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There is a most pressing need of relief sewers to prevent the flooding which periodically
occurs in the Borough. This necessity is well known to you, hut unfortunately the provision
of main sewers is not under your jurisdiction. The County Council has on occasions put
forward the provision of additional pumping stations as a serious attempt to prevent
flooding. Such an argument appears to lose sight of the fact that conduits of fixed
dimensions and gradients cannot deliver more than certain quantities of fluid in given
times, and that the quantities cannot be increased by pumps at the outlets. If the discharge
is to be increased, either the dimensions or the number of the conduits must be increased.
The provision of additional accommodation for housing the poorer classes has had the
attention of the Housing Committee for some time, but the difficulties, financial and other,
attendant upon the acquisition of a suitable site have been found almost insuperable. Much
attention is given by the Staff of the Department to houses let in lodgings, but the want of
additional housing accommodation and the consequent increase in rentals for the accommodation
available have not only rendered the work of the Staff very difficult, but have done much
to make it barren of result.
I desire in conclusion to express my satisfaction with the manner in which all the members
of the Staff of the Department have discharged their duties; to thank my colleagues in
the profession for their continued and 'hearty co-operation; and to tender to the Chairman
and Members of the Public Health Committee my sincere appreciation of the consideration
and sympathy which I have received from them at all times.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
a
Your obedient Servant.
m.a., m.b., d.p.h.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
Howley Lodge,
112, Harrow Road,
Paddington, W.
18th May, 1904.