OMNIBUSES.

The City is exceptionally well served by motor omnibuses, for in addition to the Corporation buses which run within the Borough, the outskirts of the City and all the surrounding towns and villages are well catered for. The Trent Motor Traction Company have regular and frequent services from Nottingham to Derby, Mansfield, Loughborough, Ilkeston, Gedling, Burton Joyce, and of course the intermediate villages. In addition, the Company run frequent trips in the summer to Skegness, which is the nearest seaside town, and often called "Nottingham-by-the-Sea." Also a large fleet of luxurious chars-a-banc cater for the demands of the Nottingham population in private parties or outings, the Dukeries being within easy reach. A map of the Motor Omnibus Services run by the Trent Motor Traction Company can be seen on map facing page 78 of this book. The Enquiry Office of this Company is situated in Parliament Street, near the Railway Bridge, and the two departure points of the buses are Trinity Square (near the Victoria Hotel) and Parliament Street (on the Railway Bridge).

PUBLIC SERVICES.

The Corporation have control of the gas, electricity and water undertakings, and special terms are quoted to manufacturers. They also control the tramways, which have already been described. The Markets and Fairs, owned and managed by the Corporation under ancient charters, are an important feature of the business life of the City. Originally the different sections of the Market were all conducted in the Great Market Place, but the Cattle Market was removed to a temporary site in Burton Street in 1870, and from there, in 1886, to its present position. The Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Fish Market was transferred from the Great Market Place to Sneinton Market in 1900. (See page 36.)

Trent Bridge.
Trent Bridge.

WATER.

Nottingham is supplied from wells, which are sunk in the bunter beds of the new red sandstone, and with soft water from storage reservoirs situated some fifty miles from the city, in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak district. Derwent water is of a soft character, and, like the sandstone water, shows by analysis a high standard of purity. The Derwent supply is delivered into the north-east portion of the Nottingham area, at the boundary of the Langley Mill and Eastwood parishes, the pressure being sufficient to gravitate water into the Ramsdale Hill Reservoir. The elevation of this reservoir is about 500 feet above Ordnance datum, and easily covers all the high points within the city and surrounding district. The new red sandstone formation, being permeable, is an ideal stratum for water supplies, and the absence of fissures in the rock ensures proper filtration before reaching the consumers. About 20 per cent, of the town's total water consumption is derived from the Derwent supply, and the other 80 per cent, from the Corporation's own Sandstone wells.

The total area of the compulsory limits of supply, as defined by the various Acts of Parliament and Provisional Orders, is about 75½ square miles. In addition there are many parishes supplied, by agreement, outside the Parliamentary area. The bulk of the water is supplied from five pumping stations situate at Basford, Bestwood, Papplewick, Burton Joyce, and Boughton, being pumped direct from wells and boreholes into seven covered reservoirs, from which it gravitates to the premises supplied.

In the year 1849 Corporation Baths were established in Bath Street, and in 1896 these were rebuilt to some extent. Other baths are to be found in Thackeray Street, Radford, and also in Basford, all these being the property of the Corporation; and excellent Turkish Baths have been taken over by the Municipality. During the warmer months of the year there is a considerable amount of river bathing.

The total quantity of water distributed during the year ended March, 1924, was 3,750,000,000 gallons, equal to nearly 16½ million tons, an average of about 10¼ million gallons per day. Of this quantity about 16 gallons per head per day were used for domestic purposes, and about 12½, gallons per head per day for trade and special purposes. The estimated population, supplied at the end of March, 1924, was above 360,000. Water is retailed to consumers and small traders in unlimited quantities at a fixed annual charge, varying according to the rental value of the premises occupied, and to large traders at so much per thousand gallons passed through meters.

The charge to factories varies, according to consumption, from 9d. to 1/6 per thousand gallons, meter rent being charged in addition. The charge for dwelling houses, based on rental, varies from 5½ per cent, for houses of £20 rental, to 3 per cent, for houses of £100 rental and upwards, plus an increase equal to one-half these rates. Baths and water closets are charged extra, according to rental. The water charges in all parishes outside the city (except Arnold and Beeston) are 20 per cent, more than city rates. The maximum pressure in the mains is about 80 lbs. per square inch. The total length of cast-iron supply mains within the area is about 450 miles. Water is supplied by the Corporation at practically cost price.

The suspension bridge.
The suspension bridge.