The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-07-25 00:00:00

THE WATER QUESTION.-LETTER 111.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Since my last letter was written, I have been
reminded of a point of some importance, and which natu-
rally strikes one as having something mysterious about it.
We are frequently told that we should have made our ob-
jections to the Rivington scheme at the proper time ; that
is, before the committee of the House of Commons. It
is contended that no bill ever encountered a more severe
opposition, and that surely all its weak points must have
been well sifted. I will attempt an explanation of this.
When the bill was before parliament, the Water Works
-Companies went up prepared to make a strong fight for
the local supply. While there, however, the Corporation
found they could make no progress till they had agreed to
purchase the interest of both companies, and this was
consequently arranged. The parties, therefore, who had
gone to London expressly for this purpose were silenced,
and the opposition was then chiefly that of mill-owners,
canal companies, and parties interested in rival schemes.
Consequently, the local supply question was almost, if not
wholly, without an advocate.
But let us not look back : we wish to make no accusa-
tions. If we, as ratepayers, have neglected our interest,
we must suffer; but this should not close our eyes to the
future, now that they have been in some measure opened.
And now, again, the cry is raised—" indifference to the
wants of the poor"—" neglect of the health of the town."
many of those who are now asking for more time to test
the local supply, (for this is all we ask,). need not fear to
stand before their townsmen on this question too. We
do seek the health, welfare, and happiness of the poor,
knowing that our own comfort is inseparably connected
with theirs—and it rejoices nie to read the following para-
graph in the papers of last week :
" HEALTH OF THE TOWN.—We are glad to learn, from
a report presented to the health committee, by Dr. Dun-
can, that the health of the town is at present in a very
satisfactory state. During the quarter ending Ist July,
about 2000 deaths were registered in the parish of Liver-
pool, being, 900 less than during the previous quarter,
and 2800 less than during the previous quarter of last
year. Since the beginning of May, the mortality has
been below the average of the season. It is particularly
gratifying to know that fever, which committed such tre-
mendous ravages amongst us last year, is less preva-
lent than it has usually been even in ordinary years.
During the month of June. only 26 deaths took place
from fever, while in June, 1847, there were not less than
769. The different fever-sheds and the wards in the
Workhouse which were temporarily devoted to fever pa-
tients, were closed some time ago, the old fever hospital
(built forty years since) affording sufficient accommoda-
tion for the cases now requiring it."
But let me ask, has the Rivington water effected this ?
or has even a better supply from the local wells done it ?
for it is only quite lately that any change has been made
in the quantity. No : under God's essing, it is to a
great extent due to the efforts of our Corporation, in an-
other department of which several of the Water Com-
mittee are actively engaged ; and we thank them most
sincerely for the labour they bestow upon it.
Would you ask where we are to see the workings of the
efforts here alluded to ? I answer, inquire into the duties
of Mr. Newlands, Dr. Duncan, Mr. Fresh, and others.
Though perhaps much remains to be done, you will there
see enough to account for our more healthy condition.
Proper sewers and drainage are the foundation of all
sanatory operations. These are being carefully attended
to, and the course laid down by Mr. Newlands is the cor-
rect one, viz., to take a comprehensive view of the posi-
tion of the whole town, and proceed with such parts as
are most required and as the funds can be spared.
Cleansing the courtsand driving the people from the cellars
is the next step, and this hasbeen and is in effectual progress.
General cleanliness, ventilation, and other essentials to
health are being urged upon the people. All this and
much more is in operation, and the practical results may
be seen in the report of Dr. Duncan, above quoted.
The habitation of the poor man to be healthy, should
be above ground, clean, well ventilated, and dry. About
6 gallons of water per head per diem, will keep everything
clean and wholesome, and provide for all wants,—more
would be useless or worse than useless.
While, however, all these measures are producing so
many good results, the utmost economy is essential. The
high rates that now burden the town counteract much
that sanatory measures tend to alleviate ; the latter ope-
rate gradually to thin the population and to force it from
the dense and less healthy districts to those that are more
elevated, while the former occupants of these parts in their
turn retire to the out-townships. But it is now too evi-
dent that the existing pressure is greatly counteracting
this beneficial tendency by causing the masses to close in
again upon the heart of the town. This is one of the argu-
ments on which we urge the propriety of further inquiry
before a fresh and uncertain outlay is commenced.
Discussions have arisen as to who should have charge of
the water pipes within the borough. I should not have
thought that this subject could have caused a moment's he-
sitatichi. As a matter of course the corporation engineer
must have the sole control,—no other system can work
long without serious injury to the public interests.
Before leaving the subject I propose, as briefly as possi-
ble, to enumerate some of those points which may be
styled " fallacies." They are of two classes, viz., those
which arise from an ignorance of the true bearings of the
case, and those which arise either from giving undue im-
portance to trifles, or from drawing wrong inferences from
facts in themselves true. Not however desiring to judge
of motives, I will leave the public to draw their own con-
clusions.
