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133
The Borough Surveyor reported that the extensive sewer works
which have been in progress on the Isle of Dogs since January,
1903, were completed on 27th August, 1904.
In his report the Borough Surveyor stated: —
" The construction of new sewers for the Isle of Dogs was
necessitated by the frequent flooding of the basement floors of
many premises in Cubitt Town on account of the old sewers
having been insufficiently deep to allow of an adequate fall being
given to the drain from the premises. In addition to this, however,
the old sewers were found to be in a very defective condition,
and far from watertight. When it is known that the London
County Council have to deal with the whole of the sewage of this
area by pumping at Abbey Mills, the importance of this in such a
water-logged strata as exists in the Isle of Dogs can be readily
imagined.
"In October, 1902, the Council approved a scheme presented
by me for the construction of new 32-inch by 48-inch egg-shaped
sewers composed of bricks and concrete, and 18 inch and 24-inch
circular stoneware pipe sewers surrounded by concrete. The
estimated cost was £16,820, but this was subsequently increased
to £18,520 before the commencement of the work to suit the
requirements of the L.C.C.
" The work was commenced on 26th January, 1903, at the lowest
point, viz., the junction with the Manchester and East Ferry Roads,
where the connection with the L.C.C. sewer was made.
"During the progress of the work either ballast or clay was
encountered in the lower strata until a point 100 feet north of
Marshfield Street was reached. There, however, and onwards the
lower strata proved to be of running sand on which it was impossible
to construct a sound sewer. The depth of this sand varied from
3 feet 6 inches to 5 feet to the solid bottom below the level of
the foundation of the sewer, and this, consequently, necessitated
either sheet piling and excavation or open piling with square piles.