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115
the nuisance could not arise from this cause, and consequently
visited the works of the Railway Company at which oil gas is
manufactured, for the purpose of lighting the railway carriages,
the gas being produced from shale oil, passed into the retorts,
which are heated by coke. Certain purifying processes follow,
principally by lime, and the gas is then stored in stationary
vessels, suitable for the purpose, and also in drums upon an open
site upon the ground, the latter having been sanctioned as a
suitable position, as he was given to understand, by the London
County Council. He was not able to ascertain from the drainage
in connection with the works, that any of the products of
manufacture had been allowed to enter the drains, and therefore
the sewers in the locality. The gas is known as hydrocarbon
and he was of opinion that the nuisance must have arisen through
a large quantity of the gas having inadvertently been allowed to
escape into the atmosphere, as the houses which were affected
were in close proximity to the works, and no nuisance was
noticeable along the line of sewer, except in the immediate
vicinity of the works.
He further ascertained that this gas had been manufactured at
the works in question for the past 18 years, and this was the first
occasion to his knowledge that any nuisance had been ascertained
to arise. No further nuisance has been discovered, although
the premises have been kept under observation continually since
the date of report.
He also submitted report to the effect that Mr. Barker of
Philpot Street, Mile End, a builder erecting property in Leveson
Road, Clapham Common, had allowed No. 19 to be occupied by
a family as caretakers without first having made application for
the certificate of water supply as required by section 48 Public
Health (London) Act. Also that in connection with the house
the drains had not been finally tested and passed.
The Committee therefore gave directions that proceedings
should be taken against Mr. Barker in the matter and he was
subsequently fined for the offence.