purifying large quantities of water.

The complete suc

cess of these attempts furnishes the strongest evidence, that the population of large cities and towns may not only receive an abundant supply from rivers, but also at the same time be completely deprived of all objectionable matter, before it is conveyed to their houses. At different periods, in consequence of rains, as well as from other causes, mud and animalculæ becoming mixed with it, render its appearance both offensive and unsuitable for many important purposes; hence, on such occasions, filtration is particularly desirable to remove the feculence, and restore the water to that limpid state, which equally gratifies the sight and the taste. As the different establishments at present supply it at a very cheap rate, if it were filtered, and the price proportionally increased, the cost would still be trivial, and it would moreover effectually obviate what has hitherto furnished the chief ground of complaint-its feculent and turbid condition. Probably at no very distant period, the desirable practice of filtering the whole of the water supplied from rivers to the inhabitants of great towns for domestic use may be universally adopted; and if this should be the case, the Water Companies will add another positive benefit to those, which their exertions have heretofore rendered to the community.* Such a measure would likewise tend to dispel the prejudices of the fastidious, as well as prevent the alarms and delusions of schemers and empirics, who are ever on the alert to promote their own views, and attain their own ends, by frightening the timid, or imposing upon the credulous.

In several recent Acts of Parliament for improving waterworks, a clause has been introduced to compel the supplying of filtered water.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The propensity to speculate at the beginning of the present century. Schemes for supplying water to the metropolis. Establishment of various new Water Companies. Competition amongst those situate north of the Thames. Mr. M. Angelo Taylor's Act. Anti-monopoly Association. Project of the Marylebone Select Vestry. Parliamentary Inquiry in 1821; Evidence and Report on the subject. Number and variety of schemes propounded in 1824 and 1825. The Thames' Water Company, its object and magnitude. Mr. Martin's ornamental plan, including fountains, baths, &c. near to Hyde Park.

THE beginning of the present century was characterized by the appearance of almost innumerable projects, some of them magnificent, some useful, and not a few that strikingly indicated the futile qualifications of the persons who broached them. Magnitude of cost, utility of purpose, or difficulty in their execution, seemed to be considerations of trivial moment. Schemes for constructing docks, canals, water and gas-works, bridges, and various other objects were daily brought forth in the metropolis, which was the principal theatre of display for wonder-working professors of talent and discovery. Many of these projectors being totally unacquainted with the simplest elements of science, as well as deficient in practical acquirements, nevertheless assumed the title of civil engineer, and confidently propounded very expensive plans,-affirming that if the pecuniary means for accomplishing them should be furnished the resulting advantages would be incalculable. Pictures so enchanting induced numbers of people to join in random, avaricious speculations; and thus che

rishing ideas of easily obtaining large fortunes, they indulged in golden dreams until awakened from their reveries by painful disappointment, or positive indigence.

At this era the proposals were made for constructing the East London, West Middlesex, South London and Grand Junction Water-works. The great increase in the number of houses apparently rendered them desirable objects for enterprise; and various circumstances seemed to conspire for ensuring success. Nevertheless, afte enormous sums of money had been expended in constructing them, and evident as was their utility, they at first received scarcely any encouragement. Consequently, to obtain attention and favour, they offered to supply water at a much lower rate than had usually been paid, which occasioned a contest between the old and new Water Companies.

The rivalry among the companies continued for several years, at a great expense and loss to all the parties concerned, which rendered it probable that ruin would eventually ensue, if considerations of prudence did not occasion its termination. Circumstances, therefore, strongly impelled them to enter into an agreement, by which each engaged to confine the supply of water to a particular and defined district. The arrangement between the New River and the East London Companies was effected in 1815, by a deed which reciprocally imposed heavy penalties for every violation of its conditions. Though this agreement terminated the competition in the eastern part of the metropolis, yet it continued between the New River, the Chelsea, the West Middlesex and the Grand Junction Companies, till the latter part of the year 1817, when they severally engaged to confine their operations within certain limits; and to avoid interfering with each other. The parties abstained from entering into any

engagement by a specific legal document; but the various districts were then formed, which each company now exclusively supplies; and at the same time they respectively agreed to make compensation for the pipes, that each should give up to the other.

As the Water Companies sustained considerable loss during the ardour of competition, when the several portions of the metropolis that each was exclusively to supply had been determined, they ventured to advance their rates to the same scale of prices as had been willingly paid prior to the contest. This return to the original charge caused much discontent, though its amount afforded merely a very moderate remuneration for useful exertions, and the employment of large capitals. Indeed the majority of such concerns in general have not obtained a profit exceeding, and in many cases not equal to, the common interest of money.

Though the conduct of the Water Companies in raising their rates, encountered severe animadversion from some individuals, yet probably the termination of the contest was an advantage to the public; for during the contest the pavement in the public streets was constantly disturbed by being taken up, either by one party or another, and sometimes by two or three at the same time. Notwithstanding the relaying of the pavement was imperative upon them, the work being generally performed with great celerity, it necessarily left the streets in an unsound state. Hence, additional repairs soon became not only indispensable, but frequent, and the whole expense of these devolved upon the parochial rates, probably increasing them to the respective inhabitants in an equal, if not a greater ratio, than the difference in the price of water. Thus the few individuals, who temporarily had their supply at the lower prices, enjoyed

the trivial advantage at a considerable cost to the whole parish; and such have often been the results of similar competitions. It must also be stated, that at the time the contention existed amongst the Water Companies, the gas light establishments were also laying down their mains, so that the streets became in such a condition as to be dangerous for both horses and carriages. The legislature, therefore, passed what is usually called Mr. Michael Angelo Taylor's Act, which, among other useful regulations, restrained all the companies from diturbing the public pavement during the winter months.

Notwithstanding the temporary annoyances and inconveniences attendant upon the early operations of the New Water Companies, the public derived some important permanent benefits from their establishment. During the competition, each urged the peculiar advantages intended to be afforded; but among the principal may be stated,the high service, the more regular and abundant supply of water on all occasions, and at every season of the year, by the introduction of large iron pipes through the whole of the metropolis, and these were obvious and positive improvements requiring large capitals and great exertions. Hence, both these having been employed were entitled to that reasonable pecuniary return generally constituting the chief stimulus to either private or public enterprise; and unless the amount of profit be adequate to its support, no trading concern will or can be continued. The inspection of their annual dividends will show that the old Water Companies had not proved to be very lucrative establishments, even when the charge for the supply was the highest; but the reduction during the contest having occasioned great loss to every one of them, necessity imperiously required the restoration of the rates to the standard formerly paid, in order to enable them to