Trunk Drainage. 
69 
navies, and constructing quay walls of perpendicular piling ; to 
deepen the bottom, remove the stones now thrown in to protect 
the wharves and buildings (and which form a bottom of rock 
instead of sandy earth, so that the current cannot scour it) ; and 
to adapt the bottom to the accommodation of vessels, as well as 
providing for the passage of more drainage waters. Wisbech 
contributes 40,000/. to the undertaking, with ^d. tonnage for the 
future. The works in the town are now in progress, tlie Act 
stipulating that they shall be commenced nearest the outfall, and 
so gradually progress upwards ; no works to be begun above 
until tliose are completed below a certain point named between 
Wisbech and Peterborough. Thus no extra floods will be sent 
down from the Upper Valley until the way is prepared for them ; 
and the port and town of Wisbech, and next the districts of 
fen-land draining into the Nene above Wisbech, will be earliest 
])artakers of the good results. These two districts consist, as 
we have before mentioned, of Wisbech South Side with Elm 
West Side, or 1779 acres, commonly known as " Redmore " 
district, and of " Waldersey," lying a little further from Wis- 
bech, and containing 5052 acres. 
Great and Little Waldersey District is governed by Commis- 
sioners appointed by its own local Drainage Acts of the 4th of 
James I. and 9th of George IV. It is drained by a steam-engine 
of CO horse power, erected in 1832, working by a pump of 6 feet 
diameter instead of the usual scoop-wheel, which is considered 
to be best for the great and varying head of water against which 
it has to lift, viz. 8 to 16 feet, according to the state of the tide 
in the river. Two gentlemen of this district visited some of the 
Cornish mines in search of a good model pumping engine, and 
the present one is the result of their sensible and spirited under- 
taking : it raises about 63 tons of water per minute, at a cost of 
about 300/. per annum for coal and all expenses. Notwithstanding 
this, the internal drainage is assisted by several wind-engines, 
which materially add to the general expense. The annual drainage 
taxes vary from 35. to 5^. Qd. per acre, while the debt still upon 
the district is, we believe, 5500/. The new works are expected 
to reduce the low-water mark 4 or 5 feet, while the subsequent 
scouring will lower it still more ; and the lowest land, being now 
about 2 feet below low water, will then have a fall for its water at 
first of 2| feet, and ultimately of 45- feet : this, of course, only at 
low tide. If the district does not obtain a natural drainage — 
dispensing altogether with its steam-engine and windmills — at 
all events the time and cost of working the engine (that is, for a 
shorter portion of the year, and with less coal while working, as 
it will lift only 2 or 3 feet instead of 8 or 12) will be greatly 
lessened. The promoters of the Nene Valley Bill, therefore, 
