8o The London Water-Supply. [February, 
about one-twentieth part of what will be needed^— at a first 
cost of five and a half millions. It has been said that the 
Thames is the “ natural ” water-supply of London, y ,, 
ine that this may be true in a certain sense, we have already 
drlwn upon the Thames too heavily. If we make further 
demands we shall seriously interfere with the nav’gaUon 
above London during average summers. But further when 
we have done our utmost towards the exclusion of sewage, 
the waters of a navigable river flowing through a populou 
and cultivated country can never be fit for domestic uses. 
One outlet remains at present. As was pointed out y • 
Bateman as far back as 1865, the head-waters of the 
Severn are capable of yielding a supply of 220 million S ' 
Ions daily, unsurpassed for purity and softness and 
likelv to be polluted by industrial operations 01 the increase 
of local population. This source may, however, soon be 
unavailable, Liverpool having turned its eyes in the same 
diredtion. To bring 200 million gallons daily to London 
would cost -f 10, 850, 000. This is certainly a very serious 
sum But we learn that the Corporation of Manchester do 
not hesitate to spend £3, 425, 000 over 
supply of 50 million gallons daily from Tnnlmere a 
heavier outlay in proportion to the resources of the northern 
C1 The greatest difficulty in the case of the metropolis 
springs from the so-called “ vested interests of the eight 
water companies. To buy these bodies out for a sum down 
would of course be a most costly undertaking. Mr. Bat 
man proposes to take over their works, reservoirs, mains, 
and privileges, guaranteeing them the same dividends as 
they are now receiving, secured as a first charge on the mu- 
nicipal water-rate. Even with this burden it appears that 
the ^burdens of the rate-payers of London would not be 
in< BuTthere is, or at least may be, a third alternative pos- 
sible. If a perpetual monopoly of the right of supplying 
water to the metropolis has been formally and explicit y 
ensured to the companies, _ then— iniquitous as was t e 
transaaion— it must be stnaiy carried out. If, however, 
no such stipulation has been made, then no considerations 
of a romantic or sentimental nature ought to be admitted. 
Let the new Board be constituted, carry out Mr. Bateman s 
or some other approved scheme, and begin supplying water 
in opposition to the companies : they will soon be compelled 
to give up the contest, and will be glad to sell their reser- 
voirs and feeding-grounds on easy terms. 
