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225
HYGIENIC CARRIAGE-WAYS AND PAVEMENTS.
In a report of the Works and Sanitary Committee, dated
21st March, 1893, on an "Inspection of certain portions of the
Notting-dale District," it was stated that "some of the streets
have been asphalte-paved with manifest advantage in respect
of cleanliness, and your Committee would gladly see this
system of paving extended in the 'Potteries,' and in other
poor districts." It is to be regretted that nothing has been
done to give practical effect to the views of the Committee.
Possibly the Committee may have been deterred from following
up the matter by definite recommendations, on account of the
considerable first outlay involved in laying down asphalte
carriage-ways. But first cost is not the only point to be considered.
Asphalte is a highly durable paving even where
traffic is at a maximum. Where traffic is small and light, it
is impossible at present to fix a limit to its durability. The
expense of cleansing such roads, moreover, must be considerably
less than in the case of macadam roads, which, on hygienic
grounds, asphalte might often replace with advantage. This
material, moreover, is pre-eminently adapted for the paving of
courts and alleys (of which fortunately there are few in this
parish) and for the paving of yards also. Its use would, as
regards these last, completely satisfy all the requirements of
the bye-laws, made under the provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891. Your Vestry have power under the
provisions of the Metropolis Management Act, to require such
places as private mews to be properly paved, for which
purpose asphalte might be used with advantage, and without
danger, as far as horses are concerned, if kept properly
cleansed. I am aware, of course, that there is no power to
compel the use of asphalte in such cases, but good advice
might, in some instances, at least, be followed ; and, at any
rate, your Vestry could set a good example, and demonstrate
the efficiency of the material, by asphalte-paving some of the
narrower streets, a list of which, I suggest, might be brought
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