The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-07 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, (James Simpson, Esq., V.P,
in the chair) the discussion was renewed on the Rev.
11r. Clutterbuck's paper, "On the Alternations and
Depressions in the Chalk-water Level under London,"
and NN as continued throughout the meeting, so that no
original communication could be read.
It'was contended that the area of the Chalk District,
subject to infiltration, for the supply of the springs and
streams uniting in the basin cf the Colne, could not pos-
sibly exceed the original published estimate of 1131
square miles, and that the proportion of water filtrating
'hrougla, for that purpose, was much less than had es er
aitberto been estimated, inasmuch, as records by Mr.
Dickinson's gauge was to a much greater amount, than
hose afforded by the gauges kept by other experimenters.
It aas also contended, that the original position as-
sumed in the paper had not been weakened by the sub-
sequent discussion; that the observations of the chemists
ilaci tended to confirm the statement of the pro-
)abil:ty of an infiltration of water from the Thames.
Me practical conclusion to be drawn from the
observations, recorded in the author's several
papers were :—That the natural drainage and re-
plenishment of the chalk stratum might be traced and
ace ,unted for, by observing the altars:Alen of level, in
carious localities, and at different seasons. That any
urge quantity of water abstr aeted from the chalk stratum,
it any given point, caused a depression c f level around the
eoiet of such abstraction. That in the upper district any
-uch abstraction of wetsr would hales-fere with, and
diminish the supply of, the streams, by which the drain-
age of the district was regulated ; and, lastly, that the
tepri ssion of level under London, by pumping from
Artesian wells, had proved that the rapidity of demand
air( aly exceeded that of the supply, and that any
attempt to draw a large additional quantity for public
use, would be attended with disastrous consequences.
It was suggested that, considering the great works of
Arainage and water supply which were in contemplation
for the metropolis, aed looking to the essential ina
portance of having accurate and anti ea tic geological,
information, in order that those great works might
be ( x.t.cuted on a sound and certain basis, that the
geological survey now being carried on by Govern-
ment, iu a remote district of North Wales, where no
urgent med exis' ei for early geological isformation,
and where no new works cf paramount importance
were in progress, or its contemplation, should to trans-
'erred at once to the metropolitan districts, with a view
co throw light on the real structure, mechanical and
chemical, of the de -p water-bearing strata, on which
minions so varying and so conflicting, had been ad-
vanced _ _ _

_____
Auinquiry was made whether any steps had been
taken by the Council, in consequence of the statement
submitted at the meeting of Tuesday, January 29th,
urging the consideration cf the manner in which the in-
terests of the public at large, and of the professior, were
likely t) be affected by the attitude recently assumed
by the Railway Commiss:en, in reference to the strength
of the wrought-iron bridges used on railways.
It was stated that the Council had not as yet:_taken any
;iecided steps in the matter, but that a course bad been
suggested, which, being f)lloweel, would most probably
sad to satisfactory results,. After this assurance the
members expressed their confidence of the interests of
he profession being in safe hands, and that every step
would be taken for insuring their position cad profes-
eonal reputation.
The motion which had been prepared, was therefor e
.withdrawn; and the Chairman requested any commui-
cations on the subject to be made in writing to the Se-
cretary, who would lay them helot.° the Council.
At the monthly ballot the following candidates tore
July elected:—R. S. Haggar, R. Murray, J. S. Peirce,
G. Sibley. H. Smith, and W. Strode, as Associates.
The paper announced to be read at the meeting of
Tuesday, February 9th, was " On the Theory of Ti ans-
verse Strain, with Rules for calculating and construct-
ing the strength c f Cast Iron Beams of different forms,"
ly Mr. W. T. Doyne, Assoc. Inst. C. E.