XODEBN IDEAS OF SANITABi: ECOKOMY. 



73 



In the remarks on this table in the Report of the Board of 

 Health, it is said that the phosphoric acid here is capable of 

 manuring 95,000 acres of wheat, or 184,000 acres of clover, 

 ^58,000 acres of potatoes, or 280,000 acres of oats. 



Still this could not be made available, as it at present flows, 

 with any moderate expense, and the best way is without a 

 doubt to separate it before being diluted, instead of attempt- 

 ing to separate it after diluting. It is not even necessary to 

 carry all the matter into a reservoir below Manchester, but 

 it might be used in its passage downwards wherever oppor- 

 tunity occurred, either for preparing the manure dry, or 

 putting it on the soil as liquid manure. From one of these 

 refuse substances, the waste soap, Mr. A. Mc.Dougall has 

 already prepared marketable commodities of great beauty and 

 value. 



The population is becoming so close that it does appear 

 time that we should cease to act as individual towns only, and 

 endeavour to act as a collection of towns, which the district 

 certainly is. This could not aflTect the Manchester water 

 supply, but only its drainage; it would, however, affect the 

 supply of numerous smaller towns and villages, and many 

 works. Every valley would become united in its economy, 

 as seems to be the most natural method. The impure water 

 running along river courses would not very much increase ; 

 it would be used along the line in part as manure, and the 

 mode of carrying it forward need not be an expensive one ; a 

 simple stone or brick channel covered would be enough. If 

 we examine the sides of a stream, we see drops trickling 

 down from the banks, growing larger and larger until they 

 have force to fall into the brook ; if we examine the banks of 

 the Thames, of the Irwell, or Medlock, we see the blackest 

 and most impure trickling drops, which imitate the others in 

 falling into the stream, but not in improving it. 



This mode of collective water supply and drainage might 

 be carried on to a great extent, that is, between villages, 



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