44 Suggestions for a System of 



sole medium of this Society, or in conjunction with the press, 

 so that the matter may receive that share of attention its im- 

 portance pressingly demands, and so lead to a practical and 

 useful result, I shall feel that my labor has not been in vain. 



In most instances in which a preconceived idea of a large 

 city has been carried out, it will be found that an adequate 

 scheme for its drainage has been included ; as, however, cities 

 but rarely come into existence under such favorable circum- 

 stances, but rather grow up from a primary nucleus, a pro- 

 visional foundation for the sanitary wants of the city in its 

 ultimate growth and power will be usually wanting. From 

 time to time wants of this nature will press themselves upon 

 the public attention, and will be remedied, but generally, 

 with only moderate foresight. The requirements of the future 

 will be anticipated for only a short time, and at no more than 

 the experienced rate of progress. 



Melbourne must rank as a city that has grown, and, there- 

 fore, . comes under the last-mentioned class ; and this, not- 

 withstanding the rapidity of its progress ; for although a re.c- 

 tangular disposition of its streets would imply an original 

 plan, this appears to be the whole that was pre- conceived, 

 and little or no attention to levels or drainage has been 

 hitherto given. 



If we were to estimate the actual outlay by individuals con- 

 sequent upon sickness, and the loss resulting from the suspen- 

 sion of their labors, and were to trace the connection between 

 the sickness and the want of proper drainage in this large 

 city, we should, probably, find the money value of the injury 

 thus caused to be far greater than the whole sum required to 

 provide it with efficient and durable sewers. The extrava- 

 gance of this state of affairs can hardly be conceived ; nor is 

 it until statistics are combined with the observations of che- 

 mists and physicians that the public awake to a right appre- 

 ciation of the evils endured. Hitherto experience has proved 

 such to be the result in localities even more favorably situated 

 than our own ; and, doubtless, were the proper investigation 

 attainable here, we should find that experience most em- 

 phatically confirmed. The other evils, resulting from un- 

 cleanliness and disease, I do not dwell upon ; I content my- 

 self with pointing out to you that we are annually spending 

 in palliatives more than would suffice to remove the cause. 

 That fact alone should form an adequate apology for bringing 

 the matter before this Society. 



Mankind are apt to deem those wants more important that 



