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Main Drainage. 149
The extension of the pumping station at Crossness is proceeding. A new engine house to accommodate
eight steam engines, and centrifugal pumps, is nearing completion, the contract amount being
£63,690. Only one half the machinery will, in the first instance, be installed at an estimated cost of
£30,000.
Southern
outfall.
The question of the coal supply at the outfall has received careful attention. It is essential
that there should be ample stocks at the main drainage stations to guard against all possible emergencies.
Large stocks of coal have been stored at the Southern outfall, in the open, and the Council has decided
to erect overhead coal bunkers with a storage capacity of 4,000 tons. The bunkers will be constructed
of reinforced concrete, and the estimated cost of the work, including the erection of a gantry and the
provision of a crane, amounts to £12,500. A contract amounting to £745 has been entered into with
Messrs. Thomas Smith and Sons, Rodley, for the supply of the crane.
The Council has decided to enlarge North Woolwich pumping station, and to construct a new
24 in. main from the station to the Northern outfall. The estimated cost of the work, amounts to £51,000.
The tender of G. E. Everitt and Sons, Ltd., amounting to £11,615, has been accepted for the erection
of the new engine house, etc. The re-arrangement of the existing piping and the provision of some new
steam and other piping which must be done without interfering with the running of the station, is being
carried out bv direct employment of labour at an estimated cost of £1,000.
North
Woolwich
pumping
station.
In connection with the construction of the new dock, the Port of London Authority w ill divert
the two existing 14 in. mains at North Woolwich between Woolwich Manoiway and the entrance to the
Royal Albert Dock. Opportunity has been taken to arrange for the Pert Authoiity to lay at the same
time the portion of the proposed new main between these points, at an estimated cost of £5,400.
In connection with the proposed enlargement of the Isle of Dogs pumping station, the Council
accepted the tender of the Premier Gas Engine Company, Ltd., amounting to £6,584, for the supply,
delivery and erection of two gas engines. The total estimated cost of the enlargement of the pumping
station amounts to £32,850.
Isle of Dogs
pumping
station.
The s.s. Bazalgette, the oldest of the sludge vessels, has been running for about 27 years. The
condition of the machinery has become so defective that new machinery, including boilers, must shortly
be installed, while the hull of the vessel also requires extensive repairs. The total estimated cost of the
work amounts to £10,500.
Sludge
vessels.
Section 69 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1855, provides that no new local sewer shall be
made without the previous approval of the Council, and during the year sanction was given for the
construction or reconstruction of 55,494 feet, or about 10£ miles of sewrers of various sizes.
Local sewers.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
The powers of the Council with respect to the housing of the working-classes are derived from
the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, 1890 to 1909, and questions relating thereto are considered
by the Housing of the Working Classes Committee.
Powers and
duties of the
Council.
The Council is at present carrying out a large slum clearance scheme under Part I. of the
Act of 1890, known as the Tabard-street, Grotto-place and Crosby-row (Southwark and Bermondsey)
Scheme 1910, which deals with three distinct areas comprising altogether about 17 acres. The scheme
involves the displacement of 4,552 persons of the working classes, and rehousing accommodation has
to be provided on the Tabard-street area for not fewer than 2,580 persons.
Progress has been made during the year with the acquisition of the various interests in the
properties required for the scheme. Terms have been arranged with the vendors in all cases in which
it has been possible to effect a settlement by agreement and an arbitrator has been appointed by the
Local Government Board to settle the amount of the compensation to be paid by the Council in the
disputed cases.
During the year under review one additional house, No. 8, Little Hunter-street, was, with the
approval of the Local Government Board, included in the scheme. A piece of land, 2,655 square feet
in extent, was also added to the Grotto-place area for the purpose of constructing a new road so as to
provide direct communication with a road about to be constructed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
on adjoining land. The provision of the through communication being primarily of local importance,
the Southwark Metropolitan Borough Council agreed to defray the cost of paving and sewering the
additional piece of road.
In connection with the scheme the Council has acquired three fully licensed public houses and one
beer house. The Council has decided to retain none of the licences.
The first section of the Tabard-street area has been cleared and a new road, 40 feet wide, constructed
from Tabard-street to Long-lane. The provision of new dwellings on the cleared site was
delayed by the difficulty experienced in designing a building which could be erected at such a cost as
would enable the Council to comply with its financial regulations. Progress was further arrested by
conflicts in the building trade, but tenders were eventually obtained and were under consideration at
the end of the year. The new dwellings are designed to accommodate 620 persons in 310 rooms
(exclusive of sculleries) and the cost of the building work, including all incidentals is estimated at
£28,582. The valuer's estimate of the housing value of the site is £4,700.
Tabardstreet,
etc.,
scheme.