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FIFTY-SECOND REPORT.
Gentlemen,
The Gas Enquiry Committee met at the Board Room of
the St. Olave's District on Monday, 23rd April, and at once
proceeded to inspect the newly-erected gas testing apparatus.
Mr. Hughes, the Gas Engineer, tried the lighting power of the gas
by the photometer, and the bromine test, explaining as he went on,
the process to the members of the Committee present. The pressure
was also examined, but as it was found that the apparatus was
not in perfect working order, it would be hardly fair to give the
results of these experiments. Another meeting of the Committee
will be held on Monday, 6th May, to receive the accounts of the
expenditure.
Many complaints have lately been made of the stenches emanating
from the Surrey Consumers' Gas Works. I went over them with
the Engineer. The stenches arise from the emptying of the purifiers
and the slaking of the coke. The contents of the purifiers (sulphate
of iron and sawdust) after the gas has passed through them eight
or nine hours, become decomposed and saturated with sulphur
compounds, they are then turned out into the open air, which
renovates them by supplying them with oxygen, and renders them
again, after a time, fit for use. At the moment of emptying, a
foul effluvium is emitted, which may be carried by the winds to a
considerable distance. When the retorts are drawn, the glowingcoke
is brought out in barrows and thrown into a heap in the
middle of the yard, it is then slaked or quenched with water. As
soon as the liquid comes in contact with it, an intense vapour loaded
with sulphury gases bursts forth, this also may be wafted by the
easterly winds to the upper part of Rotherhithe, and is often
distinctly smelt in the Tunnel yard.
The patent manure maker, under the Brighton Railway Arches,
has stopped his operations. That the new apparatus which is being
erected will put a stop to the nuisance, is a question which time and
experience alone can decide.
At the houses mentioned in the Agenda Paper, the drainage is
imperfect. At Nos. 6, 7, 8, Swan Lane, from the choking up of
the drains, the yards were quite under water. The soil also from
the privies regurgitated and caused a fearful nuisance. Notices
were served.