The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-07

1t is not more than eighteen months later.
Thus the people of London have provided
Christmas gift for themselves. which will
occupy their attention for some years to
come. The vast scheme of a water supply
for the future. which has been considered
by a distinguished commission, contem-
plates water area of $40 miles, popula-
ton of 100000 people and daily flow of
water of nearly 400, 600 gallons. The
commission has reported that this can all
come from the Thames and the Lea, over
either of which streams a man can cast a
stone. and from more wells in the great
chalk beds underlying the Kent and Sur
reg country to the south.
A strange and romantic tale of the water
of this great city could be written. The
present vast system, obsolete and made
quate in its local delivery as it may seem
to Americans, could not have been even
imagined by the lord mayor of ancient
time, as in the year 1882 he rode in state
to see the water thrown over st. Mag
nus's steeple by Morry's wheel This sys-
tenn of wheels. built under a 50o-year lease
from the city, was extended until wheels
revolved with the tides under five arches of
the London bridge. They supplied the city
with water for 24O years, and only were
destroyed in 1922, when the bridge came
down.
Water rights in London were valuable
200 years ago, for in 17O1 the Morrys fam
lily sold their bridge privilege for nearly
$4,000 Another right acquired later was
sold under a provision that the original
owners should get about $4,000 each year
so long as the charter ran. This charter
x1I
of life. The legal difficulty surrounding the
extinguishment of all these old water COM
panies have not been the least formidable
obstacle to transfer to municipal owner
ship. Service pipes were laid in the houses
as early as 1913. and. judging from appear
ances in some of the London houses, the
original plumbing apparently still exists.
for it is difficult to believe that it was de-
vised and executed within a reasonable
time OF the present knowledge Of such
matters.
ANCIENT TAMMANY METHODS.
Around the granting of these old charters
cling traditions of intrigue and plumber
which would do credit to modern board
of aldermen. Even kings deigned to take
part in such enterprises and to-day the
crown receives $500 each year from the
New River Company. founded by Sir Hugh
Myddelton, and partly flnanciered by King
James. This tribute is known as Kings
Clogg." and was to have been paid in per-
petuity. Sir Hugh held thirteen shares in
the original water company out Of the one
half interest or thirty-six which King
James did not own. To-day those shares
are held to be worth $SO00.0O0, or about
$500, 900 each.
The difficulties under which the builders
of water works labored In earlier days are
occasionally illustrated when some old
street is torn up. Only last week in digging
up Finsbury street old trunks of trees
were unearthed which had been used for
water pipes. Only four feet below the sur
face for nearly two hundred years they
have supported the heavy traffic on the
surface OF the road. They were wonder
fully well preserved and had been followed
out to a bore of from six to eight inches.
In some cases these trees were as much as
six feet in circumference. One end of each
length had been pointed to fit into the hol-
low of the next, some OF the lengths being
fully twenty feet. They are supposed TO
have been part of the system which sup
piled the once fashionable quarter of the
city across Finsbury fields.
LOCAL HISTORY AND ROMANCE.
The Fleet river still makes its way
through the heart of the city, but now
covered sewer. The abutments OF the old
bridge Fleet street. across this stream,
at the foot OF Ludgate HILL were recently
uncovered at a depth of twenty feet below
the present level of the city. Ranelaugh
Brooke from the Serpentine, the West
bourne. the Eastbourne and Ravensbourne.
familiar 10 readers of old English stories
have disappeared or are serving as hum
bic but useful part as sewers. Rosamond's
pond, I'm st. James Park, visited by thou
sands of Americans each year. is an old
reservoir. and the beautiful sunken garden
near which visitors to Hyde Park sit in
penny chairs and watch the world of fash
ion go by, once served as the reservoir for
all that part OF town. Some day some