Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol I (1901).djvu/212

 Inst. Civil Eng. xxiv. 280). Over eighty-three miles of large intercepting sewers were constructed, a densely populated area of over a hundred square miles was dealt with, and the amount of sewage and rainfall which could be discharged per diem was estimated at 420,000,000 gallons. The total cost of the works was 4,600,000l. The royal commission which was appointed in 1882 to consider the metropolitan sewage discharge, in their first report of 31 Jan. 1884, bore strong testimony not only to the excellence of the original scheme, but also to the professional skill shown by Bazalgette 'in carrying it through all the intricate difficulties of its construction.' They also drew attention to the powerful influence which had been exercised through these works in improving the general health of the metropolis (Report of the Royal Commission on Metropolitan Sewage Discharge, London, 1884).

The other great engineering work with which Bazalgette's name Avill always be coupled is the Thames embankment. The idea of building such an embankment is a very old one, in fact it was proposed by Sir Christopher Wren, but it was not until 1862 that an act was passed empowering the metropolitan board of works to carry out the work. At one time it had been intended to put the control into the hands of another body appointed specially for the purpose. The work, at any rate as regards the Victoria embankment, was considerably complicated by the arrangements necessary for the low-level sewers and for the Metropolitan District Railway. The first section from Westminster to Blackfriars was completed and opened by the prince of Wales on 13 July 1870. The Albert and the Chelsea embankments and the new Northumberland Avenue completed eventually the original scheme, the total cost being 2,160,000l. The engineering features of these works were described in detail in a paper read before the Institution of Civil Engineers by Mr. E. Bazalgette, a son of Sir Joseph Bazalgette (Proc. Inst. Civil Eng. liv. 1).

In addition to these two great works Sir Joseph was responsible for a large amount of bridge work within the metropolitan area, thrown upon his shoulders by the Metropolitan Toll Bridges Act of 1887. Alterations had to be made in many of the old bridges, and new bridges were designed for Putney and Battersea, and a steam ferry between North and South Woolwich. Simultaneously with this work a considerable amount of embanking and of alteration of wharf levels was carried out in order to diminish the danger of flooding at high tides in the low-level districts of the metropolis.

Bazalgette remained chief engineer to the metropolitan board of works until its abolition in 1889, and replacement by the London county council, and he presented altogether thirty-three annual reports setting forth in detail the engineering works which he designed on behalf of the board.

He joined the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1838, he served as a member of the council for many years, and became president of the institution in 1884, He was made C.B. in 1871, and, after the completion of the embankment, was knighted in May 1874. He died on 15 March 1891 at his residence, St. Mary's, Wimbledon Park. He married, in 1845, Maria, the fourth daughter of Edward Kough of New Cross, Wexford, and had a family of six sons and four daughters. There is a portrait in the possession of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a replica of a painting by Ossani, and a bronze bust forms, part of a mural monument which has been erected by his friends on the Thames embankment at the foot of Northumberland Avenue.

Besides the paper and reports mentioned above and his presidential address (Proc. Inst. Civil Eng. lxxvi. 2), Bazalgette wrote a great number of valuable professional reports. The chief of those relating to drainage and water supply are : Report on Drainage and Water Supply of Rugby, Sandgate, Tottenham, &c., London, 1854. Data for estimating the sizes and cost of Metropolitan Drainage Works, London, 1855. Reports on Drainage of Metropolis, London, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1865, 1867, 1871 ; Drawings and Specifications for Metropolitan Main Drainage Works, London, 1859-73; Tract on ditto, London, 1865 ; Reports on Drainage of Lee Valley, London, 1882 ; Report on Sewerage of Brighton, Brighton, 1883; Thames Conservancy and Drainage Outfalls, London, 1880 ; Plan for purifying the Thames, London, 1871 ; Report on Thames, London, 1878.

Bazalgette also wrote Reports on Metropolitan Bridges, London, 1878, 1880, and on Communications between the north and south of the Thames below London Bridge, London, 1882.

Other reports of a miscellaneous character are : Short Account of Thames Embankment and Abbey Mills Pumping Station, London, 1868 ; Metropolitan and other Railway Schemes, London, 1864, 1867, 1871, 1874 ; Inspection of Manure and Chemical Works, London, 1865 ; Boring operations at Crossness, London, 1869; Metropolitan Tramways, London, .1870: Asphalte for Pave-