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March, 1903.* . . " The latest novelty in the direction of solving the problem," he states,
"is the Shone system of ventilation ... by air currents induced by electrical fans "; a plan
"from a scientific standpoint thoroughly sound," but which " would prove expensive if generally
adopted." "With regard to the general question of offensive (sewer) smells . . . (he) could
only repeat that the remedy is plenty of water and disinfectants—simply a question of expenditure."
With reference to the question of street gullies, an instruction had been given to " fix
syphon pan gullies in new streets, and where any of the existing gullies, some 6,600 in number
are proved to be offensive." Between March, 1903, and July, 1904—a period of 16 months—he
stated that 133 pan gullies had been fixed; provision, moreover, being made in the annual estimates
for about this rate of conversion: a rate which could be hastened if it were the pleasure
of the Council so to direct. At the current rate, the work of conversion will (or may) be completed
in a little more than sixty years.
Success has attended such efforts as the Kensington Sanitary Authority have made to cope
with the nuisance from sewer emanations, as by abolishing dead ends of sewers or by the ventilation
of them; by the erection of pipe ventilators in substitution of offensive gratings at street level, and
by the pan syphon trapping of offensive street gullies. Works of this sort carried out in the
vicinity of Hurstway Street (in 1898), and in the Notting Dale "special area "—which does not
now possess a single untrapped gully or sewer grating at street level, sewer ventilation being
effected by shafts—have proved effectual. I think it correct to say that wherever these means have
been adopted, permanent good result—i.e., the prevention of nuisance—has been attained, without
detriment to the inhabitants of the locality. These means, applied with success locally, should be
largely extended; and especially I would recommend an extension of the practice of abolishing
dead ends of sewers (of which there are nearly 250 in the Royal Borough), or the effective ventilation
of them when abolition would be either too costly or impracticable. This remedy, and a
large increase to the number of pipe ventilators, so as to secure free circulation of air in the
sewers, would, I believe, go a long way towards effecting the object in view, and thus put an end
to the well-founded complaints, which now recur, during the hot weather, every year, with painful
regularity.
SANITARY CONVENIENCES.
There are only 19 public urinals in the borough—an inadequate provision; supplemented,
however, by about 170 external urinals at public-houses. This latter accommodation is not of a
satisfactory sort, as a rule, but it is better than none: it was improved, moreover, as the result
of proceedings taken by the late Vestry in 1888, and subsequently. There are two sets of public
water closets, for the male sex only, situated, respectively, at the rear of the central public library,
Kensington High Street; and at Lancaster Road, adjoining the public library; and three for both
sexes, viz: at Brompton Road by the Oratory; at the west end of Westbourne Grove, and at Talbot
Road. Sanitary authorities have power (under Section 88 of the Metropolis Management Act,
1855), " to provide and maintain urinals, water closets, and like conveniences, for both sexes, in
situations where they deem such accommodation to be required." Increased powers were conferred
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891; Section 44 (2) of which vests the subsoil of roadways in
the sanitary authority, who, moreover, have power to compensate persons injured by the erection
of these conveniences near to their houses, etc.
Domestic Sanitary Conveniences.—The 26th by-law of the County Council requires the
landlord or owner of any lodging-house to provide and maintain in connection with such house,
water-closet . . . accommodation in the proportion of not less than one water-closet . . .
for every twelve persons. At a considerable number of houses, the inhabitants of which exceeded
twelve in number a second water-closet was provided. In some instances owners preferred to
reduce the number of persons to twelve or fewer, rather than incur the expense of erecting- a second
closet.
Separate Sanitary Conveniences for the Two Sexes.—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
* These "pipe-shafts," carried up houses, are rectangular in section, and 6 by 4 inches. In addition, a small number of
lamp columns utilized for sewer ventilation purposes have been erected in streets. The County Council, moreover, have also
erected a few of these lamp columns, about 9 feet in height, and also a few large and lofty columns in connexion with their
main (Counter's Creek and Middle level) sewers.