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difficulty appears to exist amongst the poorer classes in getting rid
of their rubbish, inasmuch as they are unable to pay the dustmen
for their labour. During your next Session I trust you will be
enabled to determine upon some plan whereby these difficulties can
be overcome.
Having briefly disposed of the condition of the houses of the
poor, I wish to touch on a few other subjects that require your
attention.
GAS.
I have been favored by my friend Mr. Heisch with an
analysis of the qualities of the gas, supplied to this District by the
Phoenix Gas Company, and which I beg to lay before you. He
says, "that 100 cubic feet yielded by combustion about 5 grains of
"anhydrous sulphuric acid; and 100 cubic feet gave 0.9 grains of
"ammonia, 17.6 grains of carbonic acid, and a trace of sulphuretted
"hydrogen."
The general conclusions to be drawn from this analysis are, that
the quality of the gas during the time that the experiments were in
progress was tolerably satisfactory. The total quantity of sulphur
was not large; but the portion existing as sulphuretted hydrogen
should be removed in the purifiers. The ammonia also ought not
to be present, as its combustion gives rise to very injurious fumes.
The carbonic acid should not exist in well purified gas; but it is, I
believe, no further injurious than as it interferes with the illuminating
powers of the gas, and tends to vitiate the air of the room in
which the gas is burned more rapidly than need be the case. It
would be well, therefore, if the attention of the Company were
drawn to these objections.
There can be no doubt that gas works in general are nuisances
to the locality in which they are placed. Many of the gas works
in London are being inspected by the Association of the Medical
Officers of Health, a Report on which will shortly be made; and I
have no doubt that after the inspection of a number of those works,
some measures will be recommended for the prevention of these
nuisances. This Report I hope to be able to lay before you; and it
will then be in your power to enforce the adoption af any measures
that shall be thought requisite on the inspection of the gas works
in this District.