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in number at the time of my investigation, are in the open air,
and the local manufacture was not supplemented from Beckton, as
I understood that it would be ere long. Whether these differences
in the circumstances of the two cases were adequate to
explain the occurrence of complaint in the one, and the absence of
complaint in the other, is a question I did not pretend to
decide. But I think the low level of the gas works at Fulham
is against them, as the heavy and offensive vapours escape into the
air at no great (if any) altitude above the level of the adjoining
district within this parish, so that the wind carries them to, rather
than above, the houses.
It is a curious fact that about the same time similar complaints
were made of nuisance in the neighbourhood of other
works belonging to the Gas Light and Coke Company. The
Company were anxious to be allowed to dispense with the lime
process of purification, and they certainly succeeded in demonstrating
its offiensiveness. The Gas Referees were firm in insisting on
the required degree of purity of the gas qua sulphur; and certain
sanitary authorities having threatened proceedings against the
Company for creating a nuisance, the cause of complaint ceased.
The Company, however, brought a Bill into Parliament in the
current session with the object of freeing themselves from their
responsibilities in respect of the sulphur. It was strongly opposed,
and having been referred to a Select Committee the Company
were defeated, and withdrew the measure. The regulations of the
referees, therefore, continue in force: and I must confess that I
do not see any reason for altering them, seeing that, as before
stated, the sulphur impurity at the Kensal Green works did
not, on any occasion last year attain even the summer maximum,
viz., 20 grains in 100 cubic feet of gas. The highest
amount recorded was only 18.1 grains, and the average for the
year was only 14.3 grains, the minimum being 7.1 grains.
No complaint has reached me in connection with these works,
and I am unable to explain why the manufacture at other
works cannot be conducted with the same success as at Kensal
Green. What is done at one place may be done at another;
and if a satisfactory result can be attained at Kensal Green
where it is found necessary to make only partial use of the
lime process, the referees are not likely to reduce the standard
of their requirements; while metropolitan authorities will not
cease to oppose every attempt to degrade the standard of purity of
the gas.
I have only in conclusion to express my satisfaction with the
way in which I have been supported throughout the year by the
Sanitary Inspectors, who have performed their duties with zeal
and efficiency, specially dangerous as those duties have been. The