§ MR. ALDERMAN SALOMONSmoved for leave to introduce a Bill to facilitate the traffic of the Metropolis by improving the communications across the Thames. The street traffic of London was now exceedingly great, and the Southwark and Waterloo Bridges, being toll bridges, were comparatively little used by the public in consequence. The object of the Bill was to 981 give to the Metropolitan Board of Works power to purchase those bridges across the river Thames by agreement upon which tolls were now levied, and to throw them open for public use free from toll—it being a direction in the Bill that the Board should endeavour to agree for (he purchase of Southwark and Waterloo Bridges before purchasing any of the other bridges. The proprietors of Southwark Bridge were anxious to dispose of their property at a very reduced sum. It cost about £700,000 with the approaches, and they were willing to sell the whole for £200,000. That, he thought, was an opportunity which ought not to be neglected. Waterloo Bridge cost about £1,000,000; and both structures had turned out complete failures to the proprietors. The Bill proposed that, for the purpose of enabling the Board of Works to purchase any bridge, they should be empowered to levy a rate of not exceeding 1d. in the pound for twenty years, in the same way as the Main Drainage rate was levied; and that the City of London should contribute a sum of not less than £50,000 out of the Bridge House estates, towards the purchase of Southwark Bridge. Considering the great advantage to be gained, he thought the public would not grudge the small charge which the Bill proposes to levy on the metropolis.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill to facilitate the Traffic of the Metropolis by improving the communications across the River Thames, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Alderman SALOMONS, Mr. LOCKE, Mr. JACKSON, and Mr. TAVEB NEB MILLER.
§ Bill presented, and read 1o. [Bill 129.]