View report page

25
It was manifest therefore that at the time of my inspection and
inquiries on the 19th inst., one of the grounds of complaint as to the
quality of the gas was still in existence, for the gas was largely contaminated
with Ammonia; and with respect to the other ground of
complaint, namely, the presence of Sulphurretted Hydrogen in the gas,
I was informed, and believe that this impurity existed in the gas on the
days mentioned by the Gas Examiner, and also at the time referred to in
the memorial.
I have the honor further to report, that after having made a
careful inspection of the works, I am of opinion that the following are
the principal circumstances which have occasioned the presence of these
impurities in the gas :
1st.—That in consequence of a very large increase in the consumption
of gas in the district supplied by the Independent Gas Light
and Coke Company, during the present winter, as compared with that
of preceding winters, the manufacture of gas has been extended beyond
the present capabilities of the works.
2nd.—That although the Company have anticipated this large
increase of consumption, and have entered into a contract for the
erection of two additional purifiers, yet these purifiers are only now in
process of construction.
3rd.—That the existing purifiers are not equal to the work which
they are forced to perform; for not only are they too small for the
perfect purification of the large quantity of gas which is forced through
them, but they are also out of repair from continual working over a
long period of time.
4th.—That in addition to the difficulty of properly purifying the
gas by reason of the general incapacity of the present purifiers, another
difficulty has been caused by an accident to one of the banks in which
the spent or refuse lime from the wet lime purifiers is stored, and this
has interfered with the regular use of the wet lime purifiers.