56 On the future Water-supply of London. [Jan., 



observations extending over ten years to reach 89 '93 inches per 

 annum. The physical conditions of the two districts are not very 

 dissimilar, and we may allow that the estimate of Mr. Bateman as 

 regards the quantity of supply is within the mark. 



The water of these brooks Mr. Bateman proposes to impound 

 in six artificial reservoirs, four of which are of very large dimensions ; 

 from these it will be conducted by two aqueducts, each of about 

 20 miles in length, to Marten Mere, where a junction is to be 

 effected. From this point the joint volume will be guided by a 

 single aqueduct, crossing the river Severn at Bridgenorth, by 

 means of inverted syphon pipes, and passing near to the towns of 

 Stourbridge, Bronisgrove, Warwick, Banbury, and "Watford, to the 

 high land near Stanmore, where extensive service reservoirs must 

 be constructed at an elevation of at least 250 feet above Trinity 

 high-water mark. From these reservoirs the water will be delivered 

 to the City at "high pressure,'" and under the "constant supply" 

 system. The length of the aqueducts will be 171 miles, to which 

 must be added piping from the service-reservoirs to London, about 

 10 miles, making a total distance of 183 miles. The cost of the 

 whole of these works is estimated at 8,600,000/., supposing the whole 

 of the proposed supply to be actually obtained, but as 120,000.000 

 gallons would be sufficient for the present supply, the sum of 

 7,500,0007. may be considered as the actual amount to be raised. 



Mr. Bateman proposes to purchase the works, reservoirs, and 

 mains of the existing companies (exclusive of any of the New 

 Biver supplies, which may still be retained for trade purposes) by 

 eapitalizing the present dividends and interests at twenty-live years' 

 purchase, and to invest the whole property in some public body, 

 similar to that of the Metropolitan Board of Works, with power to 

 levy the rates necessary for the payment of interest on outlay and 

 for the working expenses. It is natural to suppose that the existing 

 companies would be willing to dispose of their works to such a 

 body on condition of receiving the usual dividends secured on rates 

 levied upon the whole property of the Metropolis. 



The scheme of Messrs. Henians and Hassard appears at first 

 sight even more stupendous than that we have just been considering, 

 as the distance of the source of supply is 240 miles as against 183. 

 but it possesses advantages which appear fully to counterbalance 

 the drawback consequent on the additional length of conveyance. 

 The authors propose to make use of the waters which fall on part 

 of the northern flanks of the Cumberland mountains, and which 

 feed the lakes of Thirlmere, Ullswater, and Haweswater, together 

 with some adjoining brooks. The plan consists of conducting by 

 means of aqueducts the waters of both Thirhnere and Haweswater 

 into the lower end of the central Lake of Ullswater, and from the 

 head of the lake to construct an aqueduct, passing under Kirkstone 



