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45
It was stated that the Welsh strike and the consequent
difficulty in procuring hard coal was largely responsible for the
immense volumes of black smoke which daily and nightly
issued from huge chimney stacks in all parts of the Metropolis.
During May a letter was received from the Public Control
Department of the London County Council, on the question of
smoke consumption generally, and urging the Vestries to
strictly enforce the law, owing to a growing disregard of the
sanitary provisions of the Smoke Prevention Act.
The Thames steamers were among the prominent offenders,
and a pedestrian crossing one of the river bridges stood a good
chance of partial suffocation.
During May also, the solicitor to the Vestry reported to the
Committee on the question of the emission of black smoke
from steamers plying on the river, pointing out the authority
for the suppression of the nuisance is the Corporation of the
City of London as the Port Sanitary Authority. The complaint
having been confirmed by the remarks of the magistrate at the
police-court, and by members' repeated observations,
The Public Health Committee directed that a communication
be addressed to the Port Sanitary Authority, requesting
them to take steps for an immediate and
effective remedy, and to each of the riparian Sanitary
Authorities in the Metropolis, asking them to cooperate
by making a similar request to the responsible
authority.
The Committee, in some instances, finding that no improvement
followed upon the service of Notices, summonses were
obtained, and in several of the more serious offences, fines
were imposed.