The Times reviews the legislation of the session on the
water • supply of London. The statements are favourable to the Companies, but it is manifestly clear that some progress has been made of late. The Companies that take their water from above Teddington Lock now supply fully half London, and accord- ing to them there is three and a half times the amount of water comes over l'eddington Lock, in the driest time in summer, as would be required if the population were doubled, while if proper facilities for storing could be obtained, as much sometimes could be collected in one day of a flood as would serve for the entire year. The East London are about to make great reservoirs at Tottenham, under an Act of this session. We question whether this is safe. There is an immense population in the valley of the Lea, between Hertford, where the New River Company takes its supply, and Tottenham. If the landlords of our poorer districts were to get slightly more liberal notions as to supplying their tenants there would be a great run on the Companies, and as last year's experience tells us, an increased demand for water leads to neglect of precautions. The East London Company, too, are only going to "improve," not abolish, their cholera-bins at Old Ford. We wish the various schemes for a really good supply from a distance, were properly put before the public and dis- cussed.
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