View report page

140
shaft. Litigation may be caused by any defect in the shaft, and one
case is on record where heavy damages were obtained from a Sanitary
Authority, while quite recently a similar case was tried in the High
Court.
In narrow thoroughfares, where the houses have 110 forecourts,
shafts may possibly be of service, but in the opinion of the Committee
their use in Hampstead must continue to be the exception and not the
rule.
Ventilating Grids. It thus appears to the Committee that grids
at the surface of the roadway must be continued as the usual and most
important means of ventilation, and they have considered at length and
in detail the methods which may be adopted to render the emanations
inoffensive.
Charcoal. Various devices consisting of trays or baskets containing
charcoal have been tried in order to absorb offensive gases.
The effect of such contrivances is to block the air passage, and as
this method has been tried in Hampstead with unsatisfactory results,
your Committee are unable to recommend its adoption.
Fans. Proposals have been made to utilise fans driven by
electricity to cause a down draught in shafts in conjunction with an
up-cast ventilating shaft placed in the vicinity.
Such methods are undoubtedly in use in mines, but it would appear
that in sewers with their numerous openings any effect would be very
local, and that the apparatus would hence need to be employed at a
great number of points if it were to be of any service.
Reeves' Apparatus. Drs. Andrewes and Hurtley make favourable
mention of Reeves' Apparatus, and it is also commended by the Borough
Engineer.
The suggestions made by the latter as to the employment of this
invention appear to the Committee as likely to attain the objects desired,
viz.:- to induce a down draught at certain points where it is desirable
to do so, and further to allow of the introduction of disinfectants when
required, in a useful and economical manner.
Webb's Lamp. In association with Reeves' Apparatus the Borough
Engineer proposes the use of Webb's Lamp as described in his report.