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25
The foregoing table exhibits the nature of the house improvement, effected
under the supervision of Inspector Webb, and it shows (this year for the first time)
the localities in which the several works have been carried out: (See last page.)
As far as the totals of this year admit of comparison with those of 1857,
they appear to show a numerical decrease in some kinds of improvement and an increase
in others. The truth is that, in 1857, the numbers were swelled by a great
deal of rapid work to meet a threatened emergency. This is indicated by the large
number of notices served, many of which related only to cleanliness and limewhiting.
In 1858, our operations have been more systematic and thorough; and thus it
will be seen that works of drainage have been more numerous. At the time, too,
that this enumeration is brought down to—March 25th, 1859—an unusually large
number of extensive and important sanitary works remain in hand. The improvements
in Lincoln and Orange courts, in and around Church-lane and Hampshire Hogyard,
are not in luded in the foregoing table, as they were not complete in March.
These places however, received a very large amount of time and attention during the
year. A very complete examination was male of them, and. among other points
enquired into, the dimensions of some hundreds of rooms, and the numbers, ages, and
sex of their inmates were ascertained. The most glaring violation of the laws of
health, and of the requirements of civilized life, was found.*
In obtaining effectual improvement in these localities, great weight was
given to the demands of the Board, and most valuable assistance rendered to the
sanitary officers by the laborious personal attention given by influential members of
the Sanitary Committtee. Thus we have been enabled to obtain many concessions
from the freeholders of prope; ty, on the occasion of the expiration of leases; alterations
of magnitude have been made, and stringent provisions introduced, into subsequent
leases for the maintenance of the premises in a healthful state.
Church-lane and its purlieus have, time out of mind, been the portion of
the district which has most urgently demanded fundamental improvement. To particularise
here, the defects of this locality, would be a needless and unwelcome task.
Those who have visited the place need not be told how rankly every noxious con-
* For instance: There are several small rooms in the back yards of Church-lane, in
close proximity to the privy, which is common to twenty or thirty persons, without water, and
filthily dirty. Each of the rooms measures about ten feet by eight, and between six and seven
feet high. Each of them serves a family for sleeping, cooking, and all domestic needs. At
the time of examination, four, five, or six persons were the ordinary numbers residing here;
the water for household and drinking purposes, if there was any at all, was stored in some tub
or pan in a corner, or under the bed. The air of these rooms was unbearable to a visitor, and
to open the window was only to exchange one foul emanation for another. Another case:
In Orange-court, a man of fifty was dying of consumption; his wife and eight children,
mostly grown up, occupied with him a space of 1500 cubic feet only. Seven persons above
the age of puberty, with three young children, were found in Church-lane, living in a room
whose dimensions were about 1000 cubic feet, or just the allowance for one individual in our
modern prisons; there were but two beds for them all. It would be easy to find many other
such instances. To avoid the operation of the Common Lodging-houses Act, the residents in
such cases always profess to be "of the same family," reserving to themselves the utmost
latitude in the use of the word. Thus, father, mother, and children of all ages, are to be
found, sharing their miserable accommodation, by night and day, with the son's wife, or the
mother's sister, and their children, An extension of the provisions of the Common Lodginghouses
Act is much to be desired, to meet these and other cases. Still more urgently needed,
are cleaner and more spacious rooms for the use of the poor, and I believe these could be provided
for little more than the rent of their present abodes.