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148
2.—Dust Destructors belonging to Private Contractors.
Several complaints were received during 1904 with reference
to Clarkson's Destructor, situated in Tinworth Street, Albert
Embankment, but in every instance it was found that the
nuisance was due to negligence—the secondary coke fire (or
fume cremator) not being lighted owing to the contractors having
failed to supply the necessary coke for burning therein. On
another occasion, sparks from the furnace set fire to a large
quantity of paper, breeze, &c., which was stacked temporarily in
the yard near to the Destructor awaiting burning.
This Destructor, and others, are kept under constant official
supervision, and the complaints received are few.
3.—South London Electricity Supply Corporation, Bengeworth
Road.
Special observations were taken during 1904 in connection
with the effluvia proceeding (at times) from the chimney belonging
to the works of the South London Electricity Supply
Corporation, Bengeworth Road, the chief complaint being of
"greasy blacks." These "greasy blacks" were analysed by the
Public Analyst, who reported as follows: "The greasy black
stains (on linen) consist of carbon in a fine state of division,
embedded in an unsaponifiable greasy matter of a hydrocarbon
nature, but, owing to the very minute quantity extractable,
repeated attempts to further identify the hydrocarbon contained
in it proved abortive. The spots may be simply described as
' greasy soot,' and are evidently the result of solid matters
thrown out with the smoke from a chimney where imperfect
combustion is going on in the fire beneath."
The nuisance was chiefly complained of between 4 and 6 p.m.,
the time when increased work is put upon the boilers for the
generation of the extra electricity needed when darkness sets in;
and appeared to be due to the excessive draught in the flues