The disadvantage under which this company labored, in competition with the New River Company whose distribution was through iron pipes still The company, therefore, dragged feebly on, till the further diminished the returns.

building of the New London Bridge, in 1822, entirely annihilated their works. The region they supplied is now furnished by the New River and the East London Water Works. By a return made to Parliament in 1821, the London Bridge Company, just previous to the final destruction of their works, supplied 10,417 houses with 26,322,705 hogsheads per annum, at a rental of 12,266 about $61,000.

The New River Company purchased all their rights and leases for an annuity of 3750, to continue 200 years. The New River was the work of one public spirited individual. " Master Hugh Myddelton, citizen and goldsmith of London," in March, 1609, after having in vain urged the

corporation to the enterprise, obtained from them a transfer of the right conferred upon them by an act of Parliament, to bring a stream of pure water into the city from the springs of Amwell and Chadwell, in Hertfordshire. He immediately commenced the * A hoghshead is equal to 63 gallons. [Ep.J

54 PRELIMINARY ESSAY.

work, and, by the aid of a loan from King James L, who stipulated that one rnoiety of the property should be conveyed to him for security, and triumphing over many obstacles from landholders, through whose possessions the river was to pass, and the greater obstacles arising from deficient skill in engineering, he accomplished it in five years and on the ;