Report on the trapping of gullies, / by Henry Austin, Consulting Engineer, October, 1849.

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

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the trapping of gullies, / by Henry Austin, Consulting Engineer, October, 1849. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    47 [No. 75] iftctropohtan ^etorrs. REPORT ON THE TRAPPING OF GULLIES, In Pursuance of the Order of Works Committee, of the 17th September, 1849. BY THE CONSULTING ENGINEER. The trapping of gullies is a subject upon which so much has been written and said, without any definite result, that the conclusion is unavoidably arrived at, > that while there can be no question of the annoyance and deleterious effects of the emanations from the gullies, and of the great importance of guarding against them, simple as it may appear, it is a subject attended with many difficulties. Such very opposite views have been put forth by many who stand high in public estimation, and whose opinions are entitled to the utmost confidence, that it is with great deference that I offer the following remarks upon the subject. Although the generating causes of the evil will doubtless, at a future period, be greatly lessened by an improved system of drainage, or at all events much mitigated, and more easily controlled; and although, by better disposition of the surface currents, great numbers of the gullies themselves might, with advantage, be done away with, and even the dimensions of the fewer number very considerably reduced it must be borne in mind that a long period must necessarily elapse, before these great changes will completely have been realized : that whatever improvements may be effected, the present system of sewers must continue to play an important part in the future arrangements, and that under any circumstances, therefore, the pro¬ bability is that means which may now be adopted towards the mitigation of the evil in all its strength, may hereafter prove of equal advantage also in counteracting it altogether. *