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sinkings are directly caused by the pumping of the brine. 
Whenever any sinking, whether gradual or sudden, occurs in 
the neighbourhood of a brook or river, and the majority occur 
in such positions, the water soon fills the hollow thus formed 
and tiny lakes commence which go on increasing. The 
local name for these lakes is “Flashes.” At Northwich the 
“Top of the Brook,” as it is called, now covers about 100 
acres. At Winsford the Top and Bottom flashes cover about 
the same area, whilst both at Winsford and Northwich new 
lakes are rapidly forming. Near Winsford one called the 
Ocean covers about eight acres. At Marston, near North- 
wich, there is one covering ten acres when the water is at its 
greatest height. On Dunkirk, near to Northwich, the scene 
of the great subsidence of December 6th, 1880, the hole then 
formed is rapidly extending, following the course of the 
Peover Brook. About two miles from Northwich, at Bil- 
linge Green, away from any salt works, a subsidence has 
begun and is rapidly extending, a kke having commenced 
which is only about an acre in extent, though more than 
100 acres show signs of subsidence. In the Winsford and 
Northwich districts more than 1,000 acres in each show dis- 
tinct traces of subsidence, and in both cases the towns and 
buildings suffer to a most serious extent. How seriously 
owners of property suffer will be seen from the statistics 
given here, which I have taken from the evidence given 
before a Committee of the House of Commons in May last ; 
Approximate number of persons as owners injuriously 
affected 418 
Public Buildings damaged 11 
Salt Works damaged 22 
Slaughter-houses, Stables, and Out-buildings damaged 40 
Warehouses, Workshops, &c., damaged 46 
Public Houses damaged 56 
Shops damaged 202 
Houses and Cottages damaged 931 
Total Buildings affected 1 308 
Area of land affected (acres) 2808 
The value of the property affected (exclusive of railways 
and canals, which suffer seriously) in its damaged state is 
estimated at £480,000. The amount of depreciation in 
value is estimated at £168,500. To keep this property in 
