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but refused to give up the proposed tramway across Wheeler Street,
or to make the desired alterations of the arches crossing Grove Road
and Essex Street. The Clauses as to the Tramway was opposed by
the Whitecliapel Board of Works as well as by the Vestry, and the
Committee of the House of Commons decided against the Clause.
The Vestry of Mile End co-operated with the Vestry of this Parish in
pressing to have a clause requiring the Railway Company to alter the
arch at Grove Road. It was necessary to have scientific evidence by
an engineer, to show the practicability of effecting the alteration without
stoppage of the traffic, and the probable cost of it. Mr. Baker,
of Messrs. Barlow & Baker, was employed for that purpose, and it was
arranged that a moiety of his fees should be paid by each Vestry. Mr.
Baker showed clearly that the alteration could be effected without stopping
the traffic, and at a very much less cost than estimated by the
Railway Company. The Company offered to convert the present arch
crossing Grove Road into a girder-bridge, but refused to incur the cost
and alleged risk of putting back the abutment so as to make the
existing and intended new bridge of uniform span throughout. The
Committee of the House of Commons after deliberation decided not
to require the Company to put back the abutments unless the two
Vestries contributed towards the cost. It was ultimately arranged
that the amount of the contribution should be £1,000, to be paid in
moieties by the two Vestries ; and it is provided that the Vestries are
to signify their option as to making the contribution within six
months after notice by the Company of their intention to commence
the work. In the improbable event of the contribution not being
made the existing arch will be converted into a girder-bridge without
the abutment being altered. The Committee were of opinion that
the traffic through Essex Street was not of sufficient importance to
justify requiring the Company to convert the bridge into a girderbridge,
but required the Company when constructing the proposed
new bridge to leave an open space of 3 feet between it and the
existing arch. .
MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
Mr. Beven was, in June, unanimously re-elected the member for
this Parish of the Metropolitan Board of Works.