, 1881-09-10


The need Of an increased water supply
II now felt, not only in New York, but
also in several OF the leading cities oi
Europe. Demand increases even faster
than population, for manufacturing con-
stantly requires more water, and modern
methods of living make greater and
grcsscr calls upon the aqusducts.
During July, for instance, there was so
great scarcity Of water in some of the
mos; populous districts of London that .
panic occurred among the householders-
The newspapers contained daily com
plaiats of the hardships Of the people In
consequence Of their inability to get sufii-
cient water at time when they espec-
ially needed it, Unusually warm weather
prevailed in England at that time,
and the lack Of water wss felt much
more keenly than in ordinary seasons,
though every year-there is more or less
suffering on account Of the inade9usey Of
the supply in this city and the methods
for its distribution.
Cooler weather In the latter part of
July came to the relief Of the citizens,
who soon recovered from their panic; bu.
while the alarm lasted it was made mani
fest that the great English metropolis
suffers from defective and i'll. regulated
water supply, which invites recurrence
Of scarcity. The temporary suffering
caused by the lack of water supply simply
called attention anew to an evil which
only becomes apparent to the run Of the
inhabitants OF the city when they are put
to inconvenience by reason of il, but
which has long been understood by hy-
draulic engineers
London is we'll situated for obtaining q
copious supply Of water even in the driest
seas0nA As Mr. B. Latham, civil en-
gineer. lately pointed out. large sources
from which it can be obtained are con-
ven;ently at hand. and of coUrse the do
mestie and manufacturing demand is 30
enormous that the expense Of bringing it
to the city would be amply repaid But
the trouble is that water is furnished by
several companies, and London lacks a
general and harmonious aqueduct system.
The cons, quence is that witt respect TO
water no great town in the kingdom is SD
badly served as the metropolis The
others take pains to construct their own
aqueducts, but London relies on the en-
terprise of the water companies
Nothing practical, however, has yet
been done to remedy tho evils Of which
SO great complaint Was made last month
In truth, it ID not likely that any public
system of water supply will be perfected
until a municipal government, elected
directly by the ratepaysrs, shall have been
established for London. When that
comes, ii it ever does come, there will be
II strong central authority capable Of deal
ing with such matters.
Meantime Liverpool, which has also
long felt the necessity for more adequate
water supply, has taken steps toward a
remedy. On the lith Of last month they
laid the foundation stone Of an immense
embanEment across Welsh valley, which
will form new lake capable of giving to
Liverpool a supply of 5000, 900 gallon,
a day. The water is to be conveyed a
distance of nearly seventy miles at = cost
nf about Sl5. 900, 600. II will be 1885
before water is obtained by this means-
Liverpool does not begin its new aque-
duct too soon In the area now furnished
with water by the corporation are 72O, 600
inhabitsnts, and they are yearly increas
ing in number. while az long ago as 1865
a great drought made manifest the made
4uacy of the water supply, which at its
best allows only about fifteen and 4 half
gallons head, after deductins the guam
tity used for manufacturing purposes.
Equally wise forethought wonld lead to
the prompt beginning Of new aqueduct
for New York.-.San.