Embankment above Prince's Bridge. 15 



Art. IX. — Embankment above Princes Bridge. 

 By A. K. Smith, C.E., fee. 



[Abstract of Paper read 18th November, 1873.] 



In bringing before the Society the subject of the embank- 

 ment recently constructed along the south bank of the 

 Yarra to the eastward of Prince's Bridge, it is due to 

 myself to say, that I did not wait until it was made before 

 giving my opinion of it, and the evils likely to result from 

 its construction ; but that immediately on hearing it was 

 the intention of the Government to make such an embank- 

 ment, I called the attention of the Honourable the Commis- 

 sioner of Lands and Agriculture, as well as the City Council, 

 to the danger of so doing. 



In a letter lately published in the Daily Telegraph, signed 

 " Yarra Floods," the writer states that the embankment is a 

 step in the right direction, and that he hopes Mr. Smith 

 will not frighten them before they are hurt. But, Sir, I 

 think the members of this Society will agree with me, not 

 only in the wisdom of the old axiom, " Prevention is better 

 than cure ;" but that in the earnest belief that danger 

 would result from such construction, I did neither more 

 nor less than my duty in calling the attention of the proper 

 authorities to the subject. However, the embankment has 

 been formed, and, whilst happily no floods have as yet 

 occurred to practically test its effect, it is not too late to 

 take remedial steps to avoid to a great extent the disasters 

 which it may cause b}^ damming back the flood-waters 

 upon Richmond and the low-lying lands adjacent to the 

 city, but more particularly to those who have property 

 on the low grounds of Emerald Hill and Sandridge, 

 should the embankment give way. That it will do so, is 

 almost a certainty, as the materials of which it is con- 

 structed would not stand the force of flood-waters, having a 

 velocity due to a gradient of 1 in 1237, or a fall of 4J feet 

 per mile. 



That the Yarra had a velocity due to such a fall is a 

 matter of record, for at the Railway Bridge, Cremorne, 

 when the flood was at its highest in December, ] 863, it 

 attained a maximum height of 22*83 feet above the datum 

 level, whilst at Prince's Bridge, a distance of 114 chains 

 lower down the river, it rose to 15.17 feet; thus showing 

 a fall of 7'66 feet in 111 chains, or at the rate of 4J feet per 



