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138
character, many re-inspections had to be made, which took up much time, resulting,
however, 'in the owners of the property having their work generally well done.
A few of the more important cases are again mentioned in detail to shew the
character of the work done during the year.
WATER CLOSET TROUGHS v. SEPARATE PANS AND TRAPS.
Very filthy trough accommodation for school children and for employees, male
and female, has been abolished in the following Board Schools and also in the
following Factories, and proper closets, fitted with proper pans, traps and syphonic
action cisterns have been provided instead.
" BOARD SCHOOLS."
It will be in the recollection of the Vestry that in the report for the year 1895
I presented an extract from the Agenda of the School Board for July 10th, 1895,
containing favourable reports from the Masters of the Scrutton Street and Wenlock
Road Schools in this parish, on the substitution of pans and traps for troughs ; and
also similar reports from the Masters of the Schools in Fetter Lane, Sloane Square,
Caledonian Road, and Canning Town, in which schools the Board had also abolished
the trough system, and introduced the improved water closet arrangements, as
inaugurated in Shoreditch, and set forth in the above-mentioned report for the year
1895: and now in addition to the two schools mentioned above, I have to report that
the Board has given further effect to the objections urged upon them against troughs
by removing those receptacles entirely from the Schools in Chatham Gardens, Canal
Road, and Hammond Square, and in the greater part from the Schools in Napier
Street and St. John's Road, and substituting pans and traps.
The Board having resolved that all new Schools shall be fitted like the improved
Shoreditch ones, I may add that the new School recently opened in Grange Street
has been fitted in a proper manner.
Whilst admitting the progress that has been made, and the good work that has
been done by the Board in this direction, it is necessary to say that the Schools in
Catherine Street, Curtain Road, Maidstone Street, Shap Street and Haggerston Road
are fitted throughout with troughs, and that the Schools in Napier Street and St. John's
Road are partly fitted in the same manner, and that I frequently observe large accumulations
of excrementitious matters in these troughs,accompanied with a most disgusting
stench. Having regard to these facts, and to the circumstance that the foul vapours
referred to must be inhaled by children having occasion to use these troughs, it may well
be that, under certain conditions,' they constitute a positive danger to health—
indeed, medical evidence, on behalf of the Vestry, to that effect, was adduced on the
appeal made by the School Board to the London County Council (February, 1892),
against the Vestry's order in reference to Shap Street School.
In conclusion, 1 venture to express the hope that before another Annual Report
becomes due, the Board will have caused the whole of the objectionable trough receptacles
to be removed from their Schools in this Parish.