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Streets of the Metropolis. 



No person who has occasion to walk, or even ride along the 

 streets of the metropolis, hut has cause to complain of their bad, 

 uneven, and often dangerous state. From the necessary ex- 

 cavations for water and gas pipes ; for drains, ovens and cellars 

 under the pavement ; and for occasional repairs of the pave- 

 ment itself, the streets, especially the leading ones, are ever in 

 a state of disorder and confusion. 



True it is, that such inconveniences must be submitted to in 

 such a place as London. The alterations and improvements, 

 both public and private, constantly going on, must necessarily 

 keep the streets in a state of revolution. But why such works 

 are not done in the best manner ; and why the City has not 

 the best engineers, as well as the best of everything else, is 

 most unaccountable. In many cases, it is often observed, that 

 improvements are begun before the projector is aware of the 

 extent he may find it necessary to go, or before the mason or 

 pavior is prepared with materials to complete the work. This 

 is entirely for want of concert among those concerned in the 

 affair, and for want, it would appear, of a competent super- 

 intendent to direct the operations. The greater part of this 

 endless doing and undoing is caused by the imperfect and 

 slovenly manner in which the excavations are filled up. The 

 workmen's endeavour invariably seems to be, to make all good 

 as expeditiously as possible ; using any kind of material nearest 

 at hand, whether it be fit or unfit ; finishing by relaying the 

 stone ; and ramming the surface with ludicrous exertion 

 of lungs and arms, till all is smooth and level. But in a 

 short week or two, behold, the regularly paved place, instead 

 of remaining what the workmen had called (t a good job," is 

 become a dangerous foot, or wheel trap ; and then it must be 

 pulled up again, to the annoyance of passengers, and at a 

 further expense to the public ! 



To this improper and careless way of filling up these open- 

 ings, is to be attributed the dangerous settling of the houses 

 towards each other in narrow streets, and requiring those 

 frightful shores to keep the walls upright. The foundations 



