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sages. The extent of the open space to be determined by the Act, (say 100
square feet) but the plan of this open space shall be approved by the Local
Board before the builder is allowed to complete the building.
8.—That the floors of every house shall be properly ventilated, and that
the floors of the basement shall not be laid upon the bare ground.
9.—That the back yards of houses shall not be built upon without the
sanction of the Local Board; but in no instance shall the open space in the
rear be less than 100 square feet, and so arranged, with regard to the house,
as to be sufficient, in the opinion of the Local Board, for the purposes of
ventilation.
10.—That all old buildings, such as warehouses, stables, &c., shall not be
converted into dwelling-houses unless the plans, as regards all the sanitary
arrangements, shall have been submitted to and approved of by the Local
Board,
11.—That the same law as regards the width of new courts and alleys
shall be applied to old courts, when any of the houses therein have been
pulled down; for, if it be deemed necessary that new courts shall be, for
purposes of health, of a certain width, it is as necessary for the public
health that old courts should be equally as wide.
12.—In order that every new street shall have an adequate supply of sunlight,
which is so essential to health, the buildings on either side of the
street shall not be permitted to exceed in height the width of the street.
This regulation will be of the utmost importance in courts which are not
thoroughfares; but such is the desire of the owners of property to make the
most rent of it, (and unfortunately such a proceeding is sanctioned by the
Legislature) that they are perfectly regardless of the rights of the public to
breathe the pure air of heaven and enjoy the light of the sun.
13.—That, in consequence of danger to the public while walking along the
streets by the falling of snow or slates from the roof of any house unprovided
with a parapet wall, no new house shall bo considered as completed unless the
same is provided with a parapet wall.
14.—No house shall be allowed to be occupied unless there shall be a passage
leading from the front door to the back yard; and unless the staircase
leading to every room shall open into a landing, so that each room in every
house shall be distinct and separate from the other rooms. Under present
arrangements it is not uncommon to find that builders, on the score of economy,
build houses with the front door opening direct from the sitting-room on the
ground floor into the street, and the stairs leading to the upper rooms opening
directly into and forming a part of the lower room, so that the foul air of the
lower room is ventilated by means of the staircase into the room above. Such
a faulty arrangement also destroys the privacy and comfort of families by
converting rooms so arranged into thoroughfares. There are some houses in
the Whitechapel District in which the tenants of one room are obliged to carry
all their filth through their neighbour's room before it can be thrown into the
privy or drain in the back yard. This proceeding is not only most indecent'