New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
DRY WHITECHAPEL.
THE EAST END WATER FAMINE AND IT'S
RELATIONS TO THE UNSOLVED
PROBLEMS OF METROPOLI-
TAN LONDON

TAN LONDON.
London, September %
The East London Water Company has pro-
vided Progressives with convincing argument
for development of municipal organization In
the metropolis. 1t received warning during two
successive dry seasons that IT lacked the re-
served supply OF water requisite for the comfort
and necessities OF population OF l,@N,Ooo de-
pendent upon IT, The water famine of this sea-
son was anticipated. for the company procured
last wear the insertion of clause in its act en-
abling 1: to make arrangements for obtaining
water from other companies. Having estao-
Nshed this legal safeguard against scarcity, 1t
failed to take practical measures for rendering
II operative until there had been many weeks or
privation and suffering. The connection win
the Southwark and Vauxhall mains has been
completed this week and the water supply OF
East London has been increased: but II there
had been reasonable degree of forethought the
pipes Of the two systems could nave peeh
brought together late in July. when the scarcity
Of water already acutely felt. The com
pany was armed with power for meeting the
emergency by making connections with other
water systems but II delayed action from week
TO week during the protracted rainless season
1t a signal proof not only Of the incompe-
tence Of the management of a single company
but also OF lack Of cooperation on the part OF
the water barons who hold metropolitan Lon
don al their mercy.
The East London company supplies dis'ric'
swarming with population and dotted over with
manufacturing establishments 1t pumps water
from, the Lea and from wells in the chalkbeds
east Of the metropolis. This year the Lea has
run wellnish Dry and the water which has come
from the valley has been diverted into II frolh
the reservoirs of the New River company Al
Lea Bridge the basins. covering over three hun
drcd acres, which ordinarily have capacity or
100 600 900 gallons are nearly empty. altnough
the company has been processing 10 dsribut2
1880 600 gallons daily. The water has beer
turned on three or four hours a day and the
company has maintained that the average was
nineteen gallons for every inhabtant; nut the
eupnly has been intermittent. with low pressure,
and the water is described rhetoricaily at mag
nation meetings as diluted sewage tempered
with microbes" Even the new reserves pur-
chased from the Southwark and Vauxhall COM
pany only increase the daily supply by 3O0OoO
gallons. The water famine will continue until
the long-deferred rains replenSh the exhausted
wells and the watorcOurses of the Lea. East
London has not been absolutely wateress for
two month"; as some Of the excited orators at
public meetings assert. hut there has been only
q scant supply since July. The water company
has been hopelessl. inefficient in its neglect Of
the district.
GLASGOW rs WELL SUPPLIED.
Glasgow abandoned the Clyde source OF
water supply forty years ago. and. purchasing
the rights of two water companies. tapped Loch
Katrne thirty-fve miles away. The capital ex-
pended in the waterworks and plant exceeded
pSl5.O0060. but the commissioners have oeeh
able to reduce the rates from lid to less than
Cd in the pound. and to have substantial pal
ance of profit for the municipal! treasury al'er
having annuities on S25000O0 of stock to the
shareholders Of the old companies and providing
for interest and the sinking fund The city now
has the cheapest and most plentiful supply OF
water in the United Kingdom. Loeb Katrine Is
inexhsustibe and the average supply OF hfty
gallons per day for every nhabitant can be IN
definitely increased by additional aQueducts.
There is always a months supply stored in the
reservoirs which are three hundred feet ABOVE
the level Of the city. With the gravity pressure
IN the water mains as great as 1t is. few pump
ing engines for the Fire Department are requi-
site.
Liverpool has dealt with the question Of water
supply with equal enterprise. Two companies
which were pumping water from wells were
purchased for S2.JOOOOO. and after reservoirs
from, three rivers Lake Nyrnwy was tapped at
distance of seventy miles from the Mersey. This
erest public work was completed a few years
ogo AZ an exnense Of over S1Oo00OOO. The cor
noration Is prohibited by law from making any
nroft out Of domestic water supply. ana the
Liverpool taxpayers virtually compelled TO
nav q norton of the rates of population or
tbrea hundred thousand outside the city. The
ar, WAS not so shrewdly drawn as the CORE
enonding one for Glasgow. but the water supply
is abundant If not cheap
Manchester bought out water company for
So5OO0O0 fifty years ago, and EXPENDED ABOUT
900 in developing the drainage ground
and works at Longdendae, eighteen miles from
rho city. In 1879 Lake Thrlmere passed under
the ownership Of the corporation. and during the
1asr twenty years $17,OO00N has been invested
IN raising its level. increasing its capacity ana
constructing an aqueduct nearly one huhdreu
miles in length. Manchester makes an annual
nro6t NJ over 100000 from its water supply
after meeting the obligations of the sinking tund.
Ito water rates are higher than those OF GIas-
cow but the supply is ample for the require
ments OF the population
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP IN THE PROVINCES
BIRMINGHAM arranged over twenty years ago
,srn,s Of purchase for q private coInpanys sys-
,.po Of supply from rivers ana weHs' ABOUT
se 75O 600 was paid. and the supply oouoieo "y
~. construction OF new works Inc Elan ana
CHAIRMAN rivers were also secured az d source u
-. =. q distance of eighty miles, and the ex-
,.rse q, ,be undertaking when competed VIII Ne
over S35 O00OO0 .,.a.,s cou
=. ,h,s wav Bradford. Leeds. Sheffield car
s,r Nottingham. Hull and all the otner erea'
nrovincial towns have purchaser 'he 'is"'' -