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4
Health of the District have been successful, and give us
reason to hope that, by continuing our exertions, we may
decrease our Death rate, and eventually bring it to a much
more healthy standard than the present.
The population of Bethnal Green has greatly increased
during the last two years, and may be estimated as follows:
As per Census of 1861 105,101
Natural increase 5,139
Immigration over Emigration 3,000
113,240
which I believe to be below rather than above the actual
number, as, owing to the demolition of houses in neighbouring
parishes to make room for railways, a large influx of
persons has taken place into our own, and has aggravated
the greatest evil with which we have to contend, and that
is overcrowding. The parish—always full—is now filled to
excess, although a large number of dwellings have been
recently erected. Houses, even if in a bad condition, are
sure to find occupants; and as there is great difficulty in
procuring house-room, the tenants endeavour to conceal
their sanitary wants, fearing that they will be compelled to
remove while the needful improvements are being made.
The extensive Railway Works now in progress in this
Parish will necessarily lead to the destruction of a great
number of houses, and will, I fear, aggravate the existing
evils of over-crowding, and materially increase our Death
rate, unless some steps be taken to provide habitations for
those who will be expelled from their homes; otherwise, we
may have such an increased rate of mortality as will counterbalance
the benefits of the improvement in our sanitary
condition.