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determine the depth between the floor and the subjacent earth,
which, unlike the flooring, does not admit of cleansing, and
remains defiled by the deposit from the sewage, &c. It is unnecessary
to dwell on the inconvenience and suffering inflicted
by the visitation upon the occupiers of the flooded houses,
which, of course, was greatest in the numerous instances
of families actually living in the submerged basements. The
consequences to health may yet be serious, but will probably
remain unknown in the majority of cases, if not in all.
Among the incidents of this calamity, it may be mentioned
that at several bakehouses the kneading troughs were set
floating, and sacks of flour were submerged. This matter has
received attention from the Sanitary Committee at various
times over a long period of years. It formed, in
1897, the subject of a conference with the sanitary
authorities of the adjoining parishes of Chelsea, Fulham, and
Hammersmith. The Main Drainage Committee of the County
Council was approached by a deputation from your Vestry,
the outcome being that the Council decided, in December,
1895, to proceed with the erection of a new pumping station
at Lot's-road, Chelsea, at a cost of £60,000, and to apply to
the Secretary of State for consent to the compulsory
acquisition of the land required for the purpose. It is devoutly
to be desired that this measure, when completed—it had not
been begun at the end of 1898—may suffice to rid us of the
nuisance, which, in the nature of things—owing to the increase
in the number of inhabited houses draining into the local sewers
—would have become worse but for palliative measures adopted
by the local authorities in the reconstruction, deepening, and
enlargement of the said sewers.