172 



THE BMTISn ISLES. 



in iertilising the lowlands along Loth banks of (he Thai)ies, and in convertinjj 

 unproductive mud-flats iuto rich pasture- grounds. Experiments made on various 

 occasions have demonstrated that London gets rid at a considerable expense, and 

 throws into the sea, an element of agricultural wealth equal in value to the annual 

 produce of 7,000,000 acres.* Surely the example set by l*aris, Danzig, Edinburgh, 

 Coventry, and many other towns ought not to have 1)een lost upon London ; but 

 no plan for utilising its sewage has hitherto been carried out effectually. 



In the distribution of pure water the authorities of London have been no more 

 successful than in the removal of the sewage, and in both respects they might 



Fig. 90. — The London Sewers. 

 Scale 1 : 250,000. 



2 'Slues. 



have advantageously followed the example of Paris. An enormous capital has 

 been expended in the construction of aqueducts, reservoirs, filtering beds, and other 

 appliances. The water companies, who draw most of their supplies from the 

 Thames, have grown rich and powerful, and they have hitherto successfully resisted 

 the introduction of every improvement. t The first water supply of London on a 

 large scale was devised, by Peter Morrys, a German, who put up a water-wheel 

 under one of the arches of London Bridge. This wheel was set in motion b}' the 



* J. J. Mcehi, Times, September 27th, 1878. 



t Their capital amounts to £12,000,000; their annual expenditure to £520,000; their income to 

 £1,327,300. They supply 121,000,(00 gallons dailj-, being at the rate of 28 gallons per head of the 

 population. 



