468 The Water Companies : [MAY, 



would, according to the etiquette in such cases made and provided, have to 

 " regret" the " failure of the speculation" and be the only parties per- 

 fectly well satisfied with the result. 



The limited space farther, however, that we can afford to devote to this 

 inquiry, compels us to return to that which is really the most important 

 question connected with it : How far the inhabitants of the metropolis 

 have reason to be contented with the quality of the supply of water fur- 

 nished to them, and with the terms upon which they receive it ? The first 

 section of this question applies to a point almost of vital interest ; and as to 

 which any attempt to excite the apprehension of persons groundlessly or 

 to disguise danger, or objection, where it really exists becomes equally 

 reprehensible. 



A part of the object of the " New Joint Stock Company " Association 

 and a very material point it would be if they could accomplish it seems to be 

 to shew that the supply of water obtained from the Thames near London 

 is not merely as regards the Grand Junction Company's supply but, 

 altogether, objectionable. 



Mr. Keate, the surgeon, as we have shewn some pages back, is quoted 

 as speaking of " Thames water " without reference to the condition in 

 which it is supplied as " unfit for domestic purposes." Mr. K. probably 

 means to say, " for human consumption." 



Dr. James Johnson says, that he has always regarded the <4 Thames 

 water," taken up "near London," as " most disgusting to the imagina- 

 tion, and deleterious to health.'' 



And a Mr. Mills, who stated himself, at the Westminster meeting, to be 

 an engineer, declared, among a great variety of new and startling propo- 

 sitions, that the Thames water could never be fit for drinking unless it was 

 taken up " above Teddington lock." 



Now, with great respect for the spirit of improvement that is abroad, and 

 for the very excellent job that would arise out of bringing 500,000 hogs- 

 heads of water daily to London, from " above Teddington lock " par- 

 ticularly as a second job would very quickly follow upon this arrangement : 

 for the water in the Thames, " above the Teddington lock," is apt enough 

 (without this enormous draught) in summer to run short, already we are 

 disposed to think that, as we have got on so long with the Thames water, 

 so, with only mending the old system of supply a little, instead of break- 

 ing it up entirely, we may get on a little longer. 



The Thames water, it may be worth while to recollect, as it is supplied 

 by every company but the Grand Junction Company, gives, or has given, 

 very reasonable satisfaction. Against the East London Company, the 

 West Middlesex Company, the Chelsea and the Surrey Companies, we 

 have heard of no complaint as to the Thames water ; or, if it has been 

 served occasionally in a turbid state as it must be in wet weather, let it 

 be supplied from what source it will there is nothing here which the adop- 

 tion of a little more settling and filtering precaution on the part of the 

 companies may not entirely get rid of. The question, how far health may 

 be affected by the use of a water like that of the Thames, into which 

 impurities are constantly pouring:, is one which we shall not pause here to 

 discuss because we think the fact of its offensiveness, if materially con- 

 taminated by these impurities, a sufficient circumstance of objection. It 

 must not be supposed, however, that this question of " danger to health" 

 is at all an admitted one. On the contrary, we believe that the balance 



