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Separate Sanitary Conveniences for Persons of each Sex.— Section 38 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, enacts that where persons of both sexes are employed at a factory, workshop, or
workplace, separate sanitary conveniences for persons of each sex shall be provided; but no standard
of requirement has been made as regards London. The Home Secretary, however, has issued an
Order prescribing the amount of accommodation to be provided in extra-Metropolitan factories and
workshops. This subject was dealt with by the delegates of the Metropolitan Borough Councils at
the Conference in July last, a resolution having been passed recommending certain standards which
it was thought desirable that the sanitary authorities should adopt in enforcing the provisions of the
Section. The more satisfactory course would be to obtain an Order from the Home Secretary
applicable to the Metropolis.
THE PAVING OF YARDS.
The paving of yards is one of the matters dealt with in the Council's by-laws, the tenth
by-law requiring—in respect of "any yard or open space, where it is necessary for the prevention
or remedy of insanitary conditions, that all or part of such yard or open space shall be paved,"
that it be paved forthwith, by the owner of the dwelling-house with which such yard or open
space is connected. It will be observed that the paving of yards is prescribed " for the prevention
or remedy of insanitary conditions," a fact which is too often lost sight of. That paving is
"necessary" for this purpose is indubitable, and the subject is deserving of the attention of
sanitary authorities; by whom, probably, more would be done, were due weight attached to the
hygienic importance of cleanliness and dryness in the surroundings of dwelling houses—a matter
to which attention was specially directed in my annual report for 1897 (page 146); the authority
of the late medical officer of the Local Government Board being cited in support of the views
therein expressed.
HYGIENIC STREET PAVING.
The question of the paving of carriageways, was dealt with, some twelve years since, by
the Surveyor to the defunct Holborn District Board of Works, in a paper read before the
Society of Arts. The comparative merits and demerits of the several materials used for paving
purposes—granite, wood, asphalte—were passed in review. To asphalte, the second place was
assigned in respect of noiselessness, safety for horses, and durability; the third place with respect
to economy, and the first with respect to the points which most concern a sanitary authority,
viz., public hygiene and cleansing. "On the score of hygiene" (the author said) "asphalte holds
pre-eminently the first place, owing to its impermeability, and the consequent impossibility of
absorption on its part; and in addition to this, it may be stated, in its favour, that it is more
easily cleansed, and dries more readily than any other pavement." No ont acquainted with thtt
asphalted streets in the borough can be in doubt as to the advantages of this material, and
on sanitary grounds I should be glad to see the use of it largely extended, a course which would
have for its justification the admirable virtue of economy. Some progress has been made in this
direction by the paving of streets in poor localities where traffic is small; particularly in streets
used by children as playgrounds, in default of more suitable provision. This practice, commenced
in the Potteries district some years since, was subsequently carried out to completion in the
Notting Dale " special area " with manifest advantage.
I have reported on this subject to the Public Health Committee on several occasions, and
particularly on January 26th, 1904, when certain streets were named as being suitable for asphalte
paving when they should stand in need of extensive repairs, viz.: —
West Mall. Uxbridge Street.
Buckingham Terrace. Southam Street (in part).
Edenham Street. Calderon Place.
Snarsgate Street. Park Street, Latimer Road.
Fenelon Road. Kenway Road and North Row.
St. Mark's Grove. South Street and
North Street. Seymour Place, Fulham Road.
The Public Health Committee viewed certain of these streets on 29th January, 1904, and
recommended: (1) That the paving of West Mall be deferred until the rebuilding of the premises
on the north side thereof shall have been completed; (2) That the Works Committee be recommended
to make provision in the estimates for 1904-5 for the paving of Uxbridge Street,
Fenelon Road, Buckingham Terrace, and Kenway Road, when those thoroughfares should be in