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Sewers;" the second and third, dated August 7th and December 9th,
1887, with "The Deodorization of Sewage at the Outfalls."
The fourth Report, dated March 3rd, 1888, "Treated of the
deodorization of sewer emanations by the usk of sulphurous
acid applied at numerous stations within the Metrolitan
area"; while the fifth was a further report on "Deodorization of
Sewer Emanations, and on Sewer Ventilation." In my Annual
Report for 1887-88 (pages 231-240), I summarised the contents of
all of these Reports.
Sir Henry Roscoe, in December, 1888, presented a further
report to the Board, dealing with the "The Deodorization of Sewagf.
at the Outfalls," setting out the proceedings taken in 1888; and
in March, 1889, yet another report on "The Chemical Examination
of the Foreshores and Mud Deposits of the River Thames
and its Estuary," the outcome of a resolution of the Board,
approving of a recommendation by Sir Henry Roscoe, to the effect,
" That an examination should be made of the condition of the
Thames deposits, from Barking down the river to the mouth, including
the whole of the estuary." In my Annual Report for 1888-89
(pages 162-167), these Reports also were summarised. Sir Henry
Roscoe's engagement with the Board expired at Lady-day, before
which date the Board itself came to a premature end. Subsequently,
in May, 1889, Sir Henry Roscoe published a paper "On the Metropolitan
Sewage Question," in which he summarised the conclusions
of the Royal Commission of 1882; the proceedings of the
late Metropolitan Board of Works in regard to the treatment of the
Sewage, in opposition to the recommendations of the Commission;
the views of the Chemists consulted by the Board; and his
own Reports, above referred to. Primarily, this paper was prepared
for the use of members of the County Council, whose Main Drainage
Committee, it was understood, were proceeding upon the lines of the
late Board, in carrying out a discredited system, which, it was
alleged, would involve a large yearly outlay for disinfectants. After
"A criticism of the system proposed by the Metropolitan Board"
(page 15), Sir Henry Roscoe concludes by stating his opinion that
"the proposal of the late Board for the disposal of the sewage is
based on false principles :—
o