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47
The chief cause of offence is owing to the donkey boiler in use on vessels
being frequently too small to generate sufficient steam for the number of winches
at work engaged in unloading the cargo. The practice is then for the furnace
to be overstoked, and constantly being raked over, with the consequence that
dense volumes of black smoke issue from the funnel.
The Pumping Stations of the London and India Docks Company have been
reported on several occasions, but smoke-consuming apparatus has been
introduced in some instances with considerable success.
The chimneys of factories, &c., situated on land are great offenders, and
when boarding a tug, your Officers are frequently told to look at the chimneys
on shore, especially those belonging to H.M. Arsenal at Woolwich, and it is
true that many of these chimneys emit more black smoke in an hour than a
tug could do in six.
OFFENSIVE CARGO BARGES.
Strong action has also been taken by the Committee in the matter of barges,
used as dwellings, and used for the carriage of foul and offensive cargoes
within the limits of the Port. As might perhaps have been expected, such
action met with some show of resistance on the part of owners of these
vessels, especially those represented by the Kent and Essex Brickmasters' and
Flint Merchants' Association. Many of them were engaged under contracts
for the removal of refuse matter from the wharves of the various Borough
Councils, &c., and the Contractors took occasion to approach the Borough
Councils and raise the price of their contracts as the result of the action of
the Port of London Sanitary Committee. Subsequently some correspondence
took place between the Town Clerk and the Clerks of the Borough Councils
on the matter. Then the barge owners united and decided to fight a test case
in Court. This was done, and they, through their legal representatives, agreed
to carry out the requirements of the Port Sanitary Authority without reserve,
and paid the costs of the proceedings.
Subsequently, apparently desiring to qualify this action, a deputation of the
owners sought an interview with the Port Sanitary Committee, and were, of
course, told that the Committee has no option but to carry out their legal
obligations.
One hundred and twenty-three barges have been reported as defective, and
Notices have been served upon the owners of each requiring such cleansing
and structural alterations as will abate and prevent the recurrence of any
nuisance. Twenty-six of these Notices are known to have been complied
with during the year, and in four cases legal proceedings have been taken.