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136
defects and insanitation, believed that they could remedy the
condition of things by extensive repairs. Works were therefore
carried out extending over several months, and a number of the
sanitary defects have been rectified. This attempt was not made
by my advice, but on the whole it would appear that the eight houses
have been made fairly habitable. There can be no doubt at all that
the property has been greatly improved. Wherever possible
effort should be made to improve residential property rather than
close it, and I view with satisfaction any such remedial works as
these if they are adequate and result in making houses habitable
within the meaning of the law.
The alterations were completed in April, 1903.
Area C was Providence Place, a blind court on the east side of
Baker's Row, Farringdon Road. It consisted of ten houses, five
on each side. There were 52 persons resident in Providence Place.
The structural conditions of the houses in this Place were of such
a nature as to make palliative alterations of no avail. The only
improvement that could be made was closure and demolition, which
was carried to completion in 1903. Fifty-two persons were
displaced, of whom twenty-nine found accommodation in the
vicinity.
Area D is Easton Place, which opens to the south-west end of
Easton Street. The entrance is under two arches, passing under
Nos. 2 and 3, Easton Place. The court in front of the houses is
about 90-100 feet long and 7 feet wide. The small yard at the
back of each house is about 3 feet by 11. In these back yards
stand the sanitary conveniences, but the dustbins stand in the front
court. There are nine houses, consisting in the main of a ground
floor of one room, and a first and second floor, each of one room.
The cubic capacity of the rooms is from 700-800 cubic feet. The
back ventilation was very limited, consisting only of a small window
or skylight on each staircase. The floors were unventilated, and
the houses were worn out and damp. In some instances the
drainage of the houses was also defective. The number of people
resident in the court was about 70.