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46
struction of large storage reservoirs. Of the schemes submitted
that of Messrs. Hunter and Fraser was considered the best. It
was brought forward by Mr. W. Hunter, M. Inst., C.E., a
Director, and Mr. Alexander Frazer, M. Inst., C.E., the
Engineer of the Grand Junction Company. It consists in the
construction of nine reservoirs upon land in the neighbourhood
of Staines, at a spot only a few miles from the existing works of
the Company. The storage capacity was to be obtained by
excavating below the surface in almost flat ground, and forming
the material removed into banks so as to increase the depth.
By this combined process of sinking and raising a depth of 40
feet would be 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