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52
decennial period from 1881 to 1891 is fully maintained. We are
further of opinion that a large supply of water might be obtained
from the chalk area east of the Kent Companies' district in the
basis of the Medway, and in the district further east, without
any risk whatever of damage to that area.
THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE
WATER SUPPLY.
The water Committee of the County Council issued a
memorandum by its Chairman and a series of reports by the
principal officers of the Council on the report of the Royal
Commission on the Metropolitan Water Supply by which it will
be seen that the conclusions of the Royal Commission are
controverted to a certain extent by an admirable synopsis of the
views of the London County Council and its chief officials
appeared in the British Medical Journal, and which is here closely
followed.
The Want of Finality in the Commission's
Recommendations.
Mr. Basset Hopkins, the Chairman of Committee in his
memorandum, insists strongly on the narrowness of the scope
of the inquiry by the Royal Commission, and points out that
mischievous consequences may follow, and the Council may be
grievously hampered in its action if people accept the idea that
the report was the result of an all-embracing investigation of the
general subject. The real question which is of most interest to
Londoners is what is the best course for London to pursue
under the circumstances ? But this never entered into the
reference to the Commission, and in considering their report it
has constantly to be borne in mind that whatever they say in
support of the prospective sufficiency (for forty years only) of
the watersheds of the Thames and Lea has no bearing on the
real question whether new gathering grounds ought not to be
sought for outside that area altogether.