19 JUNE 1936, Page 13

A Hundred Years Ago

" THE SPECTATOR," JUNE 18m, 1838.

METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS. Alderman Wood, on Thursday, moved for a Select Committee to consider the best plan of raising money to effect certain necessary improvements in London, West- minster, Southwark, and the counties of Middlesex and Surrey ; and for the purchase of the interests of the proprietors of Waterloo Bridge, so as to throw it open to the public. He calculated that the improvements he projected would cost a million sterling ; and he suggested, that a tax of sixpence a ton should be laid on coals, which would raise 51,0001. a year, the interest of the money required.