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datum; that of Hackney Wick varies from 16 feet above datum at Windsor
and Prince Edward's Roads, to 20 feet above datum at Gainsborough Road,
the former roads being thus about the lowest parts of the Wick district.
Dwellings.—The houses in which the cases of Typhoid Fever occurred,
concerning which I have been instructed to report, belong to two parallel
terraces of cottages; those of Windsor Road facing east, and those of Prince
Edward's Road facing west. The backs of these terraces are separated by a
space of about 50 feet, the back additions about 25 feet. The dwellings
themselves are all built on the same plan. They are four-roomed cottages—
two rooms on the ground floor and two on the first floor—with a back
addition, scullery and w.c., the last opening into the yard. The yards are
partly paved, and each is provided with a stone-ware gully for surface
drainage. Each w.c. is also supplied with a two-gallon flushing cistern,
disconnected from the house water supply.
Drainage.—On reference to the drainage plan for these streets, it will
be seen that these houses are drained on the "combined system" in blocks.
For instance, the drainage from Nos. 2 to 14 pass into a 9-inch drain laid
through the back yards, with a fall towards the southern end of the road.
Nos. 16 to 22 are drained in a similar manner, the outlet passing beneath
No. 18 joining the sewer, at the front of the houses. Nos. 56 to 82 are
combined similarly, the fall being southwards to the sewer in Victoria Road.
The fall in this case is about 1 in 120. Nos. 1 to 16. Windsor Road, are
drained on the same plan, the fall being about 1 in 113 towards Victoria
Road, where the drain joins the Council's sewer direct.
Closed Houses in Windsok Road.—With respect to the closed houses
in Windsor Road referred to in the above letter, they are situated at the
southern end of Windsor Road, and are numbered 2—9. The circumstances
which led up to their closure are these:—In the first place it may be stated,
that there was nothing in the build or surroundings of these houses
different from the remaining houses in Windsor Road, except that being
at the southern end of the road they were at a slightly lower level; and at
times of heavy flood, should there be any impediment to the rainfall being
carried away rapidly, were no doubt liable to flooding. In the latter part of
the summer of 1892, an unusual fall of rain resulted in a surcharging of the
London County Council's sewer in Windsor Road, the sewage bursting from
the open gratings in the roadway and the street gullies, and completely
flooding the ground floors of the above named houses. Immediately my
attention was called to this condition of things—being caused by the
overflow of the Council's sewer—I applied to the London County Council's
Engineer to assist in having the sewage removed from these houses, and
restoring things to their former state; but I was informed that no liability
rested with the Council. Notices were then served on the owners to do the
needful work; but as this was much delayed, I applied, under the instruction
of the Sanitary Committee, to a Magistrate for Closing Orders under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891—the places being unfit for habitation.
The orders were granted, and since that time the houses have been
unoccupied. This flood apparently did not affect the houses in Prince
Edward's Road, but on enquiry, I learn from the tenants, that some years
back the ground floors and yards were flooded after heavy rain, the exact date
varying with the memory of the individual—some of the tenants putting, the
date of the flood four years, others two and a half years back.
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