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104
Removal of Refuse.
The collection and disposal of house and trade refuse is
performed by a private contractor. A new contract was entered
into for a period of 10 years from 1st October, 1935, by which the
house refuse is collected not less frequently than twice a week
throughout the Borough at a cost to the Council of £27,480 per
annum (less £1,000 per annum for rent of depot). The refuse
is collected in receptacles and deposited in rear-loading canvascovered
vans (two steps) in the streets, and thereafter conveyed
by motor to Bull Stairs Wharf on the Thames for transmission to
Essex for the reclamation of low-lying land.
There is a daily collection of refuse in the main streets
scheduled for this purpose; also on all the Council's housing
estates (including Sunday). The house and trade refuse collected
in 1937 amounted to 24,900 tons. In addition there were 6,088 tons
of street sweepings and market garbage, and 741 tons of street gully
and interceptor silt.
General.
Certain private streets, gullies, and interceptors are cleansed
by the Council and charged to the owners.
Public Baths, Wash-houses, and Swimming Pools.
Under this heading there are two establishments in the
Borough, viz., the Public Wash-house in Ironmonger Row, which
contains 18 trough washing compartments, 5 washing machines,
3 hydro-extractors, etc., and 40 slipper baths for men and 40
for women, and the Swimming bath, Slipper baths and Wash-house
Establishment at Merlin Street.
The swimming pool at Merlin Street holds 120,000 gallons of
water and is 100 feet long and 35 feet wide with a depth ranging
from 3 feet to 7 feet 6 inches. The system of purification of the water
and a full description of the Bath appeared in the Report for 1933.
It is much appreciated by the inhabitants of Finsbury and
is extremely well managed and supervised, and the water maintains
a high state of purity ; 5 samples of the water for chemical and
bacteriological examination were taken last year with satisfactory
results. All reports stated that the water was very satisfactory
for swimming purposes.