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23
DRAINAGE AND SANITARY MEASURES.
The Board are empowered to compel the drainage into a sewer
of any premises within 100 feet of it; and all such house drainage
(except as after mentioned), should be effected by the owners of the
premises under the immediate superintendence of the Officers of the
Board—the plans of the drainage having been previously submitted
to and approved by them. The portion of all house drains under
the public thoroughfares the Board decided to construct themselves,
with the view as well to the better protection of the public
from accidents as the more satisfactory reinstating the roads. The
contract for this work was in the first instance let, by tender, to
Mr. James Pool, of Greenwich, at 25 per cent, under the prices of
the price book compiled by the Metropolitan Commissioners of
Sewers, and known as " The Blue Book Prices." This contract was
not, however, fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Board, and the
works were subsequently let to, and until very recently were executed
by, Mr. Goodison, at 15 per cent, under the same prices.
In default of such drainage being effected by the owners, the
Board have (by sect. 73, as stated), the power, after 28 days' notice,
of effecting the drainage through their own officers, and charging
the owner with the expense incurred. They have also more summary
powers under sect. 81.
It was soon found that it would be necessary to exercise these
powers very extensively—and a contract was made with Mr. Goodison
for the execution of these works (which are of a more complex
character and involving a far greater responsibility than the mere
drains) at the Blue Book Prices.
The necessity for bringing these sections into operation has arisen
from various causes :—the comparative poverty of owners—legal
disabilities—disputes between parties interested, &c. In some very
exceptional cases, however, the Board have met with determined
opposition, one of which may be cited, from the importance of the
principle which ultimately became involved in it.
Four cottages standing together in Green Lane, Penge, were
reported as having privies in a very dilapidated condition and being
exposed to public view. The Board issued an order for their repair;
they were, however, so bad as to be incapable of repair, as subsequently
stated by the owner, and he pulled them down, and refused
to provide any substitute as required by a further order. The cottages
were occupied by about twenty persons, and in this condition
they remained for several weeks, when the Board (under sect. 86),
empowering them under such circumstances to provide "sufficient"
privies, erected four privies on the premises, at a cost with cesspool,
District Surveyor's fees, &c., of £26 7s. 6d. To the repeated applications
for payment of this amount the owner made no reply,