The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-31 00:00:00

COURT OF SEWERS.

A special meeting of the. Court of Sewers for the
C;iry Liuerty of %1' eStmlnSterr, and pan us LLse
county of Middlesex, was held yesterday at the
Sewers'-office, Greek-street, Soho-square, Thomas
Leverton Donaldson, Esq., in the chair.
The first business before the Court was " to receive
and consider the report of the surveyors on the
printed report of Messrs. Allason, Harrison and Cant-
well (three Commissioners), respecting the use of in-
verts, ventilating shafts, and other matters." The
printed report was read by Mr. Hertslett, the clerk,
and stated that, in obedience to the following resolu-
tion of the Court of Sewers of the Ist day of Alarch,
1844, viz.:—
" That it be referred to Messrs. Allason, Harrison
and Cantwell, to examine the bill for works done in St
Martin's-lane and in the Strand by Northumberland
House, in order to inquire into the relative cost of the
ordinary brick invert and one with granite or Welsh
stone; and their opinion be requested as to the expe
diency of adopting a stone invert either in part or whole
of the invert of principal lines of sewers ; also to in-
quire into, and report upon the desirableness and prac-
ticability of having vent gratings over the shaftsin the
centre of streets. They had, in the first place, proceeded
to examine and inquire into the cost attendant upon the
stone invert of the sewers in St. Martin's-lane and the
Strand, referred to in the above resolution, beyond the
ordinary brick invert, and found that such cost was
4s. 10d. per lineal foot (these sewers being four feet six
inches in width). They desired, however, to report that
such increased cost must not be taken as the cost that
would in future be incurred, should stone inverts be
adopted to any considerable extent, as they found
upon careful investigation and inquiry that, in large
quantities, the stone might be obtained at a much
cheaper rate, and the labour, from the stone being better
prepared at the quarry, and other causes, done at con-
siderable less expense."

They had also given the subject of stone inverts
their best consideration, and they were decidedly of
opinion that the entire invert and whole of the bot-
tom should be of granite. reference, also, to
the desirableness and practicability of having vent
gratings over the shafts in the principal streets, they
were decidedly of opinion that such a plan should be
adopted, as they would prevent in a great measure
the accumulation of gas, the explosion of which had
so frequently injured the officers and men belong-
ing to that Court. They would, also, in a great de-
gree obviate the offensive smells from gully grates.
The cost of the grating over each shaft was repre-
sented at 12s. Gd., and as there were about 2,000
shafts in the principal streets, the total expense would
be about 1,2501. They recommended that the vent
gratings should first be tried in the extent of Oxford-
street.

Mr. Dowley, the surveyor's, and Mr. Hawkins,
the assistant surveyor's, reports upon the above report
were then read ; and they, while concurring in the
use of ventilating gratings in principal thoroughfares,
expressea an opinion tnat tne granitic
bottoms, so strongly recommended by the three Com-
missioners, would be better if of 'Welsh stone, but
they also thought that good bricks, as much less ex-
pensive, would be found superior.
Mr. CANTWELL explained that himself and his
brother Commissioners, who drew up the report, in
obedience to the wishes of the Court, did not require
the Court to adopt any or all of their suggestions.
They might adopt or reject what they saw proper.
He left the report entirely in the hands of the Court.
Mr. LESLIE would wish to make a few remarks
upon the reports they had just heard read; and, first,
with respect to the statement of 4s. 10d. for stone
inverts per lineal foot. He had made calculations
from dimensions in stone-work, and the prices charged
by Mr. Bennett, and he had compared those dimensions
with the cost in brick-work. He found, as he had
expected, a vast difference, and he thought Mr. Cant-
well must be wrong in his calculations when he stated
that the stone inverts would be only 4s. 10d. per lineal
foot. He would ask that gentleman how he obtained
such a result ?

Mr. CANTwiaLL—We had all the bills of costs be-
fore us.

