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207
[1905
One cause of the increased number of visits was that for the first time for
a whole year two Inspectors gave their entire time to this work, with results
that have been most satisfactory.
The number of the houses on the register in the Northern District is 345,
as compared with 537 in the Southern part of the Borough. It has only been
within the last few years that houses in the former district have been placed on
it, because it is only comparatively recently that the houses in it have
begun to be occupied by large numbers of people in the lower stations of
life, and for whom a class of landlord has arisen who caters for their requirements.
That these requirements are not many can be seen by a visit to the socalled
" furnished lodgings" in Campbell Road, in which district it is
satisfactory to note that Inspector Bridel has had effected a very considerable
amount of good work. This street was one of the few specially mentioned by
Mr. Charles Booth in his work on London, and one must admit, not
undeservedly, for its denizens are the most difficult to manage of any in
Islington.
It is, therefore, with no surprise that the Inspectors, who from time to time
have had to inspect the houses in this street, have all declared that it would
take one man all his time to keep them in order. There is no doubt that making
every allowance for exaggerated language, it requires constant inspection.
In the first quarter of the year, 3,151 inspections and calls were made, in
the second 3,150, in the third 2,601, and in the fourth 3,004, making altogether
11,906 for the year.
Improvements.—The inspections resulted in no less than 2,834 separate
improvements, many of which were of a substantial character, being made.
Thus, 29 drains were constructed of which 28 were in the northern district,
83 traps were fixed, 73 of which were in the northern district, 38 pans, traps
and water supplies were furnished to water closets, of which 29 were in that
district, pavements of 28 yards were constructed, of which 26 were in the same
district; from which statement it will be apparent that there was real necessity
for the Inspector of the northern district devoting the whole of his time to
this special work.
For years the southern district has received m re attention, and, therefore,
there does not remain so much substantial work to be effected as in the
northern part of the Borough.