9 



of the surpassing filth of the last, where it forms the head 

 of the Bridgewater Canal, " no description can give an 

 " adequate idea ;" adding, that " such is its consistency, 

 " it is said birds walk over itj'^ Derwent, Aire, Calder 

 and Don in their respective courses through or near 

 Manchester, Middleton, Rochdale, Bolton, Staleyhridge, 

 Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Ashton, Stuchport, Mac- 

 clesjield, Walsall, West Bromicich, Burg, Oldham, Derby, 

 Bradford, Leeds, Wahejield, Sheffield, Rotherhatn, Don- 

 caster, Sec, Sec, after which the Commissioners proceed 

 to say : — 



" If the discharge of solid matters of sewage and other 

 " refuse into rivers is prevented, the chief part of the 

 " inconvenience, which is now rapidly rising to the pro- 

 " portion of a national evil, would at once be arrested. 

 " This can be easily and fully accomplished loithin rea- 

 " sonable limits of expenditure, and we urge, as the first 

 *' and all important step towards securing this object, and 

 '* the permanent improvement and protection of tlie rivers 

 " of the country, that a general local jurisdiction and 

 *' conservancy be created throughout the kingdom, with 

 " adequate powers and proper guarantees for their due 

 " administration." Adding (pages 11, 12, 13) that — 



" Notwithstanding the incompleteness of our inquiry, 

 " we trust enough has now been said as to the enormous 

 " loss and injury produced in various ways, by the pre- 

 " sent state of neglect and misuse of our rivers, to secure 

 " immediate attention with a view to the adoption of 

 " general and decided measures to arrest this great and 

 " growing evil. 



" As regards the deterioration of water for domestic 

 " and other useful purposes, the pollution of rivers is an 

 " evil of immense magnitude. In extreme cases the water 

 " is unfit for any kind of use ; but long before this degree 

 " of foulness is reached, the water has been unfit for 

 " purposes of cleanliness, and from a very much earlier 



" Birmi7igham the sewage of 270,000 people, and all the refuse of 

 " gas works, pumpings of coal mines, and the drainings of the great 

 " district of South Staffordshire. Birmingham always suffers more 

 " or less from a type of fever. Its mortality is much higher than 

 " that of the Metropolis." 



