The water question. Memoir addressed to the Commissioners appointed by His Majesty ... to inquire into the state of the supply of water to the Metropolis / [J. Wright].

  • Wright, J. (John), 1770?-1844
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The water question. Memoir addressed to the Commissioners appointed by His Majesty ... to inquire into the state of the supply of water to the Metropolis / [J. Wright]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    have permitted it to be so placed ?” There is something extremely disingenuous in this question. The spot was, years before, selected by the Regent’s Canal Company, merely as a source from whence to draw up a supply to work the barges on their canal. It was left for a Company, whose Directors say 44 they considered it a high moral duty to take care that the water they supplied should be the best,” to divert the filthy fluid from the aforesaid Canal, to the stomachs of their customers. 4. 44 But,” add the Directors, 44 a yet greater inducement for the Company to fix their Dolphin in its present situa¬ tion existed in the unlimited supply which might be obtained from the Thames; which the constantly increas¬ ing wants of the public rendered necessary.” Now, on referring to the act passed in May 1826, the Commission¬ ers will find, that, instead of being unlimited, the supply is expressly limited to forty thousand tons in every twenty- four hours. 5. In conclusion—what is the Company’s own descrip¬ tion of that supply?—44 We will admit frankly, and at once, that, during a certain period of the year, the water of the Thames is not such as ought to be delivered to the inhabitants of the metropolis.” What an admission is here, on the part of a Joint Stock Company, which raised itself into existence, by denouncing and impugning the water of the Thames, and by promising to give a better supply than that noble river can afford ! The Company’s whole Defence is a tissue of incon¬ sistencies and misrepresentations—a series of contradic¬ tions and self-condemnations. 5. Analysis of the Grand Junction Water. When, as I have already observed, the Company were soliciting customers, and enticing them away from the old Companies, the better to effect their purpose, they caused the water to be analysed by two eminent chemists ; thereby F