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The London County Council has since 1897 made various attempts
to secure further action on the part of the railway companies, and
amendments to the Cheap Trains Act. It would appear that the
County Council is the proper authority to undertake the administrative
duties relating to inter-communication, but whether that be so
or not, it behoves the Borough Councils of Central Districts to do
their utmost to secure cheap and rapid transit by train or electric
tram from their centres to the outskirts of London.° I am strongly
of opinion that with improved means of communication the evils of
overcrowding in Central London become capable of cure. Without
such improved means other proposals will be impracticable and
ineffectual, and therefore I think there is evidence to show that
improved locomotion is one of the primary steps to be taken
in order permanently to relieve congested districts.! Such action
would not remove all difficulties but it would be a step forward. As
Mr. Charles Booth says, "Many other wants would follow, many
problems would remain; the utilizing of existing open spaces for
public benefit, and the provision of others in the vicinity of growing
populations; the widening of thoroughfares and the opening up of
courts; the war with dirt and disease and premature death; the
closing of houses not fit to live in; the supervision of new buildings;
the clearing away of old slums and the checking of new ones—all
would be made more easy of accomplishment. Easier, too, would be
° For an interesting discussion of this question see a Paper by Mr. Charles
Booth, entitled "Improved Means of Locomotion as a cure for the Housing
Difficulties in London." MacMillan & Co., 1901.
† Some experienced authorities have advised that in seeking a solution of the
housing problem independent enterprise should be relied upon for the supply of
houses, and metropolitan, central and local authorities should carry out clearance
schemes, supervise building, and enforce sanitary law. Whilst there is evidence
to show that such a policy would not always be practicable, there is ample room
for such co-operation in relation to distribution of the population. If by improved
means of transit dwellers in Central London migrate to the outskirts, house
accomodation for them on the outskirts might be provided by private enterprise,
acting in response to the law of supply and demand. In this way municipal
action would facilitate transit, and private enterprise would supply houses, conforming
to the requirements of the various Acts. Such a co-operation does not
seem unreasonable, and by its means the burdens of the problem would be shared
without the serious financial responsibilities which would be incurred by a
Borough Council attempting to provide all requirements.