MUNICIPAL ACTIVITIES OF LEICESTER 75 
carried on by the city’s gas department. A small plant was established at 
Aylestone, and although current was taken for lighting purposes some- 
what extensively in the centre of the city, it did not progress to any marked 
degree for some years. It was found to be not entirely suitable for power 
purposes. 
In 1908 the Corporation, in order to meet the demand, promoted a 
Private Act, and obtained power to sell current from the plant operated 
by them for the purpose of supplying power to their tramways under- 
taking, and under this provision they were enabled to supply consumers 
by agreement for power purposes. ‘Thereafter, we find the demand for 
current increasing to a very marked extent. Further plant was estab- 
lished from time to time, and eventually the undertaking was severed 
from the control of the gas department, and power obtained to build a 
new generating station. 
In 1919 the Corporation acquired a large area of land known as the 
Freemen’s Meadow, and, in pursuance of powers possessed by them, have 
erected on that site a very fine modern station. At Freemen’s Meadow 
they have installed six units of 69,750 kilowatt capacity, generating 
upwards of 108 million units per annum, of which they dispose of 
approximately 86 millions. The rates for supply are low, and electricity, 
largely the prime mover in the city factories, is becoming more and more 
extensively used. 
TRAMWAYS AND OMNIBUSES. 
In pursuance of their general policy to absorb all public utility under- 
takings, the Corporation acquired in 1902 the then existing tramways, 
and obtained powers by an Act of that year to operate them municipally. 
They at once proceeded to extend their route mileage, and to-day operate 
178 tramway cars upon 23 miles of route. The undertaking has been 
maintained out of revenue, and is to-day probably one of the best services 
of its kind in the country. 
In order to link up, and to meet the growing demands for transport, 
the Corporation further obtained powers in 1930 to operate a fleet of 
omnibuses. These, sixty-two in number, now serve most districts within 
the city. 
SEWAGE DISPOSAL. 
Leicester is so situated that, except in the river valley, it is surrounded 
by rising country, and as a result the city has been put to considerable 
expense in dealing with its sewage. In common with other large cities, 
the proper drainage of the district and the sewage disposal have become an 
ever-increasing problem. This difficulty was somewhat accentuated in 
Leicester in consequence of the extensive pumping required. 
The first works were constructed at the Abbey Meadow in about 1853. 
The sewage was then pumped into tanks, lime was mixed by means of 
agitators, and the effluent run off into the river. In 1877 ten acres of 
additional land were purchased, and additional tanks were constructed, 
but following a report by their then surveyor, the Beaumont Leys Farm 
was acquired, consisting in the aggregate of about 2,000 acres. The 
