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16.
trade arc required to prove whether such be actually necessary. It is satisfactory
to observe that a large number of the masters are favourable to its abolition,
and the journeymen would be only too glad to realize it.
In the Bakehouse Regulation Act a great deficiency exists in laying down no
order for future guidance in the construction of bakehouses. To illustrate the
consequence of this, which will inevitably arise, it will be necessary merely to
give one instance within the Fulham District. In the case of a bakehouse in
Prospcet Place, Starch Green, the house and shop which have been very recently
constructed, stand upon a plot of ground of sufficient depth only to allow of
their erection. There is no back outlet, and only a space of about three feet
behind on which are placed the privy and dustbin. The bakehouse is underneath
the shop, the only approach to which is a trap door in the shop floor.
Its height in only about eight feet, with merely a small window 4 ft. 6 in. by 1 ft.
4 in. for ventilation. So great indeed has been the carelessness in the
construction of these premises, and the utter disregard for the ordinary requirements
of a family, that this house is literally without a kitchen. Now such a
place is absolutely unlit for the purposes of a bakehouse. With one of such
construction, immediately underneath the house, the gases and impure air from
it find vent at once into the dwelling part. An amended Act should not permit
such Flagrant inattention to what is proper.
The schedule attached hereto shews the individual character of the bakehouses
of the District, to the details of which I beg to refer the Sanitary Committee. It
will be satisfactory to the Board to be informed, that, as a rule, the master bakers
of the Fulham District have received my inspections with good nature, though
in a few instances where defective arrangements existed, some desire to evade
the operation of the Act was evidenced. I have little doubt, however, that by a
temperate exercise of the powers vested in your officers, such a general improvement
will be accomplished in the management of the bakehouses, as shall prove
satisfactory both to the trade and to you as the local authorities.
Notwithstanding alt that has been said and written on the value and
cleanliness of machinery for the making of bread, it is remarkable that in the
Fulham District we have scarcely an instance in which it is rendered available for
this purpose. With the exception of at Messrs. Morison, Butlin, and Stephens
no machines arc found, and in the cases of the two latter they merely exist in
name. The old hand and arm process, with all its palpable nastiness, is
persevered in despite the arguments of the public press, and of those who have
paid the most careful attention to this subject. It has been urged that bread
manufactured by machinery is not so inviting to the eye as that made by the
hand, that it loses in sweetness to lie palate, is of closer texture, and loses its
moisture quickly; but all this even if admitted, is a mere matter of imperfection,
easily to be overcome in this age, when machine work in other departments of
trade is brought to assimilate so closely with handwork, and does not materially
militate against the advantages of clean and wholesome bread.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
FREDERICK J. BURGE,
June, 1864. Medical Officer of Health.
G. WILSON, PRINTER, HIGH STREET, FULHAM, S. W.