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37
the whole of the Administrative County of London, hut extends
widely beyond it, and contains in all an area of 701 square
miles. In the evidence given before the Commission the area
within Greater London and outside the County of London was
called the “Outer Ring,” and it is within this area that at
present the most rapid increase of population appears to be
taking place. The areas supplied form together a district
which is usually spoken of as “Water London,” comprising
about 620 square miles. The areas are not co-extensive with
any districts ot which the populations are given by the
Registrar-General in the census returns, and no exact statement
of the population being obtainable from official returns the
Companies found it necessary to rely upon estimates compiled
from such other sources of information as they had at their
command. According to the returns made by the Companies
themselves the total population supplied by them in 1891 was
estimated at 5,469,791; but it would seem, however, that
5,237,062 persons must be accepted as the closest approximation
that could, under the circumstances, be made.
In turning to the future requirements of this ever-increasing
population, the first question that presented itself for discussion
was what area ought to be taken into account; and it soon
became apparent that neither Registration London nor the
London of the County Council, nor even Water London, was
sufficiently extensive for the purpose. Not only should
suburban districts be included in the area to be reported upon
by the Commission, but such more remote districts must be
considered as might reasonably be expected to be reached by ths
spreading of the population of London at no very distant time.
After due consideration, the Commissioners determined to take
as their basis that area known as Greater London, and to add
to it certain parts of Water London which lie outside Greater
London as now computed. The report states that the increase
in population of this area, as shewn by the census returns for
the last 50 years, has been far from equable. Taking, however,