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44
of gaseous products in the fronts, of the furnaces, so that
any gases given off from the raw material, with which the
cells are fed, have to pass over the hottest portions of the
fires, and so complete combustion is ensured.
The Shot Tower Destructor is the most recently erected
Destructor of the Horsfall Company, and, consequently, in
construction and planning, contains all the most recent improvements.
As originally designed the Destructor did not
work in practice as satisfactorily as was prophesied, and
within a few weeks of being opened and worked, caused a
serious nuisance to the neighbourhood—unburnt, or insufficiently
burnt, gases, etc., escaping from the chimney shaft
into the air. A memorial (signed by 48 persons) was
received by the Lambeth Borough Council, and a summons
was, on May 30th, 1901, ordered by the Council to be taken
out unless the nuisance (complained of) was abated to the
satisfaction of the Council's Medical Officer of Health, who,
in connection therewith, made many visits and inspections.
The result was that many important alterations and improvements
in connection with the Destructor plant were
suggested, and carried out, as follows :—
(1) The hopper covers over the feed-holes, which were
previously narrowed to be fitted into 3-in. water
seals (automatically fed with water), so as to prevent
the escape of fumes and smoke during, cr
after, the process of feeding;
(2) Instructions to be given for the red-hot clinker to be
at once removed to the jetty at the end of the
Wharf without being first cooled down by water
near the furnace doors—thereby avoiding the formation
of "water gas";
{3) Iron or steel barges to be provided instead of
wooden barges, so that the hot clinker could be at
once tipped without being previously cooled down;
(4) The clinkering floor, which is unfortunately below
ground, to be better ventilated;
(5) The different cells to be more regularly fed, and
kept fed, and the fires to be stoked regularly and