HH62/2/LANARK/25

Transcription

[Page] 24

unjustifiable pollution of rivers is going on. The first
stream to which my attention was directed - the River
Almond - is one which flows for a very short distance
through an outlying part of the Middle Ward, and then
enters the County of Linlithgow. It rises in the Parish of
Shotts, and its course through the county is not more than
3 miles. The stream, almost at its source, is polluted with
the refuse from coal-washing, the so-called precipitating
tanks being totally inadequate for purification purposes.
A little lower down the stream receives the water pumped
from ironstone mines - water which is charged with a large
proportion of iron, and imparts to the river, for, I believe,
the whole of its course, an ochrey colour. From one of
these mines 528,000 gallons of water, with iron in solution
and suspension, are discharged daily. In addition to this
mine water, soakage into the stream from a number of
refuse heaps along its banks is continually taking place,
the water from which is heavily charged with iron.
The sewage from the miners' houses at Benhar ultimately
finds its way into the river; while into the How Burn, which
joins the Almond outside the Middle Ward District, there
flows the sewage of Harthill.
In a special report, with map, which I submitted to the
District Committee, the question of remedies is discussed,
and details given of the various sources of pollution.
The pollution of the River Almond, however, so far as
Lanarkshire is concerned, is insignificant when compared
with that of the Clyde. The first of the important tributaries
showing signs of contamination is the Nethan, which carries
down into the main stream a large amount of discoloration,
due almost entirely to coal-washing. Then follows the
Avon, charged with the sewage of Strathaven, Stonehouse,
&c., in addition to coal-washing refuse, followed by the
South Calder Water, to which an additional pollution has
been added by the sulphate of ammonia works at Shotts,
in the shape of spent ammoniacal liquors and tarry matters.
The North Calder joins the river about a mile further on,

[Page] 25

and brings with it the contributions to pollution from print
works, paper mills, ammonia works, collieries, and human
habitations; and it is here I am inclined to think the
maximum of contamination is reached, the Calder, as it
joins the Clyde, being altogether unlovely and unsavoury.
Still lower down the main stream receives the third of the
Calders, known by the name of the Rotten Calder - a desig-
nation which might perhaps be more appropriately applied
to the one just mentioned. From here until it reaches Glas-
gow the river receives numerous minor polluting tributaries.
A detailed account of the pollutions of the Clyde is in
course of preparation at the request of the District Com-
mittee of the Middle Ward, and in it will be discussed the
various remedies which have been suggested.
I have thought it advisable, however, to give in this
annual report a general idea of the present condition of
the great stream which flows through the whole length
of Lanarkshire, and without which a description of the
hygienic condition of the county would be incomplete.

Nuisances. - These have been considered more fully
under the proper headings in the reports for each ward. I
only wish to draw attention to one unsatisfactory feature
connected with the law as it appears to stand at present.
Of the various prosecutions that have been undertaken in
the Lower Ward, one of the most important was that in
connection with the Stanley Chemical Works.
These were, and are, simply most offensive storerooms
for blood, yet, although the sanitary officials were pre-
pared to bring forward indisputable evidence as to their
offensiveness, the case was delayed until a report from a
third party was sent in. Of course the premises were
carefully prepared for the visit of the gentleman to whom
the matter had been referred. He reported that the
premises were a nuisance, but added that he was unable to
find evidence of injury to health. On this ground the
Sheriff dismissed the case, but I venture to assert that a