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62
The underground drainage has been found to be in a very bad
condition, where it has been examined, and the whole area upon
which the houses stand must be saturated with sewage from the
leaky pipes.
The street is inhabited by 136 persons, 58 of whom are grown
people, the remaining 78 being children of various ages.
Overcrowding is prevalent, and is intensified by the fact that
many of the rooms are too damp to sleep in, so that the occupants
of some of the houses herd together in one of the two rooms.
The average mortality, so far as I can ascertain, has been at the
rate of 27 per thousand for the past three years, as against 21 for
the whole of Bethnal Green; this does not represent the true
mortality of the street, for many of the inhabitants, being children,
contract the seeds of disease herein and develop them elsewhere.
I am of opinion that these houses should be closed and demolished
and the site cleared, for if repairs be permitted, such patching up as
is possible will be of no real service, and the present evils will be
perpetuated.
I have the honour to be, etc.
The houses were viewed by the Sanitary Committee and my
report was confirmed.
The drainage of this street has long been in a most unsatisfactory
condition, but the exact responsibility for its reconstruction was a
matter of doubt, pending the settlement of the " Drain v. Sewer
question."
The whole area, one of those referred to on page 7, ante, is
sodden with sewage and is in a most unhealthy condition.
A copy of the report was, as is required by law, forwarded to the
Local Government Board and to the London County Council.
The following reply was received from Mr. Stewart, the Clerk to
the Council:—
London County Council,
Spring Gardens, S.W.
22nd February, 1897.
Sir,
Your letter of the 20th ultimo describing the condition of
houses in Faith Street and stating that in your opinion the houses