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HOUSES OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
New houses continue to be built in great numbers
in Edmonton, and new streets are rapidly springing up
in all directions.
The Council's Building Bye-Laws are carried out
under the supervision of the Building Inspectors;
drains are water-tested by them, and when the houses
are completed, they are visited by me for the purpose
of ascertaining their fitness for habitation. During the
past year, 346 houses and 14 shops were inspected in
this way.
It is to be regretted that the cottage property at
present being built, does not include a class of house
much needed in this District. I refer to such a selfcontained
dwelling as would be suitable, both in regard
to size and rent, for the lower wage earners whose
families are still young.
There are not nearly enough houses of this kind
in the District, and the result is that two or more
families of the class referred to, are compelled to share
the same dwelling, much to the encouragement of overcrowding
and the destruction of that sense of responsibility
for, and interest in, the home, which is of such
value to the community. If by abolishing, say, the
unnecessary and useless front parlour and entrance
passage, a smaller house could be devised with one
good sized kitchen and living room combined on the
ground floor, and three sleeping-rooms upstairs, the
case might be met and much good result to the
District in consequence.
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