Metropolitan sewers.

  • Grey, William Henry.
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Metropolitan sewers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tage of this division in order to divide the labour and the books, the latter of which will necessarily become very voluminous. I would suggest, therefore, that there should be one set of books for mea¬ sured work, and one for day-work, and even with this division each day-book will extend itself into several volumes, in order to keep separately the works of each district; one volume might contain the measured work of the four Districts for¬ merly included in the Westminster Commission, with the addition of the Regent- street District. Another volume might, I think, contain the Holborn and Fins¬ bury Districts, all the Districts formerly comprised in the Tower Hamlets Com¬ mission, the Poplar and the St Katherine’s Districts; and a third volume might be allotted to the Surrey and Kent, the Wandle and the Greenwich Districts. Three other volumes, similarly divided, will be required for the Day Work. I beg to hand in forms for the preparation of these books, which (under cor¬ rection) seem to me adapted to afford all the information required. These Books should be abstracted Monthly or Quarterly, as may be thought expedient, into other books, bringing together the items relating to each particular work, showing the nature, particulars, and cost of each, distinguishing those in pro¬ gress from those completed, and arranging them according to their different cha¬ racters, and the Districts they belong to. I enclose a form, which will, I think, be sufficient for these Abstract Books. From these abstracts a general statement may at any time be made, for the information of the Court, or for the Annual Return to Parliament; a form for which I also annex. In addition to the above Books, it will be necessary to keep a Register of all special Contracts entered into for the construction of new Sewers. In this Book an account should be opened for every new Sewer when the work commences, stating the important points of the Contract, and as the work proceeds its progress should be entered, together with any variations from the original Contract. For this Book I also enclose a form. I find that every Contractor sends in a daily return of the work done by him. The Day Books should be carefully checked with these Returns, and again with the Contractors’ Quarterly Bills when they come in. I recommend the adoption of a plan in the Surveyor’s Department similar to that which I have suggested in the Accountant’s Office, as to requisitions and orders for the supply of materials and the performance of works; neither of which should take place except under the written authority of the Surveyor of the District, to be given by him on the requisition of the Clerk of Works, or other person repre¬ senting that the order is necessary. Forms nearly similar to those suggested for the Accountant’s Department might be used for this purpose. A Register is now kept of all applications made for building new Sewers and laying in private Drains. There is another Register of applications for cleansing Cesspools, &c. These two Books might, I think, be usefully combined in a form Form No. 9. Form No. 10. Form No. 11. Form No. 12. Form No. 13 Form No. 14.