Report of consulting engineer : upon application of Westminster Improvement Commmissioners for improved drainage of the City of Westminster. Printed by order of Works' Committee, 2nd April, 1849. No.306.

  • London (England). Metropolitan Commission of Sewers.
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of consulting engineer : upon application of Westminster Improvement Commmissioners for improved drainage of the City of Westminster. Printed by order of Works' Committee, 2nd April, 1849. No.306. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    jRetroplttan Commission of 36 .] >ttoers. REPORT Of Consulting Engineer upon Application of Westminster Im¬ provement Commissioners for Improved Drainage of the City of Westminster. The application of the Westminster Improvement Commissioners with regard to the proposed improvement of the drainage of the City of Westminster having been referred to me by Resolution of the Works’ Committee on the 12th March, 1849, No. 243, page 225— I have to report that on an interview with Mr Abraham, the Architect of the Westminster Improvement Commissioners, he informs me that the Commissioners are now extremely desirous to proceed immediately with their works, as every day’s further delay involves a serious loss to them ; that the only impediment to their progress is the uncertainty which exists as to the plan of drainage which may be adopted for the district ; but that it would be sufficient for their present purpose if they could be informed of the levels at which the drains will be laid at the eastern and western extremities of the proposed new main line of thoroughfare, to be called Victoria street, as this information will enable the Improvement Commissioners to determine the most advantageous level of the surface of the street, and the depth at which the foundations of the proposed houses may safely be constructed, having regard to their proper drainage. With the view of affording these particulars, in order that the Improvement Commissioners may be in a position to prepare and submit their plans to the Court, according to the 46th and 56th sections of the Act 11th and l‘2th Vic., cap. 112, both the plans prepared for the improvement of the drainage of this locality have been examined, and it is found that the depth of drainage at the eastern end of the line, at the Broad Sanctuary, may be eighteen feet below the surface, and at the western end, at Shaftesbury terrace, the depth may be fifteen feet below the surface. This information may be very safely granted to the Westminster Improvement Commissioners, and as it would apparently be a great advantage to them to possess it without delay, I would beg to recommend that this should be at once done. With regard to the actual works of drainage of this locality, I must beg to state that it will be impossible to lay out the detailed arrangements of this work with the utmost economy and advantage to the ratepayers until we shall be in possession of the complete House Plan of the district, the Ordnance Block Plan, of which the sheets of this district have been delivered, being enlarged for this purpose, and the details filled in. The portion of this Survey now under trial will very shortly deter¬ mine the cost of this operation, when an early decision as to its extension over the district, and as to the system of drainage which shall be there carried out, will enable the immediate and vigorous prosecution of the works, and the relief of this locality from its present wretched condition. 31sf March, 1849. (18) HENRY AUSTIN.