and Fleet- '
street, an amount of injury would be caused to the
trade and property of the district which it is
scarcely possible to estimate; whilst during
the progress of the works the traffic along
those great thoroughfares would be seriously
impeded. Your committee have found that
the various engineers who have submitted
their plans, have recognised the importance of con-
structing the low level sewer along the foreshore
of the river and within the embankment. Your
committee have ascertained by evidence that the
Metropolitan Board of Works, and the Thames
Conservancy Board, are of opinion that the em-
bankment of the Thames would be a great improve-
ment both to the metropolis and to the river, and
your committee entirely concur in this opinion.
Your committee, therefore, after careful considera-
tion of the whole question, have agreed to the fol-
lowing resolutions :
" That the embankment of the north side of the
Thames from Westminster Bridge to, or nearly to,
Southwark Bridge would afford a desirable mode
of improving the banks and bed of the river, and
facilitate the construction of the low level sewer
along the foreshore ; while a roadway on the em-
bankment would greatly relieve the crowded
thoroughfare.
" That by the construction of docks inside the
embankment wall, wharfingers and other persons
engaged in business along the river would in most
cases derive increased facilities for conducting their
various trades and occupations.
" That the statements made to the committee
with regard to the probable cost of the proposed
embankment vary considerably, ranging from a
minimum of £400,000 to a maximum of £1,500,000
according to the nature and extent of the plan, but
these estimates include the cost of the low level

sewer; and there is reason to expect that a large
proportion of the total first cost would be repaid by
works of a productive character.

" That as in 1861 the Bd. and id. duties upon
coal, and the ;Id. duty upon wine which were im-
posed and continued by Parliament for the purpose
of public improvements in the metropolis will cease,
your committee recommend that they be renewed
for a limited period, and that the whole or part of
the cost of the Thames embankment be made a first
charge upon them.'
" The legislature having already entrusted to the
Metropolitan Board of Works the main drainage of
the inetropolis, and armed them with powers to deal
with the foreshore of the river in connection there-
with, your committee recommend that the construc-
tion of the embankment be also confided to them.
" For this purpose your committee suggest that
the above-mentioned duties be placed at the dis-
posal of that board for a limited period, and that
the guarantee of the Imperial treasury be likewise
afforded them, according to the provisions con-
tained in the 21st and 22d Vict., c. 104, s. 6.
" Your committee are of opinion that it would be
most difficult to estimate before the works are com-
pleted the amount of damage that might be occa-
sioned; they, therefore, recommend that power be
given to ascertain, after the completion of the
works, the amount of compensation that may be due.
" That while your committee consider the em-
bankment of the south side of the Thames forms a
necessary part of any complete scheme for the im-
provement of the river and the metropolis, yet is of
less urgent necessity than that of the northern side.