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promptly abated upon the matter being brought to the notice of the
responsible persons.
Smoke Nuisances.
In January the furnace of one of the steam navvies employed on
the widening of the Midland Railway at Mill Lane was found to be
emitting black smoke in such quantities as to be a nuisance.
The matter was reported to the Public Health Committee, who
gave instructions for the contractor to be cautioned.
Subsequently a number of communications were received from the
London County Council, stating that their Inspector had found the
engine in question offending on days and at times specified. Numerous
observations were kept by your Inspectors without any further infringements
of the law being discovered.
The Public Health Committee, in considering the matter, declined
to take action without the evidence of its own Officers, and directed that
a letter be sent to the London County Council giving the names and
addresses of three Sanitary Inspectors residing in the immediate
vicinity, and suggesting that the London County Council Inspector
should communicate with one of them when next he found cause of
complaint, but no such communications have been received.
Four complaints that chimneys other than those of private houses
were emitting black smoke were received. In three instances no verification
could be obtained, but in the remaining case the complaint was
well founded, and abated on the service of notice.
In another instance, high buildings erected next a dwelling house
had such an effect on the action of its chimneys that whenever fires
were lighted the rooms were filled with smoke, and the occupiers' health
affected to such an extent that complaint was lodged with the Council.
Notice served on the builder resulted in the chimneys being; carried
up to a proper height, and the nuisance abated.
Two occupiers of top rooms in tenement houses alleged that the
smoke coming from the chimneys of low back additions of neighbouring
houses prevented them from opening their windows for the purpose of
ventilation.