The CHAIRMAN did not see that any gentleman
who had been kind enough to undertake the office,
gratuitously, of returning such a report, should be
so subjected to cross-questioning by any Hon. Com-
missioner.

Mr. LESLIE submitted that the correctness of the
calculations in the report should be ascertained.
to presume that thaellc
possession, were the
Mr. LESLIE foundth
a n made addoeu
bt
The CHAIRMAN
thoughtalcul
a ti thaton s tohfe
these Court
professionalright
4s. 10d. per lineal ose
costfr from
thate
r e d
gentlemen,T withmAN proper documents in their
yard; and he would correct.avery considerable difference in
lhisa n e resultsreall
arrived at by Air. Cantwell.
foot appeared a small sum, but his
the cost appear 18s. per square
calculations
their surveyor, Mr. Dowley,
ask
khat the work m St. Martin's-
lane
to make if
I‘hier.hDadowLty
lewg doubt upon the subject.
11r. DowLET---N
ihad "rille:t
much more, then ?—(Laughter.)
Mr. LESLIE--
more ; I mean less, 14s. 11d.
Mr. LESLlE—siring rig the bills, then, and I'll prove
myTpohesictiiounißsuolif
said, that if they really went into
nature, and called upon the
make calculations at a minute's
minutewmanrsnt
officersihnego:drfo
eteprtbt:oreiei
ytnl 1
ncss 8
would
c e ,
neverby
get over the business. It
the Hon. Commissioner that
bottoms
course
s t
be I
unused
Martin's-lane cost different
the lower part was more ex-
pensiveupper..ianugThht etwhaotrkth'we
different
sums ;
than the
any future period?
the men were of co
e cost,
iquestiontne' advisablewanasd
his modeat of calculations, and
Mr. WILLOUGHny
, If
sf
the Hon.
Com-
missioner notmis
swi
ohnaetr Swt
0.
uNlId
a r
state
Martin's-lane a
ent entered ed i n
Christmas
to use stone inverts and
durability and expense at
the I 8 s. of
the work
s
The CHAIRMAN thought
amounts
therefore t
arrived, it would be
had
dto calculations derived
were
the conclusions at which he h
the better way.
lquuaarret quarter
yard. of 18:13;
with
hn St.hun Maartudin'bse-
s fromhow Air.i
nhge LESLlEbtihllast ending tthhee n
d that one of the items
lane was at the rate of
founded
apprehend that
items,
hoeuenausdeedineyewrreorre.
thoughtDm or u. lel
ahna
tdhwe goneelhadrs
calculations
overri
gh
he
was wrong
done in the
eefnorwe,ho
had furnished the re-
port, mixed
ehhda de
cw iiit evenAh
motuhAe other
omitted
rem charges.a severalrk
quoted by Mr. Leslie was for
in even a
had a right to assume
shilling,tSht
ar Strand, nthd,e tathhnrdeeye
that his general
calculations were incorrect. He certainly thought
as professional men, were entitled to the credit
of that Court, over an unprofessional, however great
his industry might be.
Mr. LESLIE did not, in that casigfentthleemr
e, see that there
was any necessity for calling on the Co consider
the to consider
the matter at all.
The CHAIRMAN would suggest that the surveyors'
reports be printed and laid on the table.
After some conversation,the suggestion was em-
bodied into a resolution, and carried.
Mr. JOAN Wurrs then brought forward his
motion
" that the Court do return to the consideration
forms and materials of sewers Nos. 1
2,and
dion as of the
regulations in book, page 26, .with the view ofper
ft,
sub-
stituting improved and more economical
dorms.
(The sections presented by Mr. White were 1 • al upon
the Committee-room table.) The Hon. Commi-
ssioner explained, at considerable length,n. his theory
that an oval form would be an improvement upon the
a
present, inasmuch as it would resist in -
greater
degree a lateral pressure, while its power of resisting
a perpendicular weight would be equal with -
the
present. He also introduced to the noti •
ce of the
1 Court a particular combination
of mate • l
rut , superior

to the present mortar as regarded its adhesive quali-
ties, and resistance to the action of water.
After much discussion, pro and con, the matter was
deferreJ, that the surveyors might report upon the
same.

