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131
contain accommodation for 703 persons. The average number
of nightly lodgers is 650, of whom about 96 are "transitlodgers,"
i.e., wayfarers, travellers,&c., who stay only for a night.
The gross number of transit lodgers in the year corresponds to a
large but unknown total. The regular nightly lodgers, estimated
at 554,are "old-stayers," who have been in the same house,
and have occupied thesame beds,for two, three, or four years, and
some for still longer periods. This information is based on a
report by Mr. Marks, the County Council inspector. Details
as to the accommodation provided at the several houses is
contained in the table at page 123. An impression prevailing
that there was overcrowding at these establishments I
explained in the sixth report (June 25th, page 74) that provision
is made in the rules of the County Council for the
prevention of this dangerous form of nuisance; cubic space
being required in the dormitories to the amount of 300 feet
for each of the lodgers, the required floor space for each bed
being 36 square feet. These spaces I am informed, and believe,
are in every instance actually provided.
On the 22nd September your Vestry referred to the
Sanitary Committee my reports (Nos. 5 to 9) for the twenty
weeks, April 7th to September 11th, which embodied a variety
of recommendations, made with the view to the improvement
of the Special Area, to the following effect:—
(a) That the Sanitary Committee should be requested to draft a bye-law
for houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one
family, to enforce the provision and maintenance at the "furnished"
rooms in registered houses, of bedding, etc., which shall be clean
and wholesome, and free from noxious insects.
(b) That a suitable disinfecting oven should be provided for baking the
bedding at common lodging-houses, registered lodging-houses, and
other houses inhabited by the poorer classes, when necessary to free
such bedding from noxious insects.