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104 water-waste preventers, by means of which upwards of 7,000 poor
people have a constant supply. Now, if so large a number of poor persons
can be supplied by means of these machines, which are not so costly as
either butts or cisterns, there is no reason why all the houses in the poor
localities in London cannot be supplied in a similar manner; and as such a
mode of supply is obviously so advantageous to the health, comfort, and
well-being of the poor, it ought to be made compulsory upon landlords to
adopt it. How far it would be desirable to extend the constant service to
the whole community is a question well worthy of consideration. Some
objections might, perhaps, be raised to its universal adoption by the owners
or occupiers of those houses where the cistern is very large, and furnished
with a filtering apparatus and other expensive appliances.
The question, however, of making the constant supply compulsory,
might, in particular instances, be left to the discretion of the local Board;
but in all houses below a certain rental, the constant supply should bo
enforced.
Overcrowding.
I have, on several occasions, directed the attention of the Board to the
fact that overcrowding exists to a very great extent in this District; and no
doubt the same evil prevails in most of the poor localities in London, but
the fact cannot be fully known to the authorities of the District, unless the
Sanitary Officers make night visits to those places where it is suspected that
overcrowding exists. In a joint Report, dated December 1st, the Inspectors
state "that they paid a midnight visit to the undermentioned registered houses,
viz., No. 1, Old Rose Lane, No. 1, Castle Alley, and Nos. 5, 8, 9 and 10,
Inkhorn Court. Nos. 8, 9 and 10, Inkhcrn Court were overcrowded, and
indecently occupied. At No. 8, in room No. 6, registered for the occupation
of four persons, three men, one woman, and four children were found. At
No. 9, in room No. 1, registered for the occupation of three persons,
two men, two women, and one child were found. In room No. 2,
registered for the occupation of three persons, one man, two women, and
two children were found. In room No. 3, registered for the occupation of
three persons, one woman and her two adult sons were found. In room No. 5,
registered for the occupation of two persons, two men and one woman were
found. At No. 10, in room No. 1, registered for the occupation of three
persons, two men, one woman, and one child were found. In room No. 2,
registered for the occupation of three persons, three men, one woman, and
one child were found; and in room No. 5, registered for the occupation of
two persons, four men and two women were found. In each case the parties
were in their beds. The smell arising from the filthy habits of the people
living in these rooms was most offensive."