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206
Report of the Medical Officer of Healih.
boiler fitted. In April, 1908, notice was served for black
smoke for three minutes, but the Solicitor advised that no
proceedings could be taken under the old order. During the
rest of 1908, in 1909 and 1910, although observations were
frequently made by the Inspector, only on one or two occasions
was it reported that black smoke was issuing, and that only
for a period of one or two minutes. In 1911 on two occasions
in January black smoke was noticed for one minute, but
since then although observation has been kept, no nuisance
has been detected.
"I have visited the premises and at the time of my visit
I asked the stoker to stoke up in my presence, but this was
not followed by any emission of black smoke. The furnaces
are fitted with forced draught driven by a fan and in my
opinion if properly used there should be no emission of black
smoke. It is quite possible, however, that careless stoking
would produce black smoke, and owing to the proximity of
the furnace chimney to the houses in Benden Valley it is quite
possible that on some occasions the nuisance noted by the
complainants existed.
"I have instructed the Inspector to take particular note
of this chimney and if any black smoke is noted the matter
will be reported to the Committee."
In all, 189 observations for black smoke were made by the
Sanitary Inspectors. 34 cases were repoited, and 31 notices were
served.
194 soil pipes were repaired, 40 in Clapham, 16 in Putney, 55
in Streatham, 47 in Tooting, and 36 in Wandsworth, compared
with 153 in 1910, and 182 in 1909.
869 leaky roofs and gutters were repaired, compared with
1,225 in 1910. and 1,159 in 1909.