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130 feet and is of an exceedingly stiff and impervious
character so that too much must not be expected to result
from drainage operations.
This being the formation and character of the
land, it strikes the ordinary observer as a singular
place for a sewage farm, the essence of which is or
should be to absorb sewage, to work off the products,
nitrates especially, in vegetation, and discharge the effluent
rendered innocuous by filtration through the soil into
running water. This has up to recently been the condition
of matters, and the problem of what modification or alteration
of the existing state of things should be adopted so as to be
the most economial and at the same time meet the requirements
of the district and the Thames Conservancy
and mitigate the nuisance complained of, has been
receiving the earnest consideration of the Council. One
proposal was to raise the surface by burning and carting
ashes on to it, and so increase the depth of soil and add to
or refresh its purifying powers. The other was a system
of deep drainage. The latter has been adopted and will be
given a trial, it is hoped with satisfactory results.
The following are such vital statistics as I have been
able to compile:—
Tolworth.
The population and census of 1891 was 979. Since
that time building has been going on rapidly, and in
estimating the present population at 1000 it must be well
within the mark, but for ordinary purposes that will serve.
The deaths for the half-year were nine, being 5 males and
4 females. This will give a death rate of 18 per thousand
per annum. The births during the same period were
18, 8 boys, 10 girls, which will give a birth rate of 36 per
thousand.