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
Shoreditch 1897
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch, Parish of St. Leonard]
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"The following then is a
| Tons per annum. | |
|---|---|
| Swimming Ponds | 550 |
| Slipper Baths and Washing Troughs | 1,000 |
| Steam for Drying Horses, &c. | 200 |
| 1,750 |
"On the assumption that a range of three Lancashire boilers as suggested,
together with both flues and chimney shaft were erected at a cost of £4,500 to supply
the heat, the following would be on the above figures the annual maintenance
cost:—
MAINTENANCE PER ANNUM.
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,750 tons of coal, at 15/- delivered | 1,300 | 0 | 0 |
| Two stokers at 30/- per week each | 150 | 0 | 0 |
| Maintenance of boilers and steam pipes, 5 per cent. on say £2,500 | 125 | 0 | 0 |
| Capital charge, being Interest at 27/8 per cent. and Sinking Fund on the 26 years annuity basis, say 5 per cent. on £4,500 | 225 | 0 | 0 |
| £1,800 | 0 | 0 |
"The amount of fuel allowed for depends of course upon the amount of water to
be heated. The figures given for the swimming ponds are easily checked, since you
yourselves will determine how many times the ponds will be filled in the year. As
regards the water used in the slipper baths and washing troughs, you will observe
that we have pointed out that our calculations are made on the basis of their being
used at maximum rates for 10 hours per day, and this figure may be much modified
with the result of reducing the fuel used proportionately. The last three items in the
maintenance estimate (£500 per annum) are charges which in any case must be
incurred quite outside the question of the amount of fuel used. In any case it is
clear that the annual maintenance under the scheme will be a very considerable
sum, since taking the standing charges and the coal to be used for the swimming
ponds alone, the total would reach £1,050 per annum, witheut any hot water at all
for the slipper baths or washing troughs, or the steam heating of the drying
horses, &c.
"ECONOMIES OF SUPPLYING STEAM FROM EXISTING
"ELECTRIC LIGHT STATION.
"Referring to the three last items in the above-mentioned estimate, it will be seen
that if steam were supplied from the Electric Lighting Station the greater portion of
these items, amounting to £500, would be at once saved witheut any consideration
for the economy in fuel that would undoubtedly be achieved.
"We would point out to you that exhaust steam (i.e., the steam discharged from
the Electric Light Station after having performed its duty there) is practically
equally efficient as live steam in heating the bath water of all descriptions so long
as the temperature to which it is required to be raised does not exceed say 180
degrees Fahrenheit, or even something greater than this. It therefore follows
that so long as the above-mentioned quantities of steam are produced from the
exhaust of the Electric Light Station engines, this could be utilised for heating the
bath water witheut any extra expense for fuel. At present the output of the Electric
Light Station is less than the steam required to heat all the water as set
forth above, theugh in a short time it will almost certainly be equal to the whole
duty required of it. Until this time is reached it will of course be necessary to make
up the heat required by live steam direct from the Electric Light boilers, and