Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevWIVES OF PUBLIC MEN
We public men have to thank for our success the wives who love us and make our homes quiet havens of rest, into which we can shelter from the storms and stress which business and public life bring in their train. We recognise the sacrifice they make, and although the weaker vessel, they help the sterner bark, and by their devotion and courage make it possible for us, to devote the necessary time to our work. Such wives, with their timely attention and influence and unwearied care ever at our disposal, with a smile that never fades and whose hearts never grow cold, convince us thatLife has more sweets than bitters,
More honey than acid. More friends than foes.
THE COKE SCANDAL
Nothing seemed to deter one member of the Council. When the usual abuse failed, accusations of a most serious character were launched at Mr. Councillor Robert Jenkins, grandfather of the present member for the North Ward, who was at the time chairman of the Gas Committee. This member said the chairman was using his position to benefit his firm financially. Included in this accusation were my father and I, one of us (I forget which) being a member of the Gas Committee. The public were told the price of gas coke was purposely kept below its market value to enable the firms of Robert Jenkins and Co. and W. H. Gummer and Co. to obtain cheaper coke than they could get elsewhere. Although the accusation was a wicked invention, incriminating if true the responsible officials of the department, no explanations apparently would satisfy the accuser. Mr. Jenkins therefore demanded a special committee to enquire into the matter. A scandal always is, and I suppose always will be interesting to some people, and this was no exception. After sifting the matter fully, the committee in their findings completely exonerated the accused parties, as those who knew them fully expected would be the case. The only result of these unwarranted accusations was the loss of two of the largest customers for coke the Gas Department had, both firms refusing to have further trade with them.
CRINOLINE BRIDGE
Partly arising out of the coke scandal, a contest took place in the South Ward, when Mr. W.H Sheldon, an official of the Conservative Party, sought municipal honours. In 1866, the old Crinoline Bridge - a structure consisting of a baulk of timber about a foot wide with high sloping sides— was partly destroyed by the floods. By arrangement with the Lord of the Manor, the Earl of Effingham, it was decided to erect a new bridge capable of dealing with vehicular traffic, the town and the Earl sharing the cost, Mr. Sheldon represented a class who saw wrong in everything the Corporation did, and he accused them of building the bridge for the convenience of Gummers’ Works, and to enable this firm to get their coke carted from the gasworks at less cost.Although it was pointed out to him that the firm had ceased to purchase coke from that source, he persisted in repeating the slander. An extension of gas mains for the Masbro’ area had for some time been necessary. Hitherto, the manager (Mr. Goodwin) had been unable to give a proper supply to this district, as the state of the Jail Bridge would not permit of two twelve-inch mains being carried across. The new bridge gave the manager his chance, enabling him to marry his mains into Masbro’ via this route. At a large meeting held in the Drill Hall, in a speech chiefly consisting of abuse of my father and I, Mr. Sheldon said if two twelve-inch mains could not be taken across the Jail Bridge, then twelve two inch pipes should be, and thus get over the difficulty without going to the expense of a new bridge for Gummer’s convenience. To those readers with a knowledge of engineering the absurdity of this proposition will be obvious, and they will wonder why it was received with thunderous applause. The abuse from such a quarter I could afford to ignore.
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