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well, has unfortunately been contaminated with sewage. It
belongs to St. Marylebone, the authorities of which parish
have, on complaint being made, removed the pump handle.
Drainage of Stables.—In treating of this matter it must
be remembered that there is a large proportion of the poorer
classes who live over stables, and consequently would require
proper water supply and drainage, even if no means were
requisite for draining away the urine of the horses. But
until lately there were many stables in which there was absolutely
no drainage of any sort; so that slops were emptied
daily in the mews to the great nuisance of the neighbourhood.
In others there were cesspools under the stalls to receive the
horses' urine; some of which cesspools were provided with
water-tight bottoms, and were emptied once a week, creating
a great nuisance; others were constructed so as to allow the
urine to soak into the earth, and thus to diminish the wholesomeness
of the soil.
The advantages of proper drainage are easily shewn.
The consumption of straw is greatly diminished, including
the labour and cartage in bringing it, and in taking it away
in the shape of manure. The stables are very much sweeter
and wholesomer for the horses, and for the poor people who
live over them; and the grooms say (it is to be hoped truly)
that they have less necessity for drinking in the morning
than they had when they used to enter the stables in their
former close and offensive state. So palpable are these advantages,
that the proprietors of many stables have willingly
incurred the heavy expense of new drainage.
In the great square block bounded by Brick Street and
Piccadilly, N. and S., and by Park Lane and Down Street,
E. and W., there are the great livery stables of Mason,