Volume 1
Hydraulia; an historical and descriptive account of the water-works of London, and the contrivances for supplying other great cities, in different ages and countries / By William Matthews.
- William Matthews
- Date:
- 1835
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Hydraulia; an historical and descriptive account of the water-works of London, and the contrivances for supplying other great cities, in different ages and countries / By William Matthews. Source: Wellcome Collection.
140/522 page 102
![and which will enable them not only to perform their engagement of giving a supply for at least 40,000 houses, but also to meet the demand for water to any extent that may be required. Hence, it is obvious, that the undertaking will be attended with great public benefit, and the proprietors trust they have reason to feel confident of the liberal support of the public.”* The elaborate document from which the above state- ment Is extracted, bears the date of November 15, 1810; but strong as were its pretensions and_ professions, scarcely one of them could then be realized, and the disappomtment proved a fertile source of dissatisfaction and vexation. ‘The agreement mentioned in this an- nouncement, consisted of a lease, conveying to a Mr. Hill and other persons, the power which the Grand Junction Canal Company had obtained in 1798; and, in accordance with its purport, an application was made to Parliament in the subsequent session, for an Act spe- cifically to incorporate, as a separate company, the per- sons who had entered into the engagement referred to. The Act was passed in June, 1811, and it not only con- firmed the lease with the power to construct water-works, but likewise authorized the formation of a distinct com- pany for that particular purpose, and the raising of a capital of 300,0002. in shares of 50/. each. In the first instance, it was determined to create only 3000 shares, which produced 150,000/.; but the progressive exe- cution of the undertaking, with some attendant casual- ties, occasioned the expense to exceed considerably the original estimate ; and consequently an additional sum of money became indispensable. In 1814, a loan of 18,314/. temporarily supplied several pressing demands, * Minutes of Evidence to a committee of the House of Com- mons, 182], p. 79.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2929387x_0001_0140.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
