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119
The cowkeeper being thus compelled to incur the expense of
removing his shed refuse regularly, would probably welcome any
scheme whereby, without increased outlay, this duty would be
taken off his hands by the Nuisance Authority.
"The refuse of cowsheds should be removed within specified
hours in the early morning, in vehicles specially constructed so as
to prevent slopping and effluvium nuisance. It would be found
difficult in some districts to remove stable refuse within the same
hours, and the necessity for so doing would be less, provided it
were found practicable to abolish sunken dung-pits, in which
manure rapidly ferments and decomposes, giving rise to intolerable
nuisance when the receptacle is emptied, and also in the passage
of the cart through the streets. Were the plan universal of
employing properly paved and drained receptacles enclosed within
iron racks above the surface of the ground, so as to dry the
refuse by air currents, its removal might be effected at any period
of the day without offence, provided it had not been kept too long
in the stable or in the receptacle itself, so as to become rotten and
offensive.
"The Committee having in the second and third sections dealt
with the 'collection' of house and stable refuse, have now only
to express their conviction that legislation will be found necessary
to solve the difficulty attending the ultimate "disposal" of such
refuse, viz., by imposing on canal and railway companies the
obligation of conveying it from towns in boats or vans, expressly
contrived for the avoidance of nuisance, and at a rate for carriage
which, while fairly remunerative, shall not be oppressive to the
ratepayers—power to settle the rate, in case of dispute, to be
vested in the Railway Commissioners or some similar tribunal
having an equitable jurisdiction."
It may be mentioned that the Society directed the above report
to be forwarded to the Sanitary Authorities of the Metropolis :
and to those Members of Parliament likely to take an interest
in the subject.