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COMMON LODGING-HOUSE, 116, MIDDLESEX STREET.—The above
premises, which are known as the "Salvation Army Working Men's Hotel and
Shelter," and is the only common lodging-house in the City, was opened on the
7th February, 1906. It was utilised during the War as a Soldiers' Hostel, but is
now again in use as a common lodging-house. The premises are periodically
inspected, and always found to be well kept and in a generally satisfactory condition.
NEGLECT TO COMPLY WITH WATER-CLOSET RYE-LAWS.—In accordance
with the Bye-laws with respect to water-closets, &c., made under Section
54 of the City of London (Various Powers) Act, 1900, every person who shall intend
to construct a water-closet, or to connect or disconnect any water-closet from any
soil pipe or drain, shall, at least seven days before the work is to be commenced,
deliver or send to the Corporation at the Guildhall, a plan showing the situation of
such water-closet, drawn to scale, together with a section showing the proposed
means of ventilation.
Under Section 17, every person who shall offend against these Bye-laws renders
himself liable to a penalty of £5 for every such offence, and in the case of a continuing
offence, to a further penalty of 40s. for each day after written notice of
this offence from the Corporation.
Any infringement of such Bye-law is a serious matter, and may lead to considerable
trouble and expense to the owner of the property, inasmuch as it may
necessitate the condemnation of a system installed in contravention of the
Corporation requirements.
One instance of neglect in this respect has occurred during the year under
review.
DRAINAGE PLANS.—In the course of the year 234 plans were submitted
with regard to proposed reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 211 were approved, 14 revised and approved, and 9 not approved.
STREET GULLIES.—The gradual substitution of properly trapped gullies for
those formerly existing has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of
offensive smells arising from those appliances, especially in warm weather. In some
cases this nuisance was doubtless due to want of flushing, but in the majority
faulty construction was the cause of the trouble.
The City Engineer has given special attention to this matter for several years
past, and his action in replacing the old pattern gullies with those of a more up-todate
design will, I hope, eventually lead to a complete abatement of the evil.
OVERCROWDING.—Overcrowding is a nuisance to be dealt with summarily
under Section 2, Sub-section 1 (e) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and
during the year 1 case was reported by your officers. On the service of the statutory
notice of abatement the overcrowding was discontinued.
SANITARY DEEECTS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE.—In every case of
notification of infectious disease, the premises involved were inspected with regard
to the drainage system, water supply, ventilation, &c.; and of the 95 cases so
investigated in 1922, it was found necessary to reconstruct the sanitary system in
two instances, and to make amendments to soil and waste pipes, water-closets, &c.,
in 58 others.
HOUSE, TRADE AND OTHER REFUSE REMOVAL.—The City Engineer
informs me that the refuse removed from the City in 1922 consisted of 19,837
cartloads of street sweepings and slops, and 43,493 loads of house and trade refuse,
a total of 63,330 loads. The total for the year 1921 was 64,360. The use of the
Destructor was discontinued in September, 1905, since which date all refuse has
been removed by barge from Lett's Wharf to the Corporation land on Hornchurch
Marshes, where it is dealt with. The horse manure collected from the street
orderly bins is not included in the above, but is dealt with by a contractor, who sells
it to market gardeners and others.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.—During the year 652 notices have been served by
the District Inspectors at the order of the Sanitary Committee, and in five gases
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