Introduchon. 5 



refused at the time to be brought into the new system, pre- 

 ferring to rely on their engines and pumps. The taxation for 

 paying for the maintenance of the pumping stations in these 

 districts is so light, compared with those which are in the rest 

 of the Middle Level vvhich have to contribute to the outfall- 

 tax, as fully to have justified the opposition to the scheme, and 

 proves conclusively that there aie instances where drainage 

 by gravitation is often more expensive than drainage by 

 steam power. 



In the South Level, owing to the want of improvement in 

 the river Ouse, the main outfall of the district, the discharge 

 from the main drains is so defective in wet seasons as to pre- 

 vent the floods getting away with sufficient I'apidity. The 

 water consequently rises to an undue height in the river above 

 the tidal outfall at Denver, bringing pressure on the banks 

 beyond what they were intended to stand, a greater head to 

 pump against, and additional water from leakage to be lifted. 

 The question as to whether the better course for the improve- 

 ment of the drainage of this level would be to imitate the 

 example of the Middle Level, and make a new cut discharg- 

 ing nine miles lower down the river than the present outfall 

 sluice at Denver, or to improve the outfall and its discharging 

 capacity, and so lower the height of the water in floods within 

 safe limits, and still rely on steam drainage, was referred to 

 the author to report on. The conclusion arrived at, after a 

 thorough investigation of the subject, was that efficient drain- 

 age of the low fen lands in this district by gravitation was not 

 advisable, and that the cost of draining by steam power 

 would be less than by gravitation * The interest on the 

 outlay for the money required for carrying out the gravitation 

 scheme would have put a greater tax by about two shillings 

 an acre on the land than that required for the improve- 



* * Report on tlie Improvement of the River Ouse, between Denver Sluice 

 and the Eau Brink Cut.' By W. H. Wheeler, M. Inst C.E. Februaiy 1884. 

 Library, Inst. C.E. 



