Transactions. 129 



left to private enterprise, but should be managed by the Corpora- 

 tion, supported by the inhabitants. The Town Council of Max- 

 welltown also ag-reed to co-operate with the Dumfries Council in 

 whatever steps might be deemed necessary for the introduction of 

 a supply of water. 



The difficulties which had so long retarded the project having 

 now been cleared away, the forwarding of it was earnestly set 

 about, and the right man appeared in the right place at the right 

 time. Mr Wm. Gale, engineer to the Gorbals Water Company, 

 being in Dumfries on his way from Stranraer, the Joint Committee 

 of the Council and community, which had been organised to 

 arrange the preliminaries of the important undertaking, held a 

 special meeting on April 21st for the purpose of having an inter- 

 view with Mr Gale. That gentleman expressed himself confident 

 that they need be at no loss in the matter from the quantity of 

 water suspended on the hills on both sides of them. He advised 

 that it was preferable to introduce water by gravitation rather 

 than by mechanical means, and that good soft water was to be 

 preferred to that of the springs. Subsequently, after a perambu- 

 latory survey of the district, Mr Gale reported in favour of taking 

 the supply from Dalscairth burn or Tinwald hills. Measurements 

 having been made, however, it was found to be doubtful if an 

 adequate supply was obtainable from either of these sources ; and 

 the Committee considered Torthorwald burn, which received the 

 drainage of 1200 acres, would be the best. The Nith, Lochaber, 

 Lochrutton, a stream at The Grove, and other places, were also 

 considered. At a meeting on 31st July the Committee strongly 

 urge the importance and necessity of obtaining an adequate sup- 

 ply of good water ; advise steps to be taken for the introduction 

 of a Bill next session on similar grounds to that obtained last year 

 for the burgh of Stirling; and considering the difficulty of the 

 choice of a site, they suggest that the reports by the Committee 

 and Mr Gale's report be referred to Mr James Jardine, chief or 

 consulting engineer to the Edinburgh AVater Company, for his 

 advice and guidance. It is well known, they say, that Mr Jardine, 

 a native of the county, is intimately acquainted with the geology 

 of the district. Mr Jai'dine, after obtaining information and visit- 

 ing the town, gave an opinion decidedly in favour of the Lochrut- 

 ton scheme. Taking the population at 15,000, he proposed to 

 provide 30 gallons per day for each individual for domestic pur- 



