HH62/1/M-LOTH/27

Transcription

[Page] 26

were efficient measures to be employed in purifying
the pumped water from these ironstone wokings, all
profits would at once disappear. If this be so, the
process proposed cannot be said to be a practicable
one as far as the owners of these pits are concerned.
But considering the works are so very few - some
three pits altogether now being carried on - is it not
worth the while of the riparian proprietors below
these pumpings to aid the ironstone masters in
getting rid of a pollution which poisons the stream
from its fountain-head to its exit at the sea, and
spoils the amenity of the whole district through
which it flows?"

The Joint-Committee of the Counties interested
are now taking opinion of Counsel to ascertain
fully their powers before proceeding further with
the matter.

Special
Complaints.

A complaint of an important nature has been
made by the villagers of Loanstone. The Cor-
porations of Edinburgh and Leith have sent out
a very large quantity of spent gas lime to a park
near Loanstone. The heap is placed about 150
yards distant from the village well, which supplies
the inhabitants with water, and has fouled it.
In consequence of the recent snowstorm, a
deputation from the City was unable to meet a
deputation from the County at the place, to dis-
cuss what is to be done. It is quite evident the
villagers have just cause of cpmplaint. They
have, meantime, to use water from a pump well
sunk by a dairyman at his byre door, and very
iable to be polluted. Even this supply will cease

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in summer, and a permanent one will therefore
have to be sought for. The inhabitants would
seem to have a fair claim on the Corporations
for such good supply, as it is practically impos-
sible to purify the well. The case is to receive
immediate attention. There have been other
complaints as to the deposit of Town Refuse,
but no legal proceedings have yet been taken
regarding them.

Dairies:
Necessity of
Bye-Laws
being made
stringent.

I have visited a number of the Dairies along
with Mr. Lindsay, the Inspector, and from my
examination of these, I saw what I believe to be a
fair sample of them all. I consider it absolutely
necessary to frame Bye-Laws of a stringent order.
Mr. Lindsay and I have carefully thought out
the matter, and submitted Draft Bye-Laws to
one of the Local Authorities. A large and
judicious body like our District Committees may
safely be entrusted with the administration of the
most stringent Bye-Laws, for they can put them, or
not put them, in force in any special instance, at
their pleasure; and seeing how very difficult it is
to put an end to most unsuitable premises, it is
well that the necessary machinery should be as
comprehensive as will enable any obnoxious place
to be dealt with without the slightest difficulty.
We know how readily infected milk spreads
disease, and we know too, from statistical infor-
mation, that tuberculous cows (the milk from
which can produce tuberculosis in man) are to
be found in greater numbers in badly-ventilated