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out that particles of soot united with these acids materially enhance their
injurious effect. The acids become more concentrated, and the tarry
content of the soot makes the mixture more adhesive. The soft stone of
many public buildings is readily attacked, but even the most durable
stones are being rapidly disintegrated by the acid soot.
The effect of breathing air containing such material, especially during
fogs, is apparent in increased mortality.
Common Lodging Houses.
Accommodation is provided in registered Common Lodging Houses for
1,529 men and 57 women.
Bruce House, Kemble Street, 706 men.
40, Great Peter Street (Church Army), 57 women.
108, Regency Street, 8 men.
7, St. Ann's Street, Great Peter Street (Salvation Army), 593 men.
16, Strutton Ground, 222 men.
In addition there were during the year three Rest Houses used by
Ex-service men. Two of these still remain, and it seems desirable that
they should be registered, as to aK intents and purposes they are Common
Lodging Houses. During the year the deaths of 88 persons who had
been inmates of Common Lodging Houses, were recorded; 13 of these
were from tuberculosis.
Houses let in Lodgings.—At the end of 1919 there were 1,200 houses on
the register, during 1920 this number has been reduced to 1,164, chiefly
through the demolition of houses in Great Peter Street and Chadwick
Street. 3,241 visits were paid to such houses and notices were served
with reference to 559 defects. As has been pointed out previously, many
of these houses are partly used as work places and consequently more
visits than those stated have been paid to the premises.
New by-laws drawn up by the County Council under the Housing and
Town Planning Act were submitted in draft for the consideration of each
Borough Council. Suggestions for their amendment were submitted by
the City Council, and a revised set of by-laws were approved, but have
not yet been put in force.
Housing.—During the year, and especially in the latter half, the
difficulty of finding housing accommodation in Westminster became
distinctly easier, probably due to the increased number of new houses
erected by the County Council and by suburban authorities. The City
Council continued during the year considering likely sites for building,
but on going into the financial question, it was found that no scheme could