128 The Drainage of Fens and Low Lands. 



importance. When there was much rain falling in the upper districts 

 drained by the Trent, the sluice doors were kept closed, sometimes 

 for days together, during which the rainfall in the district accumu- 

 lated in the drains and ultimately overflowed the low grounds. The 

 result during wet seasons was most disastrous to the agricultural 

 population of the district. As the only means of relief, the Court 

 of Sewers determined to erect pumping machinery. The cost of 

 the works was defrayed by a tax on the land ; and, as many of the 

 contributors had become greatly impoverished by several successive 

 bad harvests, the greatest economy had to be exercised. The 

 pumping machinery was first started in March 1882, and has since 

 been working satisfactorily. Only one engine and pump were 

 erected, but it was intended to fix a duplicate set at a future time. 



The centrifugal pump is of a pattern described as " Hetf s Improved 

 Accessible,*^ with suction and delivery pipes 2 1 inches in diameter. 

 It is so arranged that the side of the case can be removed, and the 

 interior inspected, or the disc removed without breaking any pipe 

 joints or connections. The pump is charged by means of a steam-jet 

 exhauster. The delivery-pipe has a submerged bell mouth, and is 

 fitted with a sluice valve near the pump. The pump is driven by a 

 belt from a double cylinder semi-portable engine, fitted with HartnelFs 

 automatic expansion valve gear. The quantity of water this pump 

 was estimated to discharge was 10,000 gallons (44*64 tons). The 

 lift varies from a few feet to about 1 2 feet at ordinary spring-tides, 

 increasing to 14 feet and even 16 feet at high tides. The total cost 

 of the machinery, with an engine-house large enough to contain two 

 pumps, was 1432/. 



During the excessively wet season of 1882-3 ^ great strain was 

 thrown on this machinery 5 owing to the fact of the second pump not 

 being provided, it was not adequate to the work required. Notwith- 

 standing this disadvantage, the machinery has proved of the greatest 

 benefit to the district concerned. On 23rd October, 1882, occurred 

 one of the heaviest rainfalls known in the neighbourhood; and 

 almost simultaneously the highest recorded tide in the River Trent 

 The district is bounded on the north and south sides by streams 

 draining large tracts of upland, which were so surcharged as to 

 overflow the floodbanks; and at the same time a small breach 

 occurred in the Trent bank. All the water that gained access to the 

 district by these means had to be pumped out, in addition to the 

 rainfall, because the fresh in the Trent was too great to allow the 



