The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-01 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN DRAINAGE.

The following is a copy of the letter addressed to
Capt. Douglas Gallon, ILE., Jas. Simpson, Esq.,
C.E., and James E. Blackwell, Esq., C.E., to
whom Sir B. Hall has referred the plan for the
main drainage of the metropolis, which was sub-
mitted to him on the 22d ult., by the Caairman of
the Metropolitan Board of Works :

" " Office of Works, &c., Whitehall, Dec. 31.
Gentlemen,—l am directed by the First Commissioner
of her Majesty's Works, &c., to forward for your considera-
tion the plans for the main drainage of the metropolis
which have been submitted to me for approval by the Me-
tropolitan Board of Works, in accordance with the 18,1
and 19th of Vic., cap. 120, es. 135 and 136. By the first
of these sections it is provided that the Metropolitan Board
of Works ' shall make such sewers and works as they may
think necessary for preventing 01 or any part of the sew.
3 dap
sewersof
pe andc w
sew-
age within the metropolis from flowing or passing into the
works
river Thames in or near to the metropolis, and shall cause
staiscth
atnodbsehaclol ranlpsloetmedakeo naollr
sbefore t
ht he er
sewers and 'works,lBo and such diversions or alterations of any
existing sewers or works, vested in them under this act,
as they may from time to time think necessary for the
effectual sewerage and drainage of the metropolis ; and
shall discontinue, close up, or destroy such sewers for the
time being vested in them under this act as they may deem
unnecessary, and such board shall from time to time repair
and maintain the sewers so vested in them, or such of
therros may not be discontinued, closed up, or destroyed
as aforesaid.

" And for the purposes aforesaid such board shall have
fall power and authority to carry any such sewers or works
through, across, or under any turnpike road, or any street,
or place laid out as or intended for a street, as well beyond
as within the limits of the metropolis, or through or under
any cellar or vault under the carriageway or pavement of
any street, and into, through, or under any lands whatso-
ever within or beyond the said limits, making compensa-
tion for any damage done thereby as hereinafter provided,
and all hewer,' and works from time to time made by the
said board shall vest in them.
" And the said board shall cause the sowers vested in
them to be constructed, covered, and kept so as not to be a
nuisance or injurious to health, and to be properly cleared,
cleansed, and emptied, and for the purpose of clearing,
cleansing, and emptying the same they may construct and
place, either above or underground, such reservoirs, sluices,
engines, and other works as may be necessary, and may
cause the sewage and refuse from such sewers to be sold for
disposed of as they may see fit, bat so as not to create a
nuisance, and the money arising thereby shall be applied
towards defraying the expenses of such board.'
" And by the second it is also enacted, That before the
Metropolitan Board of Works commence any sewers and
works for preventing the sewage from passing into the river
Thames as aforesaid, the plan of the intended sewers and
works for the purpose aforesaid, together with^an estimate
of the cost of carrying the same into execution, shall be
submitted by such board to the Commissioners of, her Ma-
jesty's Works and public Buildings, and no such plan shall
be carried into effect until the same has been approved by
such commissioners.'
" I am further directed to forward to you copies of the
several reports presented by the engineer of the Metropo-
litan Board of Works, which reports contain drawings and
sections, not merely of the plan B, but of other plans.
"I am also directed to send you the enclosed copies of
two letters from Captain Borstal, in reference to the flow
of the tide in the liver, which may be useful in your in-
vestigation. The first of these letters is dated July 30th,
and the second Nov. 18th, the latter having been addressed
to the First Commissioner under the following circum-
stances
"In the month of Juno last the metropolitan Board of
Works submitted to the First Commissioner a plea having
an outfall for the discharge of the sewage into the Thames,
within the metropolis. This plan was at variance with
the provisions of the statute contained in the clause to
which I have already directed your attention, and was
accordingly rejected by him. On the sth day of Novem-
ber another plan was submitted by that board, having an
outfall so near to the metropolitan boundary that the
sewage would necessarily return to the metropolis. This
plan having been also rejected by the First Commissioner,
he directed Captain Burstal to report to him what he con-
sidered to be the nearest points to the metror ohs at which
the sewage could be discharged, so that the provisions of
the act might be complied with. Captain Burstal fixed
these points about one mile above the town of Erith, on
the south side of the river, and at Rainham Creek on the
north side, being a distance of about 15 miles from Lon..
dos-bridge.
" The Metropolitan Board of Works have adopted these
points for the outfalls, and have so far complied with the
act. The First Commissioner therefore wishes you to con-
sider all the details of the plan in relation to such outfalls;
and he desires me to direct your attention especially toth
fact that in the reports presented to the Metropolitan
Board of Works, and the statements made to him by the
engineer at an interview reported in the morning paperss
a
of the 21st Nov. last, there are great discrepancies to
the amount of sewage which is discharged.
" It will therefore be necessary for you
to obtain acne-
tnpeociensts,araislythbeesideeets, orf
all rate t ihnef odrrma
iant
si o na
nudp erne
stehr iv' so
ii
rms pomrut
tn
minter by the quantity of sewage.
twoitshheesplaalnsoantihbaintitytoetit sheul I
dile desires to haveby
the
e
" The First Commissioner
not confine yourselves merely .
can aKffs,ir him ; and if you can
Metropolitanfullest
information
oouf
devise any other scheme which may, in your opinion, be
better calculated to carry out the object in view, he re-
quests that you will in your report set forth that scheme,
in order that he may lay it before the Metropolitan Board
of Works for their consideration.
"The plans now sent to you fix the outfalls at the points
already indicated; but, inasmuch as it is desired by the
inhabitants of towns bordering upon the river below the
15th mile point that the main seer should be extended,
and that the outfalls should be placed at a greater distance
from the metropolis, provided funds are obtained for the
purpose of meeting the increased expenditure, the First
Commissioner wishes you to report upcn any such more
distant points of discharge as may fairly meet the require-
ments alluded to, and when you submit to him the plans
for effecting that object you will set forth the increased
cost consequent upon the extension of the works, the bene-
fits, if any, to be derived by distracts through which the
extended main pass, and how far these districts should
contribute to the cost of such extended works. The First
Commissioner feels sure that you will give to the various
plans which, doubtless, will be laid before you such
attention as they may deserve.
" A commission is about to be appointed to inquire into
the most effeci ual means of distributing the sewage of
towns and of applying it to beneficial and profitable uses,
and it may therefore be desirable that you should pul,
yourselves in communication with that commission, as a
strong feeling seems to be entertained by members of the

Metropolitan Board of Works and btl4ers tl2a6 Ll2l
of the metrop
" In conclusion, I ran tiirtY:teci tojriilnc:k4:t/Ftt ybk
report your views upon the question.4(44,:watii
. of the metropolis and the pointy of otittntilal:fhd.
period consistent with the full considdialbu or ge...1
taut a subject. rns..
" am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
"ALFRED AIISTLN, Secretary."