View report page

45
WATER-SUPPLY.
cording to the arrangements of the water-company,
the arrears of excrement are removed, so far as the
surplusage of the water-receptacle may have p6wer
to dislodge and propel them. Frequent evidence
has been before me of the insufficiency of this arrangement:
and, in addition to its actual failure (on
the reasons of which your Surveyor can speak more
competently than I) there is strong reason to object
to its prevalence on other grounds. Water, as you
probably know, is a very active absorbent of many
gaseous materials; and the open butts, which are
thus placed in immediate contact and communication
with privies, must rapidly become infected by
their foulness. I need not explain to you how injurious
an addition this is to the other objectionable
incidents of water-storage, or how unattractive as a
beverage to the poor inhabitants of the City must be
this vapid, privy-flavoured stuff.
For this arrangement I can suggest to your Honourable
Court no alternative or remedy, so long as
the distribution of water continues to be on its present
intermittent plan: but it is matter for extreme
regret that, by circumstances over which you have
no control, the success of your sanitary measures
should be seriously diminished. By the enforcement
or execution of house-drainage, your Honourable
Court has conferred great advantages on many
districts of the City; but it is my duty to tell you
that, in my judgment, the present condition of the
water-trade contributes to neutralise those