London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

London County Council 1899

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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APPENDIX TO ADVISING ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Table: REFUSE DESTRUCTORS.

REFUSE DESTRUCTORS.

TownPopulation (Dust dealt with)Size of site.Type of Destructor.No of Years Working.Percentage Residue.COST.No. of CellsCapacity of Cells per 24 hrs. Tons.Height of ShaftTemperature of Hue.No. of Boilers.Steam Pressure.Total Horse PowerCost per ton of burning.REMARKS.
Land.Machinery Buildings.Destructor Buildings.Cells.Chimney Shaft.Machine!"
HORNSEY70,000...Goddard & Co.825%....1,700£4,200126217 feet800125 lbs.201/3This low temperature destructor does not give such thorough combustion as the higher temperature ones, and for this reason could not lie recommended. No c omplaint has been received during the last four years. Waterworks with reservoirs practically adjoin this site, which is in the High Street, with a number of houses in close proximity. Paving is made from the ground clinker, in proportion of one of cement to two of ground clinker ; costs 2s. 6d to 3s. per yard laid ; the paving is even in texture, gives good foothold and is pleasing in colour. One man can make sixty to seventy slabs, 3ft. Oin. by 2ft. Oin. per day. The Workmen's Dwellings were built with mortar made with ground clinker. The steam generated is used for driving grinding machines, mixing mills and hydraulic presses.
HAMPSTEAD75,5001 AcreManlove Alliott1130%£2,460£2,080............86120 feet...None......1/1This destructor is fixed in the area of \Villesden District Council and not in Hampstead. Four cells were fixed in 1888, two added in 1890 and 1891. Ashes sold at 2s. per load, clinker given away. Paving is made in proportion of one of cement to two of ground clinker ; some paving has been in use eight years without repairs being necessary. The destructor so satisfactory that the same type would be selected if extensions are required. A crematorium is fitted for burning the fumes before passing to the shaft, crematorium being fed with coke breeze. No use is made of steam generated, the paving being hand made.
ST. LUKE S45,000...Horsfall...30%...£5,000...£2,000620180 feet2,000°1140 lbs.A Goddard, Massey & Warner destructor was put up, but owing to alterations in construction being made, against the wishes of the patentees, the destructor was not satisfactory, and was replaced by the present Horsfall, which at the time of our visit was not completed. The information given is based upon the terms of the contract and not upon actual results. It is proposed to utilise the steam generated for lighting the destructor works, and probably some adjoining works, with electricity.
LEYTON100,0001 AcreBeaman & Das130%...£6,000816.5150 feet2,0003110 lbs.901/2Dust is collected from houses in 90 miles of streets. The destructor is built in connection with the Sewage Works, and burns sewage sludge in proportion of one of sludge to two of house refuse ; considerable smell arises where the destructor is fed, owing to the presence of sewage sludge. It was worked by the contractors under a six months' contract on the understanding that it should be taken over if satisfactory, and it has since been taken over by the District Council. Steam generated drives the machinery at Sewage Works, formerly driven by steam raised from coal; saving in coal stated to be £350 per annum ; £150 per annum is obtained by sale of clinker at 6d., and fine ash at 1s. 6d. per load.
DEVONPORT......Willoughby Syndicate........................150Short (temporary).This destructor is of special type, containing revolving steel tube lined with fire brick, fitted with feeding ram and arrangement for cooling clinker. Fire is fed with coke at a cost of Od. per day. Three hands are employed to work destructor during 24 hours.
TORQUAY......Goddard & Co.8 months......£1,700£4,20048150 feet-/9½A small electric installation was added at a cost of £400.
BATH50,000...Goddard & Co.4 years........................5...............-/10Disinfector is worked in conjunction with destructor. Profit from sale of products during last year £450 ; paving sold at 3s. 3d. per square yard, clinker at 6d. per load, ashes at 2s. 6d. ; 1800 yards of paving and channelling now being made for one of principal streets.
SOUTHAMPTON (Town)40,000...Goddard & Co. Manlove Alliott...20%.....................7.5160' 4½"1,500°3150150...Destructor worked in conjunction with sewage works. Steam generated used for pumping sewage from deep well, a lift of 10 feet and discharging it into an arm of Southampton water. Steam is also used for driving machinery for pressing sludge and for lighting the destructor house, pump house and engine house and adjoining Corporation stables.
SOUTHAMPTON (Portswood)10,000...Goddard & Co.........................3.........1...30...Small 3 cell destructor by Goddard & Co., deals with dust from population of 10,000 and pumps sewage from population of 5,000 in St. Denys district. Clinker is used for construction of filter beds laid down at sewage works.
CAMBRIDGE50,000...Manlove Alliott325%£1,900£2,132£1,200£5,777£1,600£5,32465175 feet2,000°31601/3Four of the six cells only used at one time ; fitted with Boulnois & Brodie's charging trucks ; cooling chamber fitted to cool clinker before being drawn out; the 3 water tube boilers have extra furnaces to allow of coal firing on Sundays when dust is not collected ; 260 tons coal used per annum ; steam generated drives sewage pumps, lifting sewage from deep wells, and discharges same on sewage farm two miles from destructor house ; total lift of 43 feet. Pumps deal with 2,000.000 gallons per 24 hours and have dealt with 4,000,000gallons psr day ; clinker stored for making up filter beds which it is proposed to use.
SHEFFIELD60,000...Goddard & Co....25%..................610188 feet1,500°18020-/8Coarse ash portion of refuse from ash closets burnt with refuse, and smell from this combined refuse is,very offensive. Cells are fitted with patent dampers to allow of each cell when being clinkered and charged to be cut off from the main flue ; destructor built on outskirts of Sheffield a considerable distance from any houses ; a further 10 cells of same type and a mattress chamber are being erected, also cottages for use of destructor start. Machinery for making paving will be laid down. Disinfectant powder is made by mixing fine ash from the flue with disinfectants, which makes very good powder at about half usual cost.