The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-05 00:00:00

THAMES EMBANKMENT.

The Waterbailiff's Report to the Navigation Commit-
tee, concludes the information on which the RF•port of
the Committee, to be discussed this day, is founded.
In• compliance with your directions I accompanied Mr.
Walker and • Captain Bullock upin a surrey of the River
Thames ; and the great benefits which must be secured to the
public from its general improvement, under an uniform system,
appears obvious.
Tho plans now submitted to your approbation, show the
existing and proposed lines of embankment between Putney
and Gravesend, as well as numerous shoals which obstruct the
navigation.
The propOszcl lines of embankment have been laid down after
due consideration ; and, although it is not probable that they
will be carried into full effect for many years, their value in
assisting the immediate and futureopet ations of the Committee
and insuring the confidence of the public, will, I trust, more
than compensate the Corporation for tho outlay which they
have occasioned.

For centuries past the river, within the limits named, has
received little improvement, whilst it his been the scun'te
of wealth to the metropolis, and 'borne thereto the funds
with which many of its most splendid improvements have been
accomplished. Rejoicing, as I do, to witness those improve-
ments, it does appear to me to be surprisir.g that n? partinf She
coal duties should be regularly devotedfto the equally important
object of improving the river.
Having once sanctioned a systematic course of proceeding,
you will, I apprehend, without any
.extension of the powers
heretofore exercised, . time out of mind by the Corporation,
be enabled to afford thereby great.facility and encouragement
to the landed proprietors, in adopting such lines of embank-
ment as may be approved by you. It is not to be anti-
cipated that all would immediately avail themselves of your
pliers, but as the occupancy from time to time changes,
so We fairly may expict that eventually all would be accom-
plished, without any compulsory measures being resorted to,
which would inevitally raise a host of owners and occupiers as
claiinanls for compensation. The frequent applications for
leave to embank, even at present made to your Committee, suf-
ficiently prove that a judicious system Of reocouraißemnt to
such app ieants, with a certain and definite mode of proceeding
will rapidly increase their numbers.
The large embankments contemplated would, by reducing
the width of the river and consequently diminishing its capacity
for the reception of the tidal waters, prove injurious to the na-
vigation unless accompanied by a c wresponding increase
in the depth of its channel ; stringent resolutions will
therefore, be necessary to •compel parties embanking to take
the gravel and ballast required for their embankments from
the bed of the river under proper regulations. It should also
be distinctly understood that no permanent projection of any
kind would hereafter he permitted from the new lines of em-
bankment; and the proprietors should be bound to construct
and maintain the frontage of sufficient height and proper ma-
terials.

Individuals would be greatly encouraged to undertake the
outlay which must be caused in constructing- extensive em-
bankments, by the charge being only made for frontage in-
stead of the superficial extent of the land reclaimed ; and one
shilling per foot would not, I consider, form any impediment
to their'applications for your licence to embank. Such mode-
rate terms, and the appropriation of the present and future
navigation rental to the carrying out the great work you have
undertaken, would demonstrate that the improvement of tie
river is the sole aim Which the Corporation have in view ; and
those portions of the embankment which may be devoted to
public purposei might be sanctioned without any rent' being
levied thereon.

In a Report, dated the 17th of November, 1834, I had the
honour to suggest to the Lord Mayor- and Corporation the
importance of their providing piers for thb accommodation of
the public using steam-vessels, under a conviction that this was
the best plan for preventing improper an dangerous encroach•
xnents by individuals for that purpose, and that a large revenue
might be derived therefrom, applicable to the general im-
provement of the river, by the removal of shoals and otherwise.
The numerous piers since formed have fully borne nut, and
indeed, surpassed my an ::•-..cipations, both as to the extent of
traffic and the want of can over them; but, I fear she same
cause—their numbers—will now prevent the Corporation from
adopting, with pecuniary adv antage, a competition with those
individuals who have already established piers, although the
public would undoubtedly be benefited by 'such interference of
the Gnporation.
The general we of steam-vessels as a means of transit for pas-
sengers has rendered convenient landing-places for their use in-
dispensable ; but, it may be hoped that, when the new lines of
embankment are carried into effect, no piers above Blackwell
will be required, as sufficient depth of water may be provided
then, close alongside of the wharfs, for the ac comrnodation of
the steamers. The frightful.overloading of th ese boats, occa-
sionally, demands the interference of the LiTis ature.
I proceed to notice some other points which arise incidentally'
from•the subject, but which are closely connected with the pre-
servation and improvement of the navigation.
Regulations are required for the working of ballast-engines,
both above and below bridge, so that they may he confined to
those parts of the river where not only good ballast may he
obtained, but where also its removal will be roost advantageous
to the navigation. The Trinity House will no doubt assist in
such useful regulations.
The active proceedings :ately taken against parties for throw-
ing mud and (sift into the river, has checked the praetice ; and
the recent st ntence of two months' imprisonment onlone of the
offenders, will, I trust, further operate as a salutary warning.
Any, shoals which are caused in the river by the soil and
rubbish brought down, by the sewers ought in justice to be re-
moved by the Commissioners of Sewers.
The removal of wrecks, having been proved by the Corpora-
tion, in the case of the brig William, practicable, under very
difficult circumstances and at any depth of water in the river,
it 'a to be hoped that the large sum of money expended upon
that occasion will preclude the necessity of any further similar
expenditure on their part, by depriving the owners of the only
plea which could iustify the continuance of the nuisance,
namely, the impracticability of its removal.
Although their situations are denoted by piles, the moorings
in use at Blackwell, which extend across the river, are a great
nuisance to such ships as are compelled to let go their anchors
there; but even that safeguard is not adopted at Deptford,
where similar moorings are lying, which renders them still
more inconvenient. _

Of casual nuisances, but of daily occurrence, one of great
danger is the dropping of anchors within or near to low-water
mark.
The use of vessels,which are permanently moored in the river,
as stores and workshops, is upon the increase; and some means
should be adopted to prevent their owners hereafter claiming as
a light what is now only upon sufferance, and which, if per-
mitted to extend unchecked, must become a very serious cause
of complaint, not merely from obstructing the navigation, but
because there is no fair competition between parties paying
'rates and taxes, and those who pay none.
The distance allowed to wharfs for the necessary accommo-
dation of their trade, as suggested by the City Conservancy
Jury, should be denoted by piles.
'1 he lines proposel for the new embankment, it must be ob-
served, are only the best as appearing the most practicable ;
but if, under more favourable circumstances, funds could be
provided either from the landin,,-places, the rental, the coal
dues, or other sources, they might be very advantageously ex-
pended in removing some of the present encroachments upon
the river. I allude particularly to the embankments near
Globe-stairs and Old Swan-stairs where a greater width is re-
quired to produce the proper scour, as well as for the general
improvement of the navigation.
Your Committee is now in possession of 'plans of the river
from Yantlet Creek to Putney, and it is most desirable to eon-
' dime them up to Statues I weuld suggest that an uniform