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their contract with me, and these 11 cottages (population 81) were
closed and demolished during 1903. The operations were completed
and the ground inside the square cleared by July 21st, 1903.
It was at that time intended to leave the "shell" of the square
(consisting of 35 houses), until the owners' convenience. But in
1904 and 1905 it became apparent that a marked deterioration was
taking place in the condition of the property, and this was having
a highly injurious effect upon the persons living there. For the
years 1902, 1903 and 1904, the death rate worked out at 48'3 per
1,000, as compared with 21 in the Borough of Finsbury, and 16 for
London as a whole. In view of these facts I communicated with
the owners in May, 1905, and re-opened negotiations with them. As
a result the whole of the property was closed and demolished before
the end of the year, with the exception of two public-houses which
were in better sanitary condition than the adjoining houses. In
the 33 houses demolished there lived 114 persons over 10 years of
age, and 49 children ; total 163. About 25 of these displaced
persons removed to other districts, but the remainder moved into
houses in the immediate vicinity. The men were nearly all casual
labourers.
In passing, it may be remarked that the owners of other property
in the Borough which was becoming insanitary, have during the
year carried out considerable repairs and improvements. Bastwick
Street has again changed hands, and the new owner, since obtaining
possession, has carried out various cleansing and painting works,
and in nine cases has added an annexe at the back of the house
with new sanitary convenience accommodation. Further, a cottage
range, a dresser, and a sink, have been fixed in the back room on
each floor. Mason's Place, containing 19 small cottages, has been
thoroughly overhauled by the owners, who have similarly treated
much of their other property as the leases have fallen in.
Dwelling=houses closed in 1905.—In addition to the
closures on the insanitary areas or on account of insanitation, there
have been a number of dwelling-houses closed by their owners, or
by the County Council, for reconstruction on the sites of premises
for commercial or industrial purposes, or for street improvement