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69
The situation of the factory—at the junction
of Satchwell's Rents, and Satchwell Street—and
the limited area of the premises (for there is no
yard) render the site a most undesirable one; and
I have no hesitation in stating that, in my opinion,
the factory is unfitted for the purpose, causes
nuisance, and entails danger to the public health.
It is evident that endeavours have recently been
made to obviate nuisance, but with only a measure
of success. The report which you sent to me
sufficiently explains the process of manufacture.
Briefly, filthy woollen rags are received in bags
from the marine store dealers, and without any
cleansing or disinfecting process are fed by hand,
to the extent of 15 cwt. a day, into a machine
technically known as a "devil," and by this are
torn into shreds. Much fluff and dust are driven
out during this rending process, and a cloud of fine
dust rises through the crevices in the machine and
is desseminated through the atmosphere, and thence
through the open door and windows into the
outside air, and must be carried into the houses
situated in close proximity, in Satchwell's Rents,
Orange Street and Satchwell Street. This dust, I
find, is of a highly complex character, containing
fine broken fragments of woollen and cotton, starch,
animal cells, mineral matter, and spores of vegetable
organisms. The dirty fluffy roof of the entry
testifies to the escape of this dust.
From the devil the torn rags pass into a second
machine, which by means of a fan extracts the
fluff, dust and lighter particles which form a