The New York herald., 1874-10-11
THE THAMES EMDANKMENT.
Cost Of The Construction Of the Great
English Metropolitan Work.
City 0rnamentation and Public
Convenience and Health.
Interested Opposition Of the Hackmen
and Tramway Companies.

and Tramway Companies.
LONDON, Sept. "a, 1874
Probably no other work has so greatly contrib
uted to advance the ornament tatiOn and conyen-
iehce OF the British metropolis as the creation OF
the Thames Embankmenr. No further back than
the year 1851 the River Thames, with the streets
bordering upon 1t, was perfect disgrace to Lon
don. The river receiving the sewage OF the city,
gave on, in bad weather. an odor SO unpleas-
ant that at one time it became seri-
GUS consideration to the Imperial Parliament
whether its members would not adjourn In order
to escape the danger OF typhoid fever Cartca-
lures and editorials indicated an awful state OF
things and illustrated the fact that the river
which should have been the glory OF London, was
actually its curse At low water the long line OF
mud banks was peopled by large numbers of men,
women and children, known IN those
days as ''mudlarksn - now, happily, ex-
ttnct-who obtained q wretched livelihood
by hunting in the filth and scum OF
the river for waits and strays allen from the ship
ping. The miserable wretches who spent their
days IN degrading occupation, at night sailed
forth only when cnance OF plunder or theft pre-
sen,ed ITSELF As for the buildings and warehouses
which abutted upon the river, they were undoubt-
In many instances they were nero dens OF
thieves, and throughout IN tumble-down,
rickety and dangerous condition. The streets
or lanes-if indeed they could be called such
leading to the river were in the dirtiest,
flthiess condition, at times almost impenetrable.
When cholera appeared in London 1t was In this
locality that II first showed Itself Looking up to
the river from London Bridge at a time when the
tide was out you beheld o vista OF wretched
dwellings-huge masses OF mud and slime
hundreds OF peopie-half naked, and alto
gether in the most wretched condtion-of
all ages and both sexes, dabbling therein.
1t presented generally picture Of such
q mass oil misery and restitution as can now
scarcely be conceived. At high water, especially
when spring tide came on. the river oyern0wed
its confines into the streets.
THE SCENE OF PERIODICAL INUNDATIONS.
Lower Thames street, Fish street Hill and other
important th0roughfares were continually inun-
dated. The loss ana damage to property were enor-
nous; the complaints became louder and clamor-
GUS, and 1t was generally felt that some
thing must be done to remedy the evil SO
far from being able to boast of the spendor Of the
river with the wealth 1t car led on its bosom, and
the tremendous amount or shipping it sheltered,
there Is no doubt that the Londoner was heartily
ashamed to near OF the Thames.
THE PEOPLE AkOUSEDs
In the year above mentioned so offensive grew
the river that o pestilence in the city was
greatly feared. Public opinion at that
period became too strong for the slow
movements OF city onicials. and resolutions,
setting forth that something must be done, as
sumed . tangible shape 1t was urged that the
main thoroughfares from st. Pauis church
to the city ON the one hand and to the West End
on the other side, known as Fleet street and the
Strand, were continually cnoKed with traflc 80 as
TO render rapid transit impracticable and almost
impossible, ana seriously TO interfere with drivers
and pedestrians. Moreover, the fostering genius
of the French Emperor had then amply illustrated
the feasibility OF improvements and the compare
tive ease with which the creation OF
boulevards had been accomplished lin the
great city of Paris. The combined crcum-
stances brought heavy pressure on those in
authority and tended to show that 1t was high
time that London should not remain behind the
French metropolis and other continental cities
1t was evident that London should be better pro-
vided with roads for the rapidly increasing wants
Just about that period an act OF Parliament
created what is now known as
THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF w0RKs
commission, whose members Will, in the end
be found to have been the greatest blessing to
London. Parliament showed what IL could do to
nelp Cue peOplt. rOTluWltu tuc aOlDOTn NlauuCt
was begun, and steps were taken to provide Lon
don with grand tnoroughfares along the river.
Above all, however, the great question then
agitated was the provisions Of system Of proper
sewerage tor the metropolis. The question which
was OF vital impor tance. had previously under
gone careful study. The necessity was apparent
to carry the sewage to q distant point down the
river, and Barking was finally fixed upon. In car
rying out this plan means were provided SO that
1t should cease to poute the stream, and that the
offensive smell of 1t should at all events, be some.
what abated. 1t was not, OF course without an
immense amount OF opposition tnat the plan
was decided upon OF running the sewerage works
parallel to the river and these be hemmed In Dy
q great embankment. Works OF sucn Importance
were not likely to be brought to life without many
objections, and thus q section OF the author :
tiles set at once to oppose the scheme with
might and main. 1t was all, however, to no pur-
pose; eventually the work was begun and has
since been finished, to the intense satisfaction ol
everybody. In order, however, to understand the
great Importance and the purposes OF the work,
1t Is necessary to enter into q some what detailed
account OF the undertaking.
HISTORY OF THE WORK OF THE EMBANKMENT.
So long ago as 1910 plans were submitted lor i'm
proving and emDankng the Thames. Prominent
among the projects were those Of Sir Frederick
French and the late Mr.. Martin, the celebrated
painter. But finally the plans prepared by Mr..
Walker we're accepted and eventually carried out.
Ia 1862 an act OF Parliament was passed which
HANDED over the river side to the Metropolitan
Board OF Works BY February, 1854. the contracts
were out, and the works began for the north side
embankment from Blackfrars to the Westminster
Bridge, while by September, 1885, the plans on the
south side from Westminster Bridge to vauxha
were also commenced
THE COST OF TIE WORKS.
The aggregate length OF the northern emDank
ment is 6,ea0 Iect, and the total cost OF consruc
tion amounts to $4,375,O0O (fs75,Ooo; the width
being In places 150 feet. For the southern section
30 much money was not needed. Its length is
5000 feet, with width OF go feet, the tota
cost being 81, Gas, 900 (G3oo,0oo). About thirty
seven acres OF land we're actually reclaimed IRON