The Great Thames Barrage

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Great Thames Barrage, by Thomas Walter Barber
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THE PROPOSED THAMES BARRAGE: A VIEW OF THE RIVER FROM THE GRAVESEND BANK AS IT WOULD APPEAR IF THE DAM WERE CONSTRUCTED
DRAWN BY H. C. BREWER FROM MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY MR. T. W. BARBER
Mr. T. W. Barber, M.Inst.C.E., and Mr. Jas. Casey, M.I.N.A., have suggested that the difficulties of which the shipping interests complain might be met by the construction of a barrage across the river from Gravesend to Tilbury, a comparatively simple engineering feat after the great Nile dam (about 1¼ miles in length), especially as the bed of the stream is here firm chalk. This would, it is claimed, give a navigable depth of water, varying from 65ft. at Gravesend to 32ft. at London Bridge, without dredging, or any interference with the river bottom or banks. Some of the advantages which would, the advocates of the scheme claim, be secured are as follows:—Ships drawing 30ft. could proceed to London Bridge at any hour of the day or night, without waiting for tides; ships of all tonnages and draughts could traverse the river, anchor anywhere, lie alongside any wharf or quay, always remain at one level for loading or unloading, and need not lie out in the river or obstruct the free navigation; dock entrances could be left open, thus saving the cost and time lost in working them—the London and India Docks Company estimates the cost of working their entrances at £50,000 per annum; while greatly increased safety of navigation would result, there being no possibility of grounding, swinging with the tides, or collisions due to tidal drift. In addition to these, London would be provided free with a lake of fresh water forty-five miles long, and from a quarter to a half-mile wide. In short, we should have a vast inland lake from Gravesend to Richmond.