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142
hardly imagine any more trying. In the ninth report (September
16th, page 99), I cited one complaint, couched in terms of
exceeding moderation, which may serve as an illustration of
the suffering and damage resulting from these periodical inundations
of basements with more or less diluted sewage.
The writer, a lady living at Cornwall-road, wrote as follows:—
"I have had the water in (flooding the basement floor) five times during
the present summer. I have been buying the house by instalments;
it lessens the value of the property, whether I let or sell it. I feel I
cannot go on living here in this state of discomfort; and who would
buy such a place ? I had rheumatic fever through it once : my doctor
then said it was uot fit to live in ; good paying lodgers left me through
that, so I have lost in all ways. I find the Vestry have been most
particular I should obey their orders as to the sanitary condition of the
house, and the drains have been done according to their plans. I therefore
consider it very hard that owing, as far as I can see, to some
defect in the sewerage, I should be subjected to a continual stench
arising from the impure water which enters my house at every storm—
to say nothing of the damage to my carpets and furniture, and other
discomforts and troubles arising therefrom. You will greatly oblige me
by giving this matter your earliest attention and consideration, as under
present conditions, I am very much afraid of some illness arising."
The complaint of this unfortunate person was forwarded
to the County Council, with an urgent remonstrance
against the continued neglect to carry out their statutory duty.
This matter had previously formed the subject of a report
by the law and parliamentary committee, in February,
wherein it was stated that" the evils resulting from these
floodings have been brought to the notice of the Council,
from time to time, ever since the Council has existed ; and
that "the decision of the Council to erect the pumping station"
(at Lot's-road, Chelsea)" was come to in December, 1895."
At the latter part of 1898, a letter had been received from the
Board of Works for the Lee District, with reference to the
defective sewerage in a part of their district, intimating that as
the Council had made no answer to a memorial addressed