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1906, the Council made arrangements with the adjoining Borough of FinsBury for
the use of their shelter. As the disinfectors work very early and very late, if
required, it was only necessary to use the shelter during the year, for the accommodation
of eleven persons.
CLEANSING OF PERSONS ACT.
During the year 219 persons (210 men and 9 women) infested with vermin,
had their bodies and clothing disinfected free of charge. Of the 219 persons, 218
had their bodies cleansed in the baths of the St. Giles and Bloomsbury Casual
Wards in Goldsmith Street, and 1,423 articles were disinfected in the Council's
steam apparatus. The remaining 1 had his body cleansed in the baths of the
Holborn Casual Wards, Little Gray's Inn Lane, and 8 articles of clothing
disinfected in the steam apparatus at that Casual Ward.
On account of the large number of persons applying in the latter part of 1905,
the cleansing of persons had to be limited to those living in the Borough.
Under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, powers are
given for the compulsory cleansing of verminous children attending any of the
Council's schools, and verminous inmates of any common lodging house.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACTS, 1890-1909
I reported respecting a site which might be available and suitable for
acquisition by the Council for the erection of dwellings for the working classes
under Part III. of the Principal Act. Some of the houses had already been
demolished, and the leases of others were about to expire. Since my report the
remainder of the houses have been demolished, the number of persons displaced
being about 450.
In connection with this matter I also reported as to the necessity existing in
the Borough for increased better housing accommodation for the working classes.
The following is a brief abstract of the report: —
Although from a purely public health point of view there is at present
necessity existing in the Borough for better housing accommodation for members
of the working classes, many other factors have to be taken into consideration by
the Council. These factors have to be considered not only in connection with
Holborn in particular, but with the housing question of Lonaon as a whole.
They include the outward movement of the population from central London
districts; cheaper and better housing accommodation in suburban districts;
increased facilities for cheap travelling and locomotion; the increased importance
of Holborn as a business centre, with its large increase of factories, workshops,
and other business premises, and its convenient position as a centre for visitors to
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