Mr. GUTCH then brought forward his motion for
" the sanction of the Court to permit sewers of a
small size to be built for the drainage of summit
levels, and also of certain-collateral branches," which
was also, after some discussion, reserved for. future
consideration.
The next business before the Court, " to consider
the forms of contracts, specifications, and bills of
quantities, with the other steps necessary for obtain-
ing new contracts of works,' was introduced by the
Chairman.
Mr. SMITH (solicitor to the Court), in reply to a
question, said that the present bond was made because,
in the old contracts, several Commissioners had signed
in behalf of the Court, which they had afterwards
declined to do, as they thereby became personally
liable.
The CHAIRMAN had no doubt they would find re-
spectable men, contractors, who would come readily
forward, and tender under this bond, and therefore the
question he thought was, were they, the Court, satis-
fied with the protection it afforded them ?
Mr. WILLOUGHBY—The present bond was quite
sufficient.
Mr. W. DONALDSON suggested that their solicitor
t ells ~mod 4" ""inamli4 01,3•11”10 ILITILAVI the enrma nP onn-
tract, and then state his and their opinions to the
Court.
The Ctraiumsx requested Mr. Doull to place upon
the table of the Court the lists of numbers given to '
the tenderers at the period of the last contract.
Mr. Doull did so.
Mr. LESLIE thought the Court- was led into error
in the course adopted heretofore. He was of opinion
that a standing contractor was very disadvantageous,
but, before discussing the question further, he wished
to know the course intended to be pursued by the
Court in this matter ?
The CHAIRMAN explained.
Mr. LESLIE—In the last contract Mr. Bennett re-
ceived it, under the suppositiotrtitat he had furnished
the lowest tender, and he (Mr. Leslie) could affirm,
without fear of contradiction, that it was not so.
He calculated that the public had been losers to the
amount of 1,5001.
The CHAIRMAN thought it would be better , if the
Hon. Commissioner would confine himself to the
question, whether there should be a standing con-
tractor at all, and reserve the remarks he was about
to have made till the numbers upon the form came to
be discussed.
Mr. LESLIE thought that all great public works
should be singly advertised, and for this rea-
son. There might be local builders who had
the material in their places, and who had
also labour unemployed, and they might be in-
duced to tender at a very low rate in consequence.
For instance, if work were to be done at a distance,
the standing contractor would require to convey his
material there, which would necessarily increase the
expense, and, therefore, he would require to consider
such in his contract. Bennett's bill was, last year,
16,0001., and they might depend upon it, that the best
labour in the market could be had for such an induce-
ment. At that late hour,' he would not enter upon
any detailed argument, but simply content himself by
requesting the Court to act as an individual would
who, requiring to build, would wish to receive the
tender of as many competitors as possible. He would
therefore propose that the Court consider it expe-
dient, not to have a standing contractor for all the
districts over which its jurisdiction extends, but that
tender be received- for the formation and repairs of
such sewers as may be advertised.
Mr. R. GUNTER was prepared to second that reso-
lution. He recollected that some years ago, in the
Bayswater district, a work of some importance was
done by a tradesman to whom it was at the time ob-
jected that, his capital being limited, it was necessary
that the Court should be cautious in receiving his
tenders. The officers of the Court were now quite
ready to admit that the work had been finished in an
admirable manner. He would with great pleasure
second the resolution proposed by the Honourable

