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Messrs. Cook's tallow-melting factory having been destroyed by fire,
it was considered a good opportunity to disestablish an oldstanding
nuisance. There is, however, no law to prevent the reconstruction of
such premises upon the old foundations, but Messrs. Cook undertook to
adopt the latest improvements in the new works so as to minimise the
offensive odours as much as possible.
In the new works all the floors are constructed of concrete and
laid with Victoria stone instead of timber; they are, therefore, nonabsorbent,
and can readily be cleansed.
The melting operations are now conducted in a close chamber; and
not only is the steam from the coppers passed through the furnace and
destroyed, but the air from the close chamber is withdrawn by means
of a fan, and treated in the same manner.
In the old works, the greatest nuisance arose whilst the fat was being
ladled out of the coppers, as the lids had to be thrown open for that
purpose ; this is now unnecessary, as the melted fat is pumped up and
run into coolers.
Mr. Link's cat-gut factory has been several times inspected, and
found to be in a fairly satisfactory condition.
Upon my recommendation the metal inlet valves to the close chamber
have been replaced by Boyle's mica valves, these do not get out of
order as they cannot corrode, and whilst allowing free ingress for
fresh air, they preclude the escape of noxious fumes.
Some new regulations for the conduct of this business have been
issued; they will be found over leaf.
METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
The Slaughterhouses, &c. (Metropolis), Act, 1874,
37 & 38 Vic., c. 67.
Bye-Laws for regulating the conduct of the business of a Gut
Scraper, that is to say, any business in which gut is
cleansed, scraped, or dealt with, otherwise than for the
manufacture of cat-gut; and the structure of the premises
on which such business is being carried on ; and the mode
in which application is to be made for sanction to establish
such business anew, within the limits of the
Metropolis (except the City of London and the liberties
thereof).
In pursuance of the Slaughterhouses, &c. (Metropolis^, Act,
1874, by which the Metropolitan Board of Works are constituted
the Local Authority for the Metropolis (except the City of