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2nd—That before any house is permitted to be occupied, the road and footways
should be paved, and the surface drainage properly provided for.
3rd—That before any house is built, plans of the drainage and of all the sanitary
arrangements of such house should be submitted for approval to the Local Board.
4th—That during the progress of the building of any house, the Surveyor to the
Local Board should be required to inspect the foundation thereof, and if the Surveyor
be of opinion that the materials which are being used for such foundation are not
proper for the purpose, he should report the same to the Board, who should have power
to prevent the use of such improper materials.
5th—That the walls and foundation of every house should be so constructed as to
prevent the rise of damp.
6th—That every house should have at the rear an open space of sufficient size for
the thorough ventilation of the staircase and passages.
7th—That the back-yards of all houses, let out in tenements, now in existence,
should not be built upon, unless with the sanction of the Local Board.
8th—That old buildings, such as warehouses, stables, &c., should not be converted
into dwelling-houses, unless the plans of the proposed alterations have been submitted
to the Local Board and approved of.
Lastly—In order that every street should have an adequate supply of sun-light,
which is so essential to health, the buildings on either side of the street, should not be
permitted to exceed in height the width of the street.
Unless some stringent measures are enforced to prevent the erection of unhealthy
houses, the ratepayers of London will not only be called upon for an extra rate for the
improvement of the Metropolis, and for the relief of the distress consequent upon the
ill-health engendered by persons living in such unhealthy houses, but they will have
to pay an additional rate for the purchase of them to pull them down, in consequence
of their being totally unfit for human habitation.
It certainly would be more economical to the ratepayers, and unquestionably more
advantageous to the health of the people, if more foresight were exercised in preventing
mischief, than in ameliorating the consequence of it, after the evil has taken place. The
science of preventive medicine is not yet understood by the public. Fever and other
Epidemic Diseases are always amongst us, and large sums of money are annually
expended to mitigate the sufferings of those attacked, but not sufficient interest
is felt in the prevention of such diseases.
I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LIDDLE.
15, Great Alie Street.