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rate than a set of three small rooms, which, regarded from the point
of decency are more convenient. A screen or curtain is often
considered a sufficient concess:on to decency in a large room occupied
by adult brothers and sisters, or when sharing the rooms with their
parents. The importance of including a bye-law providing for the
separation of the sexes in all sets of bye-laws for tenement houses
cannot be too strongly insisted on.
Occupations.—With regard to occupations, it was soon ascertained
that the information to be obtained was both unsatisfactory and unreliable;
in many instances it was absolutely refused, and as the
inquiry was made in the daytime when only for the most part, women
were at home, the inspectors had to be contented with general answers.
The list obtained was found to comprise all sorts and conditions of
occupations, from authors, dentists, and Scripture readers, to tramway
servants, labourers and handy men. Many of the women professed—
perhaps with good cause—to be ignorant of their husbands' occupations.
In the neighbourhood of Fleet Road and Palmerston Road, the
occupants generally had relation to the tramway and omnibus industries.
In other quarters, clerks and skilled mechanics chiefly
resided. One street contained a great many theatrical employees and
itinerant musicians, whilst labourers attached to the building interests
were found in all quarters, but more thickly perhaps on the Kilburn
side. The information obtained as to whether the people were
employed in the Borough or outside its border, caused so much
irritation and was so little to be relied on that the inquiry had to be
abandoned.
Sanitary Conditions.—Waterclosets were found to be out of order
or dirty in 271 instances; 178 cisterns required cleansing; 90 roofs
were found to be leaky; 64 yards required to have pavings repaired
or renewed; and 119 dust receptacles required attention. The
great complaint was of dirty rooms: 847 of them were reported to need
cleansings. Some of these houses were already under notice, and in
many instances landlords and occupiers made haste to put their
premises into repair, and carry out the works required.