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the other, on each floor. In nearly all instances such houses are
Occupied by members of more than one family, even if the ground floor
is used as a shop. The better class houses of this character are
rented by one tenant, who sublets. The poorer class houses are let in
separate tenements, and there is, as a rule, no responsible caretaker.
In the older portions of the Borough both of these kinds of houses are
old, worn out, damp, or have no means of ventilation. In one or two
quarters such houses exist 'back to back', and without any through
ventilation whatever. In these and some other cases it would appear
that closure is the only remedy, and for insanitary areas a more or
less thorough clearance. Much of this kind of property is held on
building leases granted in the first half of last century, and many of
them are now falling in. Opportunities for reconstruction are therefore
becoming frequent.
These conditions of house property have been brought about, in
the main by two agencies. In the first place, it may be said that there
has been proceeding for a number of years a change of usage more than
a change of actual property. Whole streets and squares of houses,
formerly occupied by single families, and often good class families,
are now occupied as separate dwellings on separate floors. The private
house has become a tenement house. There is a common passage and a
common staircase, both of which are open to the public, and any considerable
degree of privacy is thus destroyed. The passage and staircase
act as the ventilating shaft for the foul atmosphere derived from the
dwelling rooms opening on to the stair. The history of such a house
is a dismal record of degeneration. Year by year the state slowly
but surely becomes worse. The house was structurally designed for one
family, and is now occupied by four or more families. The sanitary
conveniences were also designed for one family, and now provide for
four families. The same must be said of the water supply and washhouse
accommodation. There can be no doubt that the ill-ventilation
and the difficulty of access to the water closet, scullery, washhouse,
or dustbin may directly act as causes of ill-health, and undesirable
habits.
In the second place, another of the general characteristics of
house property in the Borough is that the yards in the rear of the
houses have, in so many cases, been built over. The condition of
things constantly to be observed is this. Between two streets, running
parallel, there existed when the houses were first built an open space,
subdivided into yards. Thus fresh air was obtainable in the rear as
well as in the front of the houses. In the yards were constructed
various conveniences for sanitary purposes washing, refuse collection,
etc. Thus the house, as a private house, was equipped. But in addition
to the invasion of tenants, to which reference has already been made,
another change soon came about. The yards became covered in or otherwise
built over, generally for workshop premises. Even when such
buildings are only small they effectually prevent through ventilation
on the ground floor. But so extensive have such buildings become in
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