The arterial drainage of Ireland

Abstract

When I mention that a sum of £961,235 14s. 7d. has been expended upon Arterial Drainage in Ireland, and that the annual instalments paid in redemption of principal and interest amount to £31,944 9s. 8d., I think the Statistical Society will be astonished to learn that, although the subject is intimately connected with the Land Laws of the last twenty years, no effort has been made to adapt the system of 1863, faulty though it is, to the changed circumstances of the country, except a very small Act passed in 1892, the 55 and 56 Vic, chap. 65. to which I will refer later. The astonishment will be the greater when I add that not only has there been grievous waste of money due to the faulty procedure, but that the work is practically at a stand still, and that this large sum is in risk of being wasted by the rivers being allowed to return to their original condition. My object tonight is to call attention to the defects and to make some suggestions for improvements; but it is evident from the apathy with which the subject has been regarded that very little is known about it, and it will, I think, be proper to commence by giving some explanation of the system as it at present stands.