THomson.—On the Cleansing of Towns, 49 
and 811 cow-houses, with 1,350 cows. In addition to the factories, the 
refuse is conveyed into the drains. Twenty discharge direct into the 
river. The length of the sewers is about 100 miles, Within the city 
boundary there are at present 1314 miles of paved streets, 204 miles of 
statute labour roads, and 10 miles of turnpike roads; in all 162 miles, 
The estimated volume of discharge into the river daily is 40 millions of 
gallons, exclusive of rainfall, but including the water of the Molindinar and 
other burns. The total quantity of sewage in wet weather would be about 
74 million gallons per day. The water sent into the city and suburban 
villages (from the waterworks) averages 83 millions of gallons per day. It is 
distributed to a population of 710,000, so that the volume of water per head 
was 463 gallons a day. 
From the conclusions arrived at, as set forth in the report of the 
Deputation, we make the following extracts: The question of conservancy 
of rivers was constantly pressed on their attention, many of the inland towns 
being compelled, under heavy penalties, to render their sewage clear, in- 
odorous, and perfectly colourless, and sometimes under manifest injustice. 
The necessity of a Conservancy Board to watch over the whole drainage area 
of the various river-basins was constantly dwelt upon by the various authori- 
ties, as the only means of solving the important questions which were so 
intimately connected—the disposal of sewage, and the restoration of rivers 
to a state of purity. The Deputation state as a fact that the sewage question, 
in London even, is only partially solved; and in reference to the immediate 
subject of their attention, viz., Glasgow, the Deputation are of opinion that 
no sewage works can safely be undertaken till a Conservancy Board has 
been constituted for the Clyde. They point out at the same time that this 
city, in respect to area for discharge, is fortunately placed, being into a tidal 
river, as contra-distinguished from many of the inland cities of England, 
whose outfalls are into sluggish rivers of small capacity. 
They point out that it has never yet been shown that the foul condition 
of the Clyde is directly injurious to health; and of the mode of dealing with 
sewage in particular, there are two ways, viz., the dry system, and carriage 
by water; the first being the most rational as well as consistent with public 
health and with national prosperity, which, however, has weak points, that 
while it disposes of excreta, it leaves untouched all other sewage which would 
still require to be removed by water-carriage, and be purified of course 
before passing into a river in the same way as if it had contained the whole 
excreta. While, therefore, they hold that upon economical and sanitary 
grounds, water-closets in houses—especially in houses of the smaller sort.— 
and in public works, gaols, railway stations, &c., should, as far as possible, be 
D 
