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9
this Board, and which received the sanction of the legislature
in the year 1884, are being rapidly proceeded with from the
city side at Old Swan Pier, and one of the two tubes, of which
same is to consist, has been constructed as far as the
Borough High Street. The 40th section of the Company's
Act enables them to make a temporary shaft or opening for
the purpose of the excavations in length not exceeding 100
feet, and of such width as will leave 32 feet of roadway and
18 feet of footway for the ordinary traffic. It is obvious that
the contraction of the road and footways in the vicinity of
London Bridge, where the traffic is so enormous, would be
.
attended with much inconvenience, and particularly so when
it is borne in mind that the object of the shaft was to afford
an outlet for the excavated soil which would have to be
brought out and carted away. The Company are, however,
making so good progress with the works from their temporary
waterside depot in the City, and the advantages to them of
being able to shoot the materials direct into barges without
incurring any expense for cartage, are so apparent that it is
hoped they will be able to dispense with any shaft until they
reach St. George's, where the first of their permanent stations
is to be established. With a view to facilitating the operations
of the Company as now carried on, the Board have
given them permission to make two borings in the carriageway
of the Borough High Street, near the railway bridge;
this has been done at night without detriment to the
traffic, the borings being closed in the daytime. The Company's
authorised lines will terminate at Newington Butts,
but they are now seeking for powers to extend them to
Kennington and along the Clapham Road, the Bill for which
purpose has passed the House of Commons and is now
before the Lords (a).
With regard to the dams erected by this Board at Bankside
and other places for the protection of the district from
inundations caused by the overflow of the River Thames, the
(a) Since writing the above the Bill has passed the Houae of Lcrds and received the
Royal Assent.
B
Tidal
Barriers.