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95
and hot plate. Each tenement should, if possible, have a separate
w.c., as otherwise there is no responsibility for keeping it clean.
All the plumbing must be the best possible, but no lead must be used,
and everything must be strong and unbreakable. The buildings
should be of plain but good brick: There is no necessity for plaster
on the inner walls, with good brickwork a bright colour wash is all
that is required.
"The floors should be of concrete, with grooved and tongued floor
boards or pitched joints and absolutely impervious, as the tenant can
hold his landlord responsible for any damage he may sustain from a
careless tenant overhead. There should be as little woodwork as
possible, and the doors should be thick "ledged" doors not easily
broken. The windows should have very small panes of glass so that
repairs may be very cheap, but they must be large and easily opened
for light and air.
"All stairs, window heads, door sills, and any "dressings" should
be of concrete.
"These are a few suggestions of many that could be made for
cheapening construction, and I believe that it is in this direction and
in this direction alone that the problem can be solved. It is no
doubt perfectly right to have an "ideal" as to how these people
ought to live, but it will take many years of education to bring them
up to a high standard.
"At present they do not like large rooms, they are difficult and
expensive to keep warm. They will not live in a number of rooms,
they prefer to herd together. They cannot pay the rents demanded
for " Model Dwellings," and consequently do not live in them.
"I am afraid that a great many people approach this problem from
their own standpoint, and not from the standpoint of those whom
they are anxious to serve."
In Liverpool, Glasgow, and other centres, something has been
done in the direction of building or accommodating existing houses to
let at a very low rent. Such houses generally require considerable