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4
The Dock Companies and manufacturers who employ a large number of
workmen and labourers have, through the aid of these Acts of Parliament,
opportunities of greatly benefitting those whom they employ, by erecting
suitable habitations for their use; and I have no hesitation in saying that the
great boon which would be conferred upon the overcrowded districts of this
large city, by the adoption of such a truly philanthropic movement, would be
reciprocated upon the projectors, by having at their command a more healthy
and respectable class of workmen.*
I have no doubt, from my knowledge, gained by personal intercourse, of
the habits of the poor, that they are far more sensible of the comforts and
advantages attendant upon sanitary improvements than persons in better
circumstances imagine. It is surprising to see with what willingness they
point out to any enquiring person the evils which surround them, and express
their desire to get them remedied. A short time, however, must necessarily
elapse before all the requirements of modern life can be fully appreciated by
that class which it is our object to benefit, and it is probable that landlords
may be put to expense in making and keeping up those alterations in their
premises, which are now considered essential to health and decency, and which
the law renders imperative to be done.
In the present state of many of the localities where the poor reside—
from the want of level pavement, and consequent bad surface drainage—from
the deficient water supply, it is next to impossible for them to keep their
houses clean, and the attempt to do so is labour in vain.
To carry out in full efficiency all the sanitary improvements which are
now demanded, will be a work of time, and can only be gradually accomplished.
It will therefore be expedient in this district, to commence our sanitary
improvements where nuisances most abound, and where sickness most prevails.
From the books of the Medical Officers of the Union, we learn that the
greatest number of cases of zymotic disease recently occurred in Thomas-street,
Moss'-buildings, Great Tongue-yard, Queen-street, Charlotte-court, Dunkstreet,
Garden-place, High-street, Spital-street, Pelham-street, Princes-street,
George-court (Flower and Dean-street), Quaker-street, Grey Eagle-street,
Fashion-street, Flower and Dean-street, Great Pearl-street, Little Pearl-street,
Keate-street, Keate-court, Wilson's-place, Wilkes-street, George-street,
Wentworth-street, Leman-row, Goodman's-yard, Crown-court, Glass Housestreet,
Kettleby-court, George-yard, Goulston-street, and White Bear-court.
The total number of cases of fevers, small pox, and scarlatina, which has
been attended by the Medical Officers of the Union, from the 30th of April to
*The number of houses that were removed for the formation of St. Katharine's
Docks, which were opened on the 25th October. 1828, was 1033. 541 houses in
Aldgate were taken down, and 492 in the precinct of St. Katharine. A large majority
of these houses was occupied by the poorer classes. Had the Act of Parliament,
which sanctioned this large destruction of the habitations of the poor, provided that the
Dock Company should build other houses for the poor in lieu of those they had removed,
a great benefit would have been conferred upon the labouring population of this district,
and the ill effects of the present state of overcrowding would have been in a
great measure prevented.