View report page

REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC ANALYST.
FOR THE YEAR 1908.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Stepney.
Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in submitting to you my eighth Annual Report, which
deals with the Vital and Sanitary Statistics of the Borough of Stepney for the year
1908.
Population.
The resident population of the Borough of Stepney was estimated at the
middle of the year to be 310,706; distributed as follows:—
Limehouse District 58,822
St. George-in-the-East 52,674
Mile End Old Town 118,336
Whitechapel District 80,874
This is arrived at by a calculation, that the rate of increase ascertained at the
census taken in 1901, as having taken place since the census taken in 1891, is still
continuing. I am sure this assumption is an incorrect one. In 1901, there were
very few empty houses in the Borough. Overcrowding was prevalent and it was
most difficult to abate it due to the dearth of empty houses. It was almost
impossible to have a house without paying a premium which was called "key
money." This is altered now. In 1904, the number of empty houses became
abnormal, and the number has been on the increase as is seen by the following
figures which the Borough Treasurer has supplied me with.
In the quarter ending March 31st, 1904, the number was 1,073.
In the quarter ending March 31st, 1906, the number was 1,670.
In the quarter ending March 31st, 1907, the number was 2,865.
In the quarter ending March 31st, 1908, the number was 2,944.
A 2