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feet would he obtained; the digging being entirely in gravel,
which overlies the clay to a depth of from 20 to 30 feet. The
advantage rightfully claimed for this scheme was that it could
be carried out by instalments, as might be from time to time
required.
After setting out the evidence given as to the estimated
supply of water that would be procured from gravel beds and
deep wells, the report summarizes the total capacity of the
supply as returned by the representatives of the Companies as
follows:—From the Thames, with additional storage
300,000,000 gallons per day; from the Lea, with the East
London Company's projected storage 52,500,000 gallons;
from chalk springs and wells 87,000,000 gallons; total,
439,500,000 gallons, or (say) 440 million gallons per day.
The report next deals with the objections which have been
raised to the proposals of the Companies in regard to increasing
the draught upon the Thames, the Lea and the chalk formation
for the purpose of meeting further demands; and the
conclusions arrived at by the Commission are stated as follows:
"From the River Thames."—In estimating the quantity
of water which may be obtained from the Thames, we have
given full consideration to the topographical, meteorological,
geological, statistical and engineering evidence which has been
laid before us by the representatives of all the parties, although
we shall now quote figures only from a few of the proofs. The
area within the Thames watershed down to Kingston was
assumed by the Duke of Richmond's Commission (on evidence
then received) to be 3,676 square miles; and this figure has
been adopted by Mr. Hawksley, Mr. Baldwin Latham and
others in the present enquiry as to the area down to Teddington
Weir. Both Mr. More and Mr. Binnie have made new and
independent admeasurements, and compute this area respectively
at 3,766 and 3,789 square miles; and Mr. More (being
Engineer of the Thames Conservancy) may be assumed to