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measuring at least 40 superficial feet in extent and having
a distance across of not less than 5 feet, and not covered in
otherwise than by a grating or railing"
In old buildings many water-closets are in unhealthy and
inconvenient positions, and it is desirable that they should be
reconstructed in better places, but unless a site for the new
construction can be found which satisfies the by-law, such
closets cannot be legally moved.
The Sanitary Acts require a certain amount of watercloset
accommodation in proportion to the persons inhabiting
a house or working in a workshop or factory, but, in the
central districts, it is often impracticable, without infringing
the by-law, to provide the necessary closets.
With regard to upstair closets, the writer fails to see
the virtue of a hundred square feet; all that should he
required is a perfectly sanitary, well constructed, well
flushed appliance, and a well ventilated room to receive
such appliance.
With regard to basement closets; the question of
providing sanitary closets at a depth below the surface of the
ground has been settled by engineers long ago. Not to
mention the numerous Public Underground Conveniences
there is a multiplicity of examples in the City, in Hotels, and
in the business premises of London generally of underground
lavatories which cannot be said to be in any sense of the
word, nuisances, but are nevertheless destitute of the 40
square feet of open area.
Hard and fast rules with regard to construction of
neccessary appliances are not conducive to progress, and
the best way would be to repeal the by-laws mentioned
giving the Local Authorities power to sanction any construction
that is healthy, and to object to any construction
that is likely to be unhealthy.