Report of a committee on a plan for cleansing the drains of Black Town.

Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of a committee on a plan for cleansing the drains of Black Town. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/105 (page 5)
    „ survey of the localities,* obtained as to the feasibility * Madras wells, „ . ... . . PaJafj of guarding against the deficiency in the hot season, Cortelar, > Rivers. together with a notice of the quality of any Supply Chembruinbauciim, ) ^ procurable from the tanks as compared with the best Red Hill, > |. now in use and the ordinary produce of the wells. They are of opinion that the result of such an enquiry would most probably have the effect of removing the doubts which at present inter- fere with the bestowal of this great blessing on the people; and it may be re- marked, that while the effect of sucli a supply bestowed at the present junc- ture would be to realize more than all the advantages contemplated in pump- ing up water from the sea, in as much as it would circulate through all, in- stead of a* part only of the drains, the effect of such a boon con- * £th. ferred subsequently to the completion of the plan now under con- sideration, would be to neutralize its action, and necessitate its abandonment. 16. With the information thus obtained, the Committee would strongly recommend that the entire subject of the water supply and drainage of the Black Town should be thoroughly studied in all its details, with a view to the reformation and re-establishment of the whole upon sound principles. This proposition may perhaps suggest an alarming idea of the magnitude and ex- pense of the undertaking, but it must be remembered, that though it is essen- tial that all the necessary works shoidd be previously planned and determined upon, yet the fact of doing so, wiU not only not add to the actual outlay, but in all probability greatly diminish it, by preventing useless constructions ; and if, as it is probable, it should appear that a large proportion of the existing drainage needs to be built anew, this circumstance would merely indicate the necessity for a reform which is actually in progress, but which being carried on in connection with the former system, may perhaps, it is feared, be found to be carried on in vain. 17. It is the more necessarythat the subject shouldbe thoroughly considered beforehand; because no appreciable good can be done except at a considerable expense. For instance, the Committee roughly calculate the cost of establish- ing Captain Boulderson's scheme, inoperative although it be upon three fourths of the drains, at little short of 2 lacs of Eupees, and they do not think that the complete establishment of this part of Madras in water supply and drainage on correct principles would cost much more, while, it is to be remarked that even the latter would be by no means the whole expenditure, as Black Town is only a part of the city, of which there are other parts equally or more urgently claiming consideration. IS. The Committee would beg very respectfully to bring to the notice of