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46
each cell being charged and clinkered in rotation. The
amount of refuse guaranteed to be burnt, viz., 12 tons per
cell per day, is, in my opinion, too large an estimate, and
the City Corporation of Westminster will have to be satisfied
with a smaller amount of work per cell. I have satisfied
myself, from personal observations, that endeavours have
been made hitherto to overwork the cells, whilst their feeding
has been most irregular and spasmodic, due principally
to the irregular manner and the insufficient amount in which
the refuse is brought to the Wharf.
I have suggested to the City Corporation of Westminster
that, in view of the apparent mismanagement of the
Destructor by their officials, it might be of advantage to
allow the Horsfall Destructor Company to take over the
management for a trial period of (say) three months. I am
satisfied that care in management is all that is required to
abate the nuisance.
It is unfortunate that the clinkering floor is underground,
and it is equally unfortunate that the land on which the
Destructor is built, and in which the flues are buried, is
water-logged, making it extremely difficult to dam back the
water from the flues and foundations.
Given a properly constructed and equipped plant, a
Destructor (if also properly administered) causes no nuisance—even
in a populous district. The Shot Tower Destructor
should, in my opinion, form no exception to such a sanitary
rule.
Previously, the refuse was deposited, sorted, and barged
—a condition of affairs causing a serious nuisance from time
to time.
The original contract for the Destructor plant was
^10,241, and this sum has been largely added to in consequence
of the important alterations and additions that have
since been carried out.
The Destructor is daily under observation by the
Inspector.
Joseph Priestley.
October 16th, 1905.