After a few words from Mr. JOHN WHITE,
The CHAIRMAN said that there was a considerable
degree of speciousness advanced in support of the
motion before them. It might seem probable that in
the chance-medley the public might gain some cer-
thin benefit. But it seemed to him extremely desir-
able, on the other hand, that they should have a con-
tractor for a specified time. They would find, that if
they advertised for tenders of contract for every five or
six hundred yards of sewer they might require, that a
shoal of needy builders would come forward, supplied
perhaps with sureties, and then such difficulties would
arise, as could only lse understood by those who had
experienced them in times past. And then let them
consider the increased expense. The officers of the
Court could not do more than they were able to do ;
and the contractors he had described would require to
have a constant clerk of the works overlooking every
rod of work—not for a moment daring to turn his back
—and they might imagine the expense which would be
entailed upon them in consequence. It was said that
the local builder would be enabled to do the works at
a cheaper rate because of his advantages of position ;
but this was altogether a fallacy, because the main
material required in the operations being bricks,
which were not upon his premises but upon the brick-
field, the expense would be the same, whether they
would be laid down in Drury-lane, in Rochester-row,
or in any other locality. Again, let them consider
the digging. Why, particular materials—particular
men—men train©d to the employment—were re-
quired; and such could only be supplied by an ex-
tensive contractor. And what were oftentimes the
consequence of advertisements ? He remembered one
work, where the lowest tender was higher than what
their own contractor would have done it for, but he
had not given in a tender, and the public were there-
fore losers by the system. Therefore he thought it
was desirable that they should have, as a public con-
tractor, a man in whom the Court could trust. He
would add that, even by their present bond, they were
not obliged to give the contractor all their work.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY would support Mr. Leslie so
far, that he thought one year ought to be the maxi-
mum of time in any future contract, as the Court
would thereby have a greater power than they had at
present. He was averse to the employment of small
builders, because the operations of all large public
bodies imperatively demanded the greatest amount of
skill and capital. He thought, therefore, that the
lowest tender ought not to be always taken, without
other considerations of equal moment being looked
to. They must look to the character of the tenderer
as well.
Mr. LESLIE replied. He hoped that the Court
would go with him for once. The contracts had been
held in the same families for nearly a century, and it
would be a guarantee to the public that the affairs of
that Court were not conducted as some parochial
affairs were, if they broke up this monopoly. Let them
look at some of the items now paid by the Court.
The article of oak planking, for which they now
paid 4s. 6d. the cube foot, it was notoriously a drug
in the market at is. 6d.
The CHAIRMAN-Oh, no.
Mr. LESLIE was assured of the fact by those who
sold it in quantities, and he had no right to discredit
the statement. He again called upon the Court to
prove its desire to further the public interest, by
joining himin the resolution he had proposed.
The resolution was then put and lost by one.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY moved, and Mr. LESLIE se-
conded, that the contract be for twelve months, and
no longer, with an exception in cases of breach of
contract on the part of the contractor.
Carried unanimously.
The further consideration of the forms of tender
was postponed, and the Court then adjourned.

GREAT CHARTIST GATHERING,
ANNIVERSARY OF -THE' `" BATTLE OF
MAPPERLEY-HILL."

A great assembly of the Chartists of this nighbour-
hood took place on Monday, in celebration of the
serio-comic farce enacted by the Tory magistrates
and military in 1842. At eleven o'clock, the Chartists
met in the Market-place, and proceeded to the
railway station, where they met Feargus O'Connor.
On his arrival, they walked in order up Carrington-
street, Lister-gate, Church-lane, Wheeler-gate,
Market-place, Smithy-row, Clumber-street, Mans-
field-road, Red-lane, to the celebrated Mapperley
Plains. The procession was accompanied by bands
of music. On arriving on the Mapperley-hills,
where a considerable number of booths had been
pitched, an elevated position was chosen for the
speakers, and Mr. Sweet was unanimously called
upon to preside during the delivery of the speeches.
Mr. Dorman, after a few remarks, proposed—" That
we, thQ Chartists of Nottingham and its vicinity,
in public meeting assembled, are of opinion that
persecution ever has, and ever will, fail to stop the
spread of democratic principles, and ws hereby