London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Giles (Camden) 1897
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Giles District]
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52
The carriage-ways of the main thoroughfares were
washed frequently during the year by means of water
distributed by watering carts. The cost of this washing is
included in the two items for street cleansing and street
watering, given hereafter.
The main thorough fares in the District were watered
twice on Sundays during the summer months, between the
hours of 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the market streets between
12 and 2.30, when the condition of the weather rendered
it desirable. In the latter watering, disinfectants were
added to the water in the carts.
Cost of Street Cleansing.
The total cost of street cleansing for the year, including the Sunday work, was as follows:—
| Wages of men | £3,638 | ||
| Brooms, scrapers, shovels, etc., and clothing for men | 481 | 17 | |
| Cartage of slop and street sweepings and hire of horses for street sweeping machines, removal of manure, etc. | 3,525 | 8 | 0 |
| Removal of snow, additional labour, cartage, etc. | 19 | 3 | 5 |
| Water for flushing surfaces of courts, etc. | 157 | 7 | 6 |
| £7,821 | 19 | 8 |
Street Watering.
The watering of the public-ways was performed by
contract, the contractor supplying all carts, horses, and
drivers required, at a fixed price for the whole work for