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The conclusions arrived at by your Officers were, that the processes in use
at the Gas Works in Shoreditch, were productive of a nuisance in the neighbourhood,
by reason of effluvia given off, but that there was not sufficient
evidence to show that these effluvia were actually injurious to the health of the
community. The Vestry were also advised to take proceedings against the Gas
Light and Coke Company, only upon a certificate by two medical men, or ten
inhabitants, given under Section 21 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
The suggestions offered by your Officers for mitigating the nuisance were:—
1.—The provision of funnel-shaped collectors connected with the furnace flues
placed above the doors of the retorts to collect the smoke and fumes
arising during the drawing and charging of the retorts, and to prevent
their dissemination through the retort house.
2.—The enlargement and better covering of the shoot at the Whiston Street
Works, to prevent unnecessary contact of the lime with the air.
3.—Watering the surface of the dry lime in the lower tiers of the purifiers to
prevent dust from rising, and covering the unworked surface of the purifier
and of the sieves when removed with sacking or tarpaulin, as is done in
some works described by Dr. Ballard in his report to the Local Government
Board.
4.—The passing of air through the purifiers just preceding the removal of the
cover, in order to take up as much of the free sulphuretted hydrogen and
residual coal gas as possible.
As the question was an engineering and technical one of great importance,
the Vestry were advised to employ a competent Gas Engineer, practically
versed in the manufacture of coal gas, to examine and report on the means
adopted to prevent nuisance at the Shoreditch Gas Works, and to suggest any
remedies for mitigating the nuisance, its entire abatement being apparently
impracticable.
After due enquiries as to several Gas Engineers in London, Mr. Helps, the
Gas Engineer of the Croydon Gas Company, was engaged for the purpose.
The report of this gentleman, dated December 6th, has been printed and
circulated among the members of the Vestry. In it, he agrees with the second
and third suggestions made by your officials. With regard to the first
suggestion, however, he was of opinion that it would be an operation of an
almost impracticable nature to collect the fumes in the manner therein stated,
and that its adoption would not be attended by any beneficial results. As to
the fourth suggestion, it has been found that great nuisance arises from the
oxide of iron purifier which is necessary to take up the sulphuretted hydrogen
expelled from the lime.