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86
Overcrowding.
The subject of overcrowding has received, and still continues to receive the considerable
attention from the officials of the Public Health Department. During
the year it has attained still more prominence among the public owing to the
evidence given before the Alien Immigration Commission. Though overcrowding
has existed for a large number of years in the Districts now comprised in the
Borough of Stepney, there can be no doubt that it is more prevalent now than ten
years ago. The census of 1901 revealed an increase of 13,308 during the ten years,
as compared with 2,616 during the previous intercensal period. The increase has
been due entirely to the increased number of foreigners.
The increase in the foreign-born population was over 22,000. Consequently
there has been a decrease in the native population to the extent of 8,500. In
1881 to 1891 the increase affected Whitechapel and Mile End Old Town only; but
the census of 1901 showed an increase in the number of inhabitants in all the
parishes, St. George's having the highest proportional increase. The following table
shows the population of the different districts in the Borough at census periods
1881, 1891, and 1901:—

The congestion resulting from this increase is more real than appears on the
surface, as is evident from the following tables, which give the numbers of the
inhabited houses, separate tenements, and families:—