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18
From time to time the public are informed of the cost incurred in carrying
out the scheme of precipitation, and the removal of the resultant sludge to
sea in specially-constructed steam vessels.
Nevertheless, the nuisance continues, varying in degree according to
climatic influences.
In cold weather it is perhaps scarcely noticeable, the colour of the water
being the only evidence of the presence of sewage.
Two or three warm days, however, are quite sufficient to change all this.
The water becomes more discoloured—the well-known black patches appear
—and the foul and loathsome smell of stale and decomposing sewage is again
complained of by everyone whose business takes him on the river between
Greenwich and Greenhithe.
This is an old story, and one that, by constant repetition, has become wearisome
to the public, who do not realise the existence of so foul and abominable a
state of things, which is not only a disgusting nuisance, but also a standing
disgrace to our nineteenth century civilization.
The London County Council have had the question under consideration,
and a very serious and costly problem it has proved.
They have inherited an evil legacy, and cannot be reasonably expected to
throw away the money already expended on an experiment which is not yet
even complete, and which cannot therefore be considered as tried, even
although it was known to be a useless and inefficacious plan before commenced.
The Report of Sir Benjamin Baker and Mr. Binnie, to whom the matter
was referred, was published in February last.
"They admit the fact that, in the heart of the metropolis, a certain amount
"of sewage pollution is inevitable, and that it would be hopeless, as it is
"happily unnecessary, to attempt to get a chemically pure river in the lower
" reaches."
" Sewage must therefore continue to be discharged into the Thames at the
"different storm overflows, and all idea of a theoretically pure river must
"necessarily be abandoned."
This report shows that up to the time of issue 525,000/. had been expended
in works and ships, and at Crossness an outlay of 330,000/. had been authorised.
In addition to this initial charge, the cost of treatment is calculated at
27s. 9d. per million gallons, or about 140/. per day at the Northern outfall,
and 21l. per day at the Southern outfall, which latter amount, when the works
are finished, wall be increased to about 100/. per day.