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and with a view to the improvement of Surface Drainage, the
Board has caused to be constructed 23 new gully drains.
The whole of the above works, together with ordinary repairs
and small works, have been executed under Contracts, at schedules
of prices obtained by public competition.
The Board found, after a very short experience, that the flushing
and cleansing of sewers and the cleansing of gully drains would be
best carried out by men in its own employ; and it has taken this
important part of the Sewerage works under its own immediate
control; the change of system, after a trial of nearly twelve months
having fully answered its expectations.
The Board has also paid much attention to the question of
House Drainage, and has already caused no less than 376 houses
and premises, formerly without any efficient drainage, to be properly
connected with the public sewers, under the direction of its Surveyor.
New Buildings sanctioned.
4. The Act of Parliament imposes upon the Board the supervision
of all new buildings erected within the District, so far as
the foundation levels of the lowest floors are concerned; and 29
plans for such buildings have been sanctioned by the Board,
and their erection superintended by the Surveyor.
Public Urinals.
5. The Board has given much attention to the question of
Public Urinals and Conveniences, and has caused to be erected in
the Broadway and on Knightsbridge Green, three patent cast-iron
Urinals, of a design which it was hoped would be so far unobjectionable
as to admit of their being placed in the most public
thoroughfares. This hope has not altogether been realized; and
the Board has since, in conjunction with the Burial Board of St.
Margaret and St. John, caused to be erected in Great Chapel
Street, adjoining the Broadway Burying Ground, another form of
Urinal, upon the principle of adapting the design to the immediate
requirements of the locality,—a principle which the Board believes
will, in this instance at all events, be successful.