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89
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
Private dwelling houses are the chief offenders in Lambeth,
as in London generally, in the way of polluting the
atmosphere with unconsumed smoke, and with this nuisance,
a Sanitary Authority has no power to deal, the chimneys of
private dwelling houses being exempt by Sect. 24 (b) of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891. Potteries, laundries,
bakehouses, gas manufactories, breweries, electric lighting
stations, and a few factories, etc., however, call for attention
in Lambeth, and during the year 1897 many different
observations have been taken, and notices served, or
cautionary letters sent, in consequence. The London County
Council have drawn the Vestry's attention to smoke
nuisances observed by their own officers on 32 different
occasions, but in no instance was the Vestry advised, after
careful consideration of the special circumstances of the
cases, to take proceedings before a Magistrate. Nine of
these complaints of the Council were in connection with
the potteries on the Albert Embankment (belonging to
Messrs. Doulton and Stiff), whilst independent observations
have been also taken by the Vestry's own officers in respect
of the same premises during the year, but the only action
that the Vestry has been advised to take, and has taken,
has been the serving of notices, the writing of cautionary
letters, and the interviewing of stokers, with an examination
of the different smoke-prevention appliances or methods
in use by the two different Firms. In previous years,
summonses have been taken out against Messrs. Doulton
and Stiff, but the Magistrate has had a difficulty in convicting,
owing to the fact that it was proved that reasonable
precautions had been taken to prevent undue quantities of