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In addition to this, the levels require great attention. Having
referred to this before, it would be superfluous to mention it again.
Having glanced at the surfaces, that which is beneath becomes
the next in importance—or, perhaps, should be the first.
At the time the Parish of St. James was created, so to speak,
cesspools were in vogue. How many still remain there is no
record to show. At the present time, I believe, none are in use "as
cesspools," all the houses being in some way connected with a sewer;
but in many, too many, instances by very old brick drains, very uncertain
in their course : these were not intended to answer their present
purpose at all, and were very roughly, if not carelessly, done, and as rats
are not idle, they do not improve by age. The sewers in themselves
are in fair condition, with some exceptions; but there are some
peculiarities about the sewers in St. James's (and perhaps elsewhere)
that baffle comprehension, such as their size, and having been built
150 years since with second-hand bricks, as indeed were many
houses in the Parish; it is needless to say there is no clue to this
mystery—such as they are, they are sound and reliable.
The important question of ventilation of sewers may be summed
up in one sentence—it cannot be done effectually. This does not
refer to Suburban Districts, but to such as St. James's. There is a
model at the Vestry Hall that will to some extent explain the complications
that exist of a small but fair sample of the whole.
The River Thames is the natural outfall of all the drainage between
the lands on each aide, and such drainage must gravitate towards
it. If any comprehensive system of ventilation can be done at all
it will, or must be, at the top of the Hills—at Hampstead or at
Richmond; the attempt to ventilate at the low level cannot succeed.*
This would involve a most fearful reconstruction of the London
sewerage, as to be most almost appalling to think of. But, after
years of consideration, there is no other way.
Wherever the land declines towards the Thames (Thame-Isis),
there will the drainage find its way. The Parish of St. James, in
* The word London is British, being "Lime-dune," or, "Hills in Water"—
witness the numerous hills in the City ; and the general name Downs as
applied to all high places—Sussex, Epsom, &c.