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have not been taken, only those of three or more storeys, (2) The supply
has been put on the staircase, except in houses let out in floors, (3) In
every case a small deep sink of the shape most convenient with a trapped
waste pipe and a down pipe emptying over a gully outside has been
recommended. The provision of a water supply in the Section, one
would imagine, must include a sink and an exit pipe wherever that
terminates. Some landlords have provided simply a drip tray for a sink
with a small pipe, like a warning pipe from an ordinary cistern, emptying
outside over a roof. This, however, is most unsatisfactory, and soon
becomes a nuisance in more ways than one. Some obstinate landlords
have provided a stoneware sink without a waste pipe, but this again is
nsatisfactory.
The northern or river end of the borough is principally the abode of
the casual or unskilled labouring class. Lodging houses are numerous
and the house property around these places is generally of a debased
kind. Although a considerable portion of old Southwark has been within
the last twelve years either demolished or renovated, there still remains
much that is a menace to the health of the metropolis and should be
cleared away. The portion known as the Tabard Street area, lying
between Great Dover Street and Long Lane, is very debased. Vice, crime,
and immorality abound in much of this area. The scum of South London
takes up its abode here generally for short periods. The residents are
chiefly hawkers, costermongers, pedlars, and persons of immoral character.
Numbers of the houses are let furnished to persons, of a kind, at exorbitant
rents. Single rooms at prices ranging from 5/- to 7/- per week
and for one night at a much higher price in proportion. This business of
letting out furnished rooms has become a most lucrative industry in the
hands of agents who rent large numbers of them. The houses in many
cases are let by the freeholder at 5/- to 7/- per week each to a lessee, who
lets the same at 17/- to an agent who furnishes the house, and who lets
again at 32/- to the individual tenants. Nearly all these houses are on
the register for houses let in lodgings, and although more or less dilapidated
they are kept fairly clean by the lady inspectors charged with that
duty. Many of the immoral houses belong to charitable institutions.
The death-rate in this neighbourhood, especially in the case of Phthisis,
is very high. The regular inhabitants are abjectly poor and miserable.
The chief remedy of course is the clearance of the area. Until this can
be effected nightly inspection is absolutely necessary. Whether, however'
this nightly inspection should be undertaken by the borough or by the
London County Council it is not easy to determine. Personally, I believe
it would be a good thing to have all the debased areas in the metropolis