I.—ln these discussions, it is a common fallacy, in at-
tempts to show that the local supply must be very expen-
sive, to make calculations like the following, viz. :—lf to
pump 3,000,000 gals. costs £5,000 ner annum, 16,000,000
will cost £26,666; and, if one well, with its engine, costs
£50,000, and only yields 1,500,000 gallons, wells for
16,000,000 will cost £533,000—a larger sum than the
Rivington scheme. There are three great fallacies here.
Instead of 16,000,000 of fresh water, we may not, for many
years,. require more than 6,000,000, which our present
wells will supply, with a trifling expenditure. Next : a
well with its appendages need not cost £50,000; for in-
stance,—Windsor Station cost about £27,000. And lastly,
the expense of pumping by no means increases in propor-
tion to the quantity of water raised. In some cases, the
only additional expense will be in coals.
2.—lt is a fallacy to suppose that we go into the extreme
of asserting that the local supply can last for ever. We
merely say that it will probably last for many years; and,
when more is wanted, that the additional quantity may be
obtained, at a trifling expense, compared with the present
contemplated outlay. And we say, also, that great re-
liance, founded on past experience, may be placed on the
wells, while there is considerable uncertainty as to the
Rivington water.
3.—The failure of Berry-street well is no argument
against the local supply—it was not very deep, and the
machinery was in bad condition, so that there was no effort
made to preserve it. Owing to the large number of wells
there can be no doubt that the level of the water under the
town becomes lower ; this operation is, however,
very slow, and is easily followed up at a trifling expense.
We are aware that any benefit from surface water in the
town is almost wholly lost; but we have no evidence to
show that the supply derived from the deep springs which
are tapped by boring is at all diminished, or has an injurious
effect on private wells; from this source, there are well-
grounded expectations that large additions may be made to
the supply, at a light expense.
4.—lt is a decided fallacy to expect profitable increase
in the water rents by carrying the pipes beyond the
borough—an argument often urged to reconcile us to pay.
ing for so much more water than we are likely to use. The
cost of the pipes is not provided for in the estimate, and it
will be a long time before they can be laid with any pros-
pect of returuins. 5 per cent. interest.
s.—lt is a great fallacy to suppose that the water rents
will be much increased because of the Rivington water
being brought here; with either supply the demand will
probably gradually extend. A few additional tenants
amongst the manufacturers may be induced to take the
Rivington water at a very low rate, but it must be recol-
lected that, if a reduction is made to some, it must to all
those who are at present paying a much higher rate : and
thus not increase the gross receipts.
6. I believe I am quite safe in styling as fallacies those
attempts which are made to depreciate cur local wells. I
have reason to believe that, except that the general Itvel
of the water is lower, (owing perhaps to the loss of sur-
face water,) the quantity is as abundant as ever, and the
quality is equal to what it ever was. I believe also there
is no doubt of our being able to increase the quantity,
when required, to a very great extent.
7.—1 should have devoted a few lines to refute Mr.
Spencer's table of experiments, showing the supposed
quantity of salt in the town wells, had not Mr. Spencer
himself (though rather tardily, 1 confess) shown the in-
correctness of the published statement of his experiments.
B.—Both the friends and foes of the local supply con-
stantly persevere in the error of supposing that we ever
intend to use salt water for fires, and on this mistake,
sometimes I fear intentionally made, is raised a great ob-
jection to the salt water scheme. We do not propose to
use salt water for fires—we contemplate that the fresh
water mains will always be full, and therefore ready for
fires at all tunes. The quantity required is but a trifle
compared with the other demands, and would not be felt.
Salt water for watering streets, flushing sewers, washing
courts, and for public baths, is all we ever contend for ;
and, for these purposes, salt water is very superior to fresh.
• 9.—lt would be a fallacy to attempt to leave the deci-
sion of this question to either one or three persons, as has
been proposed ; we have within ourselves the safest test—
leave it to the practical men who are now in the employ-
ment of the corporation, only give them time and the
question will be fairly tried. They should not, however,
have the fear of the displeasure of the Water Committee
before their eyes, but be allowed to feel that it is no longer
a party question.
10.—It Would perhaps be unkind to clear away the very
pleasing fallacy in which some persons indulge, in con-
templating the amount of work which is in store for the
poor when the Rivington works are in progress. The
people out beyond Chorley have certainly a very keen
sense of the benefits to be thus derived to themselves,
as I found on a recent visit to that locality, but what
good it will do to our own poor I am at a loss to see;
but if the local supply is maintained, they will have a
chance of keeping in their own hands what little is to be
done.
11.—It is a very great fallacy to suppose that our local
supply is in the least injured by drainage from sewers and
cess-pools ; the perfect freedom from all organic matter,
of the well water, is our best proof ; and here we have an
unquestionable advantage over the Rivington water.
Having now, Mr. Editor, sufficiently taxed your kind-
ness, and the patience of your readers, I will close my
poor remarks by again recommending a calm and good
tempered consideration of this important though tiresome
subject—let there be no calling names, especially in the
council—no bitterness—no p_rty spirit—no concealment
of important facts and undue magnifying of trifles. We
all have the good of the town at heart, and let us adopt
the beet means of ascertaining it.
JOHN GRANTHAM.