Monday, June 7, 2004

100 years ago: There was good news for the residents of Monkgate, Layerthorpe and Foss Islands district, as the Inspector of Nuisances at last complained of the smoke and hail of grit which comes from the Destructor chimney on Foss Islands Road. The Committee gave instructions to the Electrical Engineer to have the nuisance abated, although he may have trouble doing anything about its offensive behaviour. To burn the rubbish a tremendous draught was required, and forced draught carries smoke, and weightier substances, up the flue. The chimney should have been built with smoke burners, and so fitted that the draughts striking cross-ways prevent the half burned and cinders from rising. The Corporation would therefore have to make improvements before holding the Engineer responsible in his day-to-day running of the plant.

50 years ago: Five months ago water began to seep into the neat vegetable garden behind a house in Acomb, and though visits have been made by officials and councillors to see what could be done, the garden still remains underwater. The occupants had lived there for 16 years, and it was the first time their garden had been flooded or waterlogged. In February the garden, which stands in a "dip" in the road, was under three feet of water. Then it began to dry up, leaving a rich green slime on the land, but last week's thunderstorms did not help matters, and now the garden was covered, in some parts by a foot of water. Raspberry, blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes had died, the privet hedge would soon be gone and vegetables wouldn't grow in the garden, only one of two affected. The water was stagnant, in hot weather the smell was terrible, and the place "swarmed with flies." Corporation officials and councillors had visited the land, and they had tried a colour water test on the main sewer which showed there was no infiltration from that source, leaving them all somewhat puzzled as to where it had come from and why.

25 years ago: York City Council announced that York may have a Lord Mayor from the Liberal party in the near future, the third party having to be taken into account following its gains in the elections. The Chief Executive was looking into alternative schemes for nominating Lord Mayors, and it was hoped that all three parties could agree on one before long.

Updated: 12:41 Saturday, June 05, 2004