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47
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
possess the fullest acquaintance with the watershed, we propose
to adopt bis figures. From Mr. Topley we accept 3,548
square miles as being approximately the area above the intakes
of the Water Companies. Mr. More has put in gaugings of
the discharge of the Thames at Teddington for the years 1883
to 1891 with an added column showing the rainfalls.
"In the third column of the table the average yearly discharge
of the nine years at Teddington is given as
435,931,000,000 gallons. But this quantity is subject to some
correction, for we found on investigating the details of the
gauging arrangements at Teddington that it was desirable to
check the results by simultaneous measurements at Molesey and
Sunbury Weirs, and having entrusted this work to Mr. Middleton
and considered his report we accept his opinion that Mr.
More's quantities should be increased by 7 per cent. To the
435,931,000,000 gallons we therefore add 40,515,170,000 gallons,
making 466,446,170,000 gallons. To this again must be added
the average quantity taken by the Companies, viz., 30,896,000,000
gallons, giving a grand total of 497,342,170,000 gallons. Divided
by 365 this gives a daily average of 1,362,581,288 gallons.