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71
Combined drainage orders were made in 46 cases.
Infringements of the by-laws were reported to the Public Health
Committee in 29 instances. In 17 there was failure to give notice of
intention to construct, and in 12 there was neglect to deposit plans. Four
builders were cautioned and five were summoned in respect of these
offences and were convicted, fines and costs amounting to £13.
During the year very strong representations were made by architects
and others holding favourable opinions of the methods of sanitary
arrangement in vogue in buildings in America. They urged that in one
particular large block of residential flats they should be permitted to
override the by-laws of the London County Council by placing w.c.s in
rooms without external walls, and without natural ventilation to the
outside air. They alleged that mechanical ventilation had every
advantage over the natural method. The proposals were, however,
rejected as being contrary to the spirit and the letter of the by-laws.
Smoke Prevention.—The need for the adoption of more stringent
measures to abate the nuisance from smoke has been voiced in all quarters,
and the matter has now engaged the attention of Parliament. In Central
London, at any rate, it would appear that domestic coal fires are the
chief contributory factors in polluting the atmosphere, and play a large
part in creating the fogs which continue, although less frequently and
less completely than in years gone by, to inflict their depressing influences.
Fogs are very ill-borne by sufferers from lung and heart affections, and
there is good reason to suppose that many deaths from these causes are
attributable to the effects which the impurities of the air seem to set up in
elderly people who are afflicted with these maladies. A measure is being
introduced into Parliament which, it is hoped, may lead to considerable
improvement in dealing with smoke nuisances. It extends Sec. 24
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to include any type of smoke, and
not only " black smoke " : soot, ash and grit are included in the term
" smoke " as defined. The emission of black smoke will be an inexcusable
offence, although evidence relating to suitable plant and proper use thereof
for the prevention of other kinds of smoke will be accepted as exonerating
the offenders. Power to make by-laws prescribing standards of smoke,
and for the limitation of periods during which it may be emitted, is
proposed in the bill. By-laws are also suggested for regulating the
construction of heating apparatus in new buildings other than private
houses, so as to ensure that there will be little or no smoke from such
apparatus. The bill, unfortunately, leaves untouched the difficult and
ever present problem of smoke from private houses.