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221
[1905
Removal of Dust.—Never previously in the history of the Borough
have so few applications or complaints been made about the removal of the
ashes, refuse, and dust from occupied houses.
This is exceedingly creditable to the dust removal department of the
Council and calls for a mead of praise for those responsible for the work. In
1891 the applications for the removal of dust numbered 10,138; in 1905 they
only reached 89. These figures have only to be put in juxtaposition to see
what an enormous improvement has taken place in removing nuisances from
our premises. One cannot help remembering how when in 1892 the Medical
Officer of Health proposed that there should be a weekly collection of refuse,
he was met with a rebuff from the then Works Committee, who declined to
adopt the proposal, although it had first met with approval from the Public
Health Committee. Nevertheless, that report had a very good effect, for it
stimulated the dusting department to greater efforts, so that in 1893 the
applications and complaints had fallen to 4,986. In 1896, 4,245 complaints
were received, but in the following year when the London County Council bylaw
requiring a weekly removal was enforced, the complaints at once fell to
312.
It may be stated that the applications to remove dust did not reach twofifths
of 1 per cent, of the assessments of the Borough. (See Table CXXVI.)

Dust Receptacles.—During the year 2,244 dust receptacles were provided,
while 224 were repaired. This is a large increase over the number
dealt with in 1904, when 835 dustbins were provided and 138 repaired. This
was due to an instruction given by the Borough Engineer to the assistants of
the Superintendent of the Dusting Department to report all dustbins that
were found in a defective state to the Public Health Department, who at
once dealt with the matter.