The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-28

York since last July; and all of these were
brought here from foreign ports, one from
Germany and two from Havana This is
one OF the most remarkable things in the
history of that loathsome disease, and it
shows how efficient for the protection of
health, and especially for the prevention Of
cpidemics, the scourgcs of crowded cities in
former times, sanitary measures, promptly
and thoroughly applied, may be made.
The great danger which confronts the
health of London Is pointed out by writer
in trasers lIdgdsiae. and it lies IN the water
supply and sewage of the city. Tho sewage,
when 1t does not rain, amounts to more than
one hundred and twenty millions of gallons
a day. All this pollution is poured into the
Thames at a mean distance OF twelve and a
quarter miles below London Bridge, and so
great is its quantity that the stream con-
ssts OF from onc-fourth to unc-third sow
age and two-thirds to three-fourths river
water. As the population of the city in
crcases, of course this evil will be steadily
augmented: and unless something else is
done with the filth of the city. the Thames
will become simply II great sewer, fatal TO
the health of the millions who live along its
banks. The standard of river purity, us OIL
cally fixed by an English commission, de-
tcrmlncs any water that contains 10 grains
by weight of suspended matter in 100000 to
be polluted Judged by this, the daily
pollution of the Thames between Barking
and Crossncss il five times that regarded rs
inadmissble The seward advance of the
sewage is only about six miles fortnight,
or 7ji yards q day; and while the original
mixture is making that progress a second
dose Of the poison is poured in. This pro-
cess is SO continuous that the water of the
river is rapidly and omnously growing
fouer.
Water is supplied to the $4,000 houses of
the metropolis by eight companies, and the
available supply. drawn from the basin Of
the Thames. is claimed to be sufficient for a
population Of five millions The MctropOli-
tan Board of Works. alleging that the water
is impure In quality. have attempted To get
possession Of the property of the eight com
panics, SO as to manage the water supply
themselves. Their plan is to lay Il duplicate
set Of pipes over the whole area o! the city,
for the purpose Of supply wing water for drink
ing purer than that now furnished, and also
to keep constant water supply, under a
considerable hydraulic pressure, available
for putting out fires. Great opposition is
made to this scheme both on the ground OF
its expense. the first item Of which would be
from hundred to hundred and fifty mil
lions OF dollars for the acquisition Of the
property Of the existing water companies,
and because it is cOntendcd that the man
agementUf the water supply would not bc so
efficient and satisfactory as it now H. the
Metropolitan Board having already subject
ed itself to severe criticism as being over
weighted with its work The writer in
FraSers Mt0d-iHe also AYERS that the in
adequacy Of the proposed supply is alone
sufficient To condemn the scheme. and n
health officer who has analysed the present
water reports that "it Is a excellent in
quality as il is liberal in quantity"
The problem Of the sanitary care of the
millions Of people in London cannot fail
to grow more and more difficult and the
social and political consequences of the rapid
increase Of the population will command
more and more attention.