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201
present in actual work, and the expenditure necessary for the
purpose would be extremely trilling, compared with the interests
at stake in connection with the largest system of water distribution
in the world.
Constant Supply.—I have no means of ascertaining to what
extent constant supply has been extended to houses in this Parish,
but the following facts with reference to the districts of the several
Companies may be acceptable:—
The West Middlesex Company was giving constant supply at the end of
1889, to 24,737 houses, out of a total of 72,562: the increase during
the year was 860. No new area was brought under constant supply
in 1889.
The Grand Junction Company was giving constant supply to 44,043
houses out of a total of 55.870: the increase during the year was
1055. The system has been extended to North Kensington by the
voluntary act of the Company.
The Chelsea Company was giving constant supply to 7,217 houses
(increase during the past year 710), out of a total of 35,226. This
Company is the only one of the eight Metropolitan Water Companies,
which has given no notice of its intention to substitute a constant
for an intermittent supply, under the provisions of the Act of 1871.
Judging from the few applications made for constant supply, there
appears to be little desire on the part of the public authorities, or
private individuals, in any of the districts, for the continuous
service; but all new estates and new lines of streets are being so
supplied voluntarily.
By way of comparison it may be mentioned that the East London
Waterworks Company now gives constant supply to 158,025, out of a
total of 166,369 houses supplied. The increase during the year was
3001 ; 95 per cent, of the houses being on constant supply ; a fact very
creditable to the Company having regard to the difficulties, qua waste,
with which they have to contend, owing to the carelessness alleged to
be rife at the East End—to say nothing of defective fittings in the
miserable houses so common in the district.
The percentage of house supplies on the constant system in each local
Company's district, Dec. 31st, 1889, was as follows, Chelsea, 20 per cent.;
West Middlesex, 34 per cent. ; and Grand Junction, 79 per cent. Considerable
advance was made during the past year in Loudon as a whole,
in extending the constant supply; 451,493 out of the total number of
758,335 houses supplied, or 59 per cent., being now on constant service,
an increase of 35,411 during the year ; the number of houses having
increased in the year by 12,016 only.