View report page

7
increase of pauperism, notwithstanding that the rateable value of the several
parishes has considerably increased by the erection of spacious warehouses and
other large buildings. I have just stated that a change has taken place in the
class of the occupants of numerous houses in the district. This change has been
occasioned by the demolition of an immense number of the houses occupied
by the poorer classes, not only in this but in the surrounding districts, which
has compelled the occupants to seek lodgings in other localities; and as the
labouring class must, if possible, live in the vicinity of their places of work,
an empty house soon becomes occupied by those who have been compelled to
remove, and thus an inferior class becomes located in a street which was
recently tenanted by respectable mechanics and tradesmen. These latter, in consequence
of the new comers, leave the neighbourhood, and the entire street soon
becomes tenanted by the same class of persons as those who took possession of
the first empty house, and thus the neighbourhood becomes rapidly deteriorated.
Such is the demand for houses among the working classes that rents are
rapidly rising; and as it is almost impossible for the labouring poor to pay a
higher rent than they paid for their rooms that they formerly occupied, each
house soon becomes overcrowded. This overcrowding, for the sake of the public
health, must be prevented. It is very probable that the districts adjoining the
City of London suffer more from overcrowding than remoter districts, in consequence
of the local authorities there being empowered to institute a regular
and systematic inspection of all the rooms in any house in the City of London
(the same not being a licensed victualling house) let or any part of which is let
at a daily or weekly rent not exceeding the rate of 3s. Gd. per week, or in which
persons are harboured or lodged for hire for a single night or for less than a
week at one time, and to issue regulations from time to time to be observed by
the owners of such houses; and if any keeper of such lodging house shall
offend against any of the regulations respecting these houses made by the
Commissioners of Sewers, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five
pounds, and the like penalty for any day after the first upon which anysuch
offence shall be continued. I am informed that this Act, known as the Sewers
Act for the City of London, (14th & 15th Vict., c. 91,) is of immense service
in that district in preventing overcrowding; but what must be the effects
of such a systematic visitation upon the neighbouring districts, where the
authorities have not the same powers to prevent overcrowding? In selfdefence,
therefore, similar powers to regulate the number of persons who
should be allowed to occupy a single room should be granted to all Vestries
and District Boards, so that the same kind of inspection of the rooms in all
such houses (as defined by the Sewers Act) might be adopted in all the
Metropolitan districts. Unless effectual means be taken to prevent overcrowding,
disease will extend, and the rate of mortality increase, and consequently
the burdens of the ratepayers will become augmented.
This district consists of 406 statute acres, or rather less than two-thirds of
of a square mile. Included in this area there are 23 acres covered with water.
t