The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-16 00:00:00

THE TRAFFIC OF THE CITY.

Mr. M‘GEonGE then brought forward a series of
resolutions having reference to the terribly over-
crowded state of the City, and the danger and in-
convenience thereby occasioned to the public ; and
he proposed that the subject should be refe'red to
the improvement committee, for them to consider

whether it would not be desirable to enter upon a
comprehensive plan of improvement in the widen-
ing and formation of streets. Also to consider whe-
ther it would not be expedient to apply to Parlia-
ment for power to levy a rate to carry out improve-
ments, many of which were now so urgentlyrequired
by the extension of our commerce and for thepublic
safety ; and also to consider as to the variouspublic
works now in progress, and those already autho-
rised by Parliament, the number of houses removed
o:• to be removed, the number of streets affected,
a'nd the length of time allowed for their completion,
and to report to the Court forthwith. The hon.
member, in a speech of considerable ability, and upon
which he was complimented by almost every mem-
ber who subsequently addressed the Court, referred
to the very great dangers and inconvenience that
existed at present, owing to the want of proper ac-
commodation for the increased traffic of the City,
and he called the attention of the Court to a num-
ber of important facts in connection with the subject.
It appeared that out of 338 streets in the City,
168 only afforded space 'for the passage of one
vehicle, and only a very small number were suffi-
ciently wide to admit of the passage of three lines
of traffic; and, in fact, he said, the city of London
was pretty much in the same condition with regard
to the width of its streets at the present time that it
was after the fire 200 years ago. It also appeared
that a very large portion of the actual acreage of
the City had been scheduled to be taken by diffe-
rent railway companies, and this would tend greatly
to increase those serious evils that were at present
complained .of. He said he was well aware that the
great difficulty that was in the way of carrying out
the comprehensive scheme that he would suggest
should be carried out was how to raise the money.
The Bd. coal duty would be swallowed up for 20
years to come by the great improvements that were
already in hand. The City's cash was quite insuffi-
cient to carry out such a great scheme, and the
limited powers in the hands of the Commissioners
of Sewers were also quite inadequate for such a pur-
pose. The only remaining mode of raising the
necessary sum was, therefore, by an improvement
rate, to be levied upon the citizens at large ; and he
believed that when the great importance of the sub-
ject, and the absolute necessity that existed for some
remedy being provided for the present state of
things, were considered by them, the rateyayers of
the city of London would not object to such an im-
post being levied upon them. A rate of 6d. or Bd.
in the pound upon the rateable property in the city
of London would produce a million of money, and
the expenditure of the money might be spread over
a great many years, so that the entire burden of
the cost of the projected improvements would not
be entirely thrown upon the present ratepayers.
Whatever the cost might be, however, he urged
that it was imperative upon the Corporation to take
some steps to remedy the present state of things,
and with that view he asked the Court to agree to
the resolutions that he had proposed.
Mr. FRICKER said he had great pleasure in
seconding the resolutions that had been proposed,
because the evils that at present existed were
manifest, and he believed that if the Corpora-
tion did not take the matter up it would be
done for them by the other body. (Hear.) He ad-
mitted that it was a difficult thing to raise money,
but it appeared to him that the levying of a rate

was the best course to be taken ; and the citizens

might rely upon this, that if they did not consent
to the payment of such a rate to the Corporation

'or thepurpose of effecting improvements that were

absolutely necessary for the comfort and safety of
the public, some other body would step in and com-

pel them to pay it to them.

Mr. H. LOWMAN TAYLOR said he quite concurred
with the hon. members who had addressed the
Court as to the advisability of carrying out the im-

provements they had suggested, but he was afraid
that what they proposed was not practicable. The

money question, it appeared to him, would be a
very serious difficulty to get over. It had been said
that a 6d. or Bd. rate could be levied upon the citi-

zens, but he could tell the hon. member that the
citizens of London at the present time were loudly

complaining of the amount of taxation they had to
pay, and that in one instance which had come to his
knowledge, a rate of /d. in the pound had been ob-
jected to ; and this being the case, he did not think
it very likely that one of 6d. or Bd. would be ac-

quiesced in, no matter what the object- was for
which it was proposed to be levied. Besides this, it
was necessary to obtain an act of Parliament before
they could get power to levy an improvement rate,

and no act of this kind could be obtained without

the consent of the Minister, and he did not believe

that they were likely at the present time to obtain
such an act of Parliament. (Hear.)
Deputy ELLIOTT said he should support the mo-
tion, not upon the ground that it was likely to re-
ult in anything—(cries of " Oh, oh")—but because
he considered it right that there should be an in-
quiry, and that the public should know that the
Corporation were anxious to endeavour to discover
some remedy for the evils that undoubtedly existed
at the present time in reference to the traffic of the
city of London.

Alderman J. C. LAWRENCE supported the reso-
lution, and he observed that it appeared to him that
the Corporation were imperatively called upon to do
everything that was in their power to facilitate the
commerce of this great city, and that the matter
being referred to a committee would not only be
satisfactory to the citizens of London, but also to
the public at large. (Hear, hear.)
Deputy FRY, in supporting the resolutions, ex-
pressed his opinion that when the ratepayers of the
city of London took into consideration the vast im-
portance of the object to be attained they would
not object to the payment of an improvement rate
such as was proposed to be levied upon them. He,
at the same time, observed that an improvement
rate was levied in almost every other large corporate
town, and the citizens of London ought not to object
to pay such a rate, particularly when it was remem-
bered that they were not subjected to the payment '
of a county rate, an impost which was levied in '
every other town in the kingdom.
The resolutions were unanimously agreed to.
LODGING-HOUSES FOR THE LABOURING POOR.
Mr. H. A. IsAAcs then moved, " That whereas
a large number of poor persons have been displaced
by the demolition of house property within the City,
for railways and City improvements, it is desirable,
in order to remedy to some extent the inconveniences
resulting therefrom, that the Corporation should
erect an additional number cf lodging-houses for the
labouring poor, and that it be referred to the Im-
provement Committee to consider the subject and
report thereon to this court."

• After a short debate, in which the principal ob-
jections urged to the motion were, that the present
was an inopportune moment to interfere in such a
matter, and that it would be better to wait to see
what steps would be taken in the same direction by
the different railway companies under the require-
ments of their different acts of Parliament, the pro-
position was rejected by a majority of five only.
The court then adjourned.