Peat Engineering and Sewage Filtration Co
of Horwich Junction
1872 'THE SEWAGE OF PARIS. The Municipality of Paris has granted a concession for the treatment of the sewage of Paris, for fifteen years to come, to the Peat Engineering and Sewage Filtration Company of London, which was successful in a sharp competition with three English and four French companies.'[1]
1872 'THE SEWAGE OF PARIS. The question of the day as to the treatment of the sewage of Paris was settled on Saturday week, after a sharp contest, by its concession for 15 years to the Peat Engineering and Sewage Filtration Company of London. For a long time the sewage has been dealt with by the Lessage Company in the most primitive manner — namely, by spreading the solid matter upon the ground to dry, causing fearful annoyance for miles around, and provoking a general outcry against the barbarous practice. As for the liquid matter, it was only imperfectly filtered, and then run into the Seine, poisoning it for drinking, killing the fish, and silting up its bed to the obstruction of navigation. In consequence of protests from various Communes a decree was issued by the Prefect of the Seine in February to the effect that the treatment of the sewage should be assigned to some company capable of dealing with the nuisance, and at the same time a special Commission was appointed, in whose presence competitors were required to give practical demonstration of their qualifications. The conditions prescribed were that the sewage should be disposed of daily so as to emit no bad smell in the vicinity of the works, and that the refuse water should run into the Seine clear and free from organic matter. Ten competitors were struck off the list as not complying with the requisite conditions, and the election was limited to eight, with the result, as stated, of the triumph of the Peat Engineering and Sewage Filtration Company. The municipality intend to order all private manure factories emitting noxious odours to be closed. Hence we may hope that Paris will be freed from the abominable stenches which visitors and residents have had so frequently to complain of.'[2]
1874 'WATER SUPPLY AND SANITARY MATTERS. THE BRADFORD SEWAGE DEFOECATION WORKS. — The Bradford Corporation has spent a large sum of money in works for carrying on the system of the Peat Engineering and Irrigation Company, and although the long array of tanks by which the sewage waters of the borough are to be cleansed are not all in active operation, yet enough can be seen in those that are at work to justify the conclusion that sewage can be purified and rendered innocuous and pure. It appears to be simply a question of expense. The water enters the tanks at one side foul as it flows from the main sewer, and after passing by gentle gravitation through a series of tanks filled with peat, brickbats, &c., it runs over the side of the last tank into the outfall sewer clear and bright, and without any perceptible smell. As soon as the tanks are all in good order there seems no reason why the process of defoecation should not be prosecuted to the full capacity of the works; but they will certainly not be able, according to the Leeds Mercury, at their present size, to purify all the sewage of Bradford. Adjacent to these works the beck course is being inclosed and straightened for a length of 1,100 yards, and the work, which has been executed by Messrs. Metcalfe, of Bradford, will be completed within two month's time.'[3]
1874 Sale notice: '.... Peat Engineering and Sewage Filtration Company's Works, Horwich Junction, Lancashire, the Valuable surplus PLANT, including [lathes, drilling machine, eccentric punching and shearing machine, shaping machine....] 30-horse power vertical table engine, with columns, entablature, 13ft. fly wheel, governors, &c., a highly-finished small double-cylinder engine, with oscillating cyinders 3 1/2 in. bore, link reversing gear, &c., suitable for small boat...... peat-pressing machines, five wood barges or flats, and other numerous effects. The tools are by Manchester firms, and are all nearly new. ....'[4]