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and is said to answer very well. The engineer of the Imperial "Works informs
me that he tried it at some works on Bow Common, but was obliged to discontinue
it on account of complaints from persons living at a mile distant.
Another remedy for this nuisance would be the use of water-tight receptacles,
which should be sent into the country without being unloaded; properly constructed
barges might be thus employed.
The Engineer of the Company assures me that it is the intention of the
Company, as quickly as they can get their new works into operation and adjust
their present apparatus, to adopt the first of the remedies mentioned above, and
he authorises me to state that within twelve months this shall be the method
adopted with all their manufacture.
He has further promised to discontinue the nuisance arising from the employment
of the refuse lime for luting, until the Company have made arrangements
for separating all the sulphides from their gas by means of the oxide of
iron alone; and then as I explained before the lime is almost free from objection.
Arrangements are also being made for a more complete removal of ammonia
from the gas before its passage through the oxide of iron purifier, by means
of a large quantity of water, and thus there will be less nuisance produced during
the revivification of the oxide. This nuisance might be still further diminished
by the passage of air through the oxide into the chimney, as in the ease of the
refuse lime. This arrangement has been adopted at the Equitable "Works,
Pimlico, and the Chartered, Horseferry Road.
The annoyance from the smoke of the furnaces remains unabated, and it is
not easy to suggest a remedy. The general management of the premises in
point of cleanliness, as far as I could judge from comparing it with the
works of other companies is tolerable, although I have certainly found the place
at times in a very disorderly state; this has been in part due to the alterations
which are going on by new buildings.
It is somewhat to be regretted that the company are just now about to
increase the extent of their operations by the building of a new retort house.
If this be allowed it is more than ever important that they should make use of
all available means for the prevention of nuisance; but even when these are
used the manufacture of gas is still a process which is offensive and injurious to
health. Recently in the works of this company at Fulham they have been
compelled by legal proceedings to discontinue the use of one large retort house,
which had been built within a few years, in consequence of the nuisance caused
to the owners of some adjacent property. It may perhaps be subject for consideration
whether any steps shall be taken by the Vestry to prevent the use of
the new building now in process of erection.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Tour obedient Servant,
TH0mAS HILLIER, H.D., L.R.C.P.
21, Upper gower Street.