THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



13 



perpetual maintenance of the ,'uew outfall. He knew 

 that many millers were anxious to have an improve- 

 ment of mill-streams, on the principle of a compensa- 

 tion, consisting of a substitution of steam-power for 

 the water. 



Mr. Hcathcote added some particulars as to the 

 middle level drainage in the Bedford Level ; and a con- 

 versation followed, in which Mr. Grantham joined ; 

 while Mr. John Glutton gave some particulars as to the 

 wretched state of the Thames' and other valleys, and 

 the possibility of extraordinary improvement in the 

 value of property from river improvement. 



In the coui'se of the interview, Sir George Lewis 



stated that hk was pnEPARED to introduce a 



. Bill during the coming session ; and from his 



wishing the Deputation to furnisli him with particulars 



in writing of the objections to and short-comings in the 

 Earl of Carlisle's Bill of 1852, it would appear that a 

 modification of that Bill is soon to be placed before the 

 country. At the same time, from the prominence given 

 by the various members of the Deputation to the ne- 

 cessity for such provisions as those in Mr. Ker Seymour's 

 Bill of 18543(f<)r minor outfalls), it is to be hoped that 

 the Government Bill will include both the classes of 

 wants which are pointed out in the above remarks of 

 the speakers at Whitehall. When the Government 

 proposals are before lis, we shall be able to say whether 

 they can meet these widely-different objects; or whe- 

 ther we ought not to have an inquiry by a " roving'' 

 commission into actual grievances and manifold means 

 of redress, before equitable enactments adapted to all 

 districts can be framed and passed. 



RIVER REFORM. 



BY A LINCOLNSHIRE FARMER. 



It does not appear, froni any notice I have seen, what 

 are the precise objects to be brought before the meet- 

 ing to be held at the Hanover Square Rooms, on the 

 12th Dec. One likes to know what is intended to be 

 done, 80 that we might aid or oppose, as we deem best 

 for the public good. It is no new thing to legislate 

 upon matters of drainage and river outfalls. I read 

 that in the reign of Henry III. statutes were made deal- 

 ing with rivers, stanches, &c. ; and in the reign of Henry 

 VI., commissioners of drainage works were appointed, 

 whose chief duty was to remove nuisances and obstruc- 

 tions, and look to the maintenance of works, and this for 

 a limited time and for limited districts ; but in the 

 reign of Henry Till, a statute was enacted, establishing 

 " commissioners of sewers upon a general basis, and 

 another of the 3rd Edward VI. perpetuating them for 

 ever, for the conservation of low grounds in the whole 

 realm." Much information on early drainage may be 

 obtained from Dugdale on Drainage and Embankment, 

 or rather '' History of Imbanking and Drayning," a 

 highly interesting work of its kind and of its time. 

 The great powers now in being for effecting the drain- 

 age of the whole kingdom, were given under the Act 3rd 

 and 4th Will. IV. cap. 22, to commissioners of sewers, 

 and creating an almost omnipotent body, responsible 

 to no power, and capable by their own decrees or orders 

 to effect and complete any system of drainage they may 

 think well to undertake, even to the extent of improving 

 or altering river outfalls. The actual power of these 

 courts of sewers is almost unlimited, provided the usual 

 routine as to presentment, petitions, complaints, and 

 the like, are properly gone into, according to the direc- 

 tions of the act. They can, if they please, appoint a 

 committee of members to investigate and examine into 

 the case of any petitioner or complainer, or present- 

 ment ; and if the case is deemed fairly made out, they 

 can direct the work to be done, and a rate to be made 

 upon the lands proposed to be improved. The con- 

 sent of three-fourths in value of the owners and occu- 

 piers of these lands is requisite, to enable them to levy 

 the rate, otherwise the whole control is in the hands of 

 the commissioners. 



It would, then, appear that the powers of the com- 

 missioners of sewers is all that is wanted, to effect the 

 object which the promoters of the present movement 

 aim to achieve. It is chiefly in carrying out these great 

 works of improvement where the difficulty lies. I pre- 

 sume no one would desire to establish an irresponsible 

 body, with power to execute large and comprehensive 



works, and lay enormous rates or a heavy taxation 

 upon districts, without the consent of the parties to be 

 rated or taxed. That would be " un-English indeed." 

 The great fact is, that there are vast works, and vast 

 improvements to be made in our arterial drainages and 

 river outfalls, of which the general public are un- 

 acquainted ; and the great question is, as to whether 

 these important works shall be done before the public 

 can be sufficiently informed and prevailed upon to con- 

 sent to be taxed for them, or not. This was the case in 

 Ireland, and great dissatisfaction resulted, till at last the 

 commission was suspended or given up. There the 

 commissioners acted upon their own judgment and 

 responsibility, without the consent of owners and occu- 

 piers. In this country such a course would never be 

 tolerated. The British public will have a voice in their 

 own affairs, and perfectly right too. I am not suffi- 

 ciently acquainted with these late Acts of Parliament as 

 to say they are of general application. Various modifica- 

 tions may be required, and perhaps an amalgamation of 

 best of the provisions in Lord Lincoln's Act and the 

 Sewers Act might be advantageously effected. This is 

 one important matter for the consideration of the 

 meeting. Will a comprehensive improvement in the 

 existing Acts of Parliament be sufficient for general 

 application to every existing difficulty with respect to 

 trunk or arterial drainage ? or is a new act espe- 

 cially called for ? My impression is ihat a con- 

 solidation of the existing acts will suffice. Of 

 this one thing I am fully assured, that great good will 

 arise from such a repeated ventilation of the subject as 

 this meeting and the public papers will give. The i>ub]ic 

 require the subject to be continually placed before 

 them by diffusing good and authentic information of 

 benefits derived and of injuries sustained, of floods and 

 disasters, of losses and gains ; examples of good drain- 

 age, and its beneficial results ; examples of impeded 

 rivers, and blocked-up drainage, and its woful damages, 

 and the like. We know that the half has not yet been 

 told of the injuries to individuals, and the immense 

 losses to the community, from the disgraceful state of 

 our river coursts. To health and to wealth it is equally 

 detrimental. 



As a practical farmer, I fearlessly assert that were 

 the public fully alive to the many advantages to be de- 

 .'ived from a well- perfected system of arterial drainage, 

 not a day would pass without a simultaneous and uni- 

 versal attempt to carry it out at once. It is quite a 

 blot upon modern agricultural works. It is next to 



