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.

    14/105 (page 6)
    the Right Honorable the Governor in Council, that in order to ensure success in the preparation of a well considered and comprehensive system of water sup- ply and drainage for tins very extensive and populous city,* it * 700,000. appears to them indispensable that the undivided attention of at least one officer should he given up to it.f This subject has beep so prominently brought to notice by II. M. Sanitory Commissioners, that the Committee need not do more than refer to their report Beport p. 300. and state their entire concurrence in their views. 19. Such a plan the Committee need not say it is quite beyond their power to prepare, while they are individually occupied in their own more im- mediate duties, but they consider it their duty to offer the following remarks and suggestions, based on information gathered in the course of their investi- gations, which though necessarily imperfect, have not been altogether superfi- cial. 1st. It appears that a scheme for improving the drainage, of Black Town will not benefit more than one third of Madras, and that, as Mr. Elliot the Chief Magistrate states, the portion at present best provided for already. 2d. That the pipe drainage so strongly recommended by H. M. Sanitoiy Commissioners seems peculiarly well suited to the chief portion of Black Town, and also to the other low lying districts of Madras. 3d. That the discharge from pipe drainage would be less impeded by the action of the surf than that from large sewers. 4th. That an additional supply of good water in all parts of Madras is a great desideratum. 5th. That some additional supply may be had from the present wells on the north side of Black Town. 6th. That a large further supply of the same excellent water might be had from wells sunk at a spot three miles north of the present wells. 7th. That a liberal supply of water brought into convenient positions for the benefit of the inhabitants of Madras, would lead to its use by the people in such quantity as to render the sewage sufficiently fluid for pipe drains, if it be not so already. 8th. That fresh water to a considerable extent might be collected in a tank formed in the valley of the Mayar, the ground being peculiarly favorable. f An establishment of one or two Surveyors, Draughtsmen and Estimate maker, besides three or four Lascars would be necessary also.