, 1877-09-09
THE LONDON WATER-SUPPLY.

human beings, and the problem how this rast
population can be supplied with water is full of
| difficulties. 4 paper on this subject was read
in tue section of Economic Science and Statistics
| OF the British Association for The Advancement
Of Science at the recent Plymouth session. The
| conditions Of n Watcr-supply in any city ought
| to be, first, sufficient quantity; second, good
| quality; third, a high pressure; and, fourth,
accessibility, SO that the expense of the service
/ may be brought within moderate limits. The
present watcr-supply OF London meets only the
first and last of these conditions. Its impurity
units it for use for drinking purposes, and the
pressure is not high enough to secure the
efficiency Of the Fire Department. The supply
| is provided by eight companies, which have an
aggregate capital Of ell ,106, GOO, gross income
Of II ,137, 900, and net income Of 9105, ,101 Civ
| ing, 4 rate Of interest on all the capital en-
| ployed OF proxinately 6.3 per cent. The
! water is taken from the River Lea,
and from the Thames above Tcdilfngton Weir.
! It's impurity has been attested by many chem
| lists, aud might be expected from the fact that
the streams from which it is drawn drain a
richly country and many populous
towns above London. The pressure will not
afford on the average more than 1000 per
gallon at any fire, and this at the street level
NiCtE I4C-EuEtlEo hIA w AN4lAIAI0s LII
there can be no question:" says the report,
!" that to insure the prompt extinction Of fires
it would be in the highest degree desirable to
be able to supply an effective jet from the
Waterman, without the Intervention OF an en-
ginc.''
The remedy for the deficiencies is outlined
in the scientific paper already alluded to, which
was drawn I'D at the request OF the 31etropoli-
tan Board Of Works. amt has been approved by
such an eminent authority as the London Times.
The plan is to have 4 doub1e-serVice,-
one to furnish water for drinking and |
for the extinction of fires, and the |
other to supply water for washing, strcct-clean-
ing, aud miscellaneous purposes. The compa-
uies now in existence would be charged with the |
latter work, while the cor 1poration would Under |
take the former. The new supply would be
taken frcm the vast stores which lie unused in |
the chalk formations fifteen or twenty miles |
distant from London. It is estimated that |
II, COZ, ,0M gallons 4 day might be drawn from |
this source. The daily average quantity NOW
used in London is 120, ,000, 900, but it is believed
not more than 8,oo0,090 gallons are used for
drinking and culinary purposes. The plan con-
templates tho building OF reservoirs on the high |
ground TO the north and south Of London At q |
height OF 400 feet above the level. These rcser-
yors would be supplied By pumping engines
drawing their supply OF spring water at dis |
ta,trcs of from eight to fifteen miles be-
yond the reservoirs. The reservoirs would be
united By large ,arterial mains trascrs1ng Lon
don from north to south. Service pipes would
take the water into the houses, delivering it |
into close vessel having draw-ou tap, and
containing, according to the size OF tue house,
from three totem gallons, and tlling UP gradually
after having been ernptcL The annual cost OF
the plan proposed is thus stated: Interest at
3.l per cent on 900, el92.,5o0; working
expenses for pumping and management, &C., ee9322
500: total, E225, 600. This would be cqual to
about 2](d In the pound on the ratabtc value
of the metropolis. 1t is estimated, OH the other
hand, that the expense Of buying up the p.iy-
ilcges Of the present companies and adding the
facilities required for fire purposes
would be 426,0 ,000, 600, and the annual running
expenses 1612,22 $50, equal to about 1611d in the
pound on the ratablc value.
The advantages Of the new scheme are appar-
cnt, but it is open to serious objections, one OF
whicl. the London Times has noticed. The sun
ply OF 1G,00O coo gallons daily will not be sut1I-
cicnt when tile wants Of tho country about the
:halk-Dcds increase, as they promise to do, and |
their supplies are taken from this source It |
may be doubted also whether the average
householder can be depended on to save the
:halk-bed water oaly for drinking and cooking.
On the other hand, the adoption Of the plan
would remove at once all difficulties as to the
existing companies, and would furnish supply
.or the extinction of fires under an enormous
pressure, so that the reduction in rates of in
,urancc might in a short time cover the ex-
3enscs OF the alterations. It is understood that
,ouseloldcrs would always have the choice I
whether they should use the turoid Thames wa t
or or the pure water from the chalk-bcds, or
10th.
The Brooklyn Eagles lamentations over the r
moral and commercial degradation and down. I /
all Of Chicago do equal honor to its absence q
4 head and heart. THE tribune might be | b
empted to reply to them but for the fact that | Il
be Eagle is taking massive interest In the ?
Democratic State Convention In New York. The 4
ast time the Brooklyn Eagles editor went to l
lie Democratic State Convention at the head !
t the Kings County delegation lie was thrown -
ycrboard by the State Committee for being =
alary grabber. We do not care to embarrass :.
i'm at this moment, but SO soon as he has got r
~ .1.n1 !