England is going through her annual flood period again, but this year, owing to the heav in addition to the rains, conditions are more serious than they have been for many years past. In the east of England, notably in the Fen district which always gives trouble, the floods, despite the fact ti the low-lying. land prevents the water running off quickly, already appear to be subsiding, and while it is reported that a considerable amount of damage has been done, there is nothing in the accounts to hand to suggest that this exceeds that of previous years. All along the Thames valley, where there has been considerable snow. a great surplus of water is now flowing into the river, more than the latter can easily carry off. The offtake is considerably hampered by the fact that the Thames for some distance from its mouth is a tidal river, the result being that at least twice a day the neeming tides back the fresh water up which brings about undue rises in the river, and which has at times actually threatened to overflow its banks in London itsd Some surprise will naturally be felt that these almost annual floods have been endured without adequate steps having been taken to prevent them, but both in the Fen district and in the Thames valley the works would be of such magnitude that the cost may very well deter the authorities from seeking to remedy a sad state o! affairs. Indeed with regard to the latter it i doubtful whether very much could be done, for the river itsd being by no means a swift one, the offtake must naturally be slow, with the result that residents in the low-lying areas on both banks have practically every year to suffer a period of inconvenience. Fortunately it is not generally of long duration, and they are so: hardencel io it by now that this annual visitation is now regarded with comparative patience. It is nece that it should be, for any. remedial measures which it lo to make should have been generations ago, before the growth of London made it impossible. But in the ties were not con: with the m this and future generations t continue to suffer from their predecessors'
of foresight
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.