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12
Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act, 1875.
Since the above-named Act came into operation I have made four
official representations to the local authority (Metropolitan Board of Works)
respecting the unhealthiness of certain areas within this District; but
virtually I have made only three such representations; for Scheme No. 2
related merely to the narrow part of Goulston-street, and which was brought
under my notice by a communication in writing addressed to the District
Board of Works, signed by twenty-five inhabitants of this District,
drawing the Board's attention " to the shocking condition of the houses in
that street." Upon the Board referring to me this communication I made
a special inspection of all the houses in the narrow part of Goulston-street;
and the result of such inspection is published in my Report for the Quarter
ending 2nd October, 1S75.
Scheme No. 1 embraces an area of about 29,000 square yards, is situated
partly in the Parish of Whitechapel and partly in the Parish of Aldgate,
contains about 450 houses, and has a population of about 3,750. This
Scheme has been enlarged by the Medical Officer of Health to the Limehouse
District, who made an official representation to the Metropolitan Board of
Works of a certain area in his District, consisting of 1,804 square yards, on
which there are 30 houses, inhabited by a population of 188. The total
number of houses embraced in the combined Schemes of Whitechapel and
Limehouse, is 480, containing a population of 3,938.
Scheme No. 2 contains an area of about 18,382 square yards, on which
there are about 190 houses, with a population of about 2,277. This Scheme
embraces portions of the Parishes of Spitalfields and Whitechapel, and is
published in my Report for the last Quarter.
Scheme No. 3. The locality embraced in this Scheme is set forth in
the above official representation made to the Metropolitan Board of Works.
The total area consists of about 21,400 square yards, and is entirely confined
to the Parish of Whitechapel. The number of houses included in this
Scheme is 314, and are inhabited by a population of about 2,757.
The total area embraced in these three Schemes, including the small
portion of the Limehouse District, is rather more than 16 acres. The
number of houses proposed to be taken down is 948, and the number of
people to be displaced is 8,972. The rate of mortality for the year 1874, was,
deducting the deaths of non-residents in the London Hospital, 28 per 1,000 ;
while the rate of mortality in the same year in Scheme No. 1, was 42 per
1000; in Scheme No. 2, the rate of mortality was 36.4 per 1000; and in
Scheme No. 3 it was 30.0 per 1000. In estimating the unhealthiness, or
otherwise, of a particular locality not much reliance can be placed upon the
mere death rate; for, in forming an opinion on the health of any place, the
birth rate must be considered, the ages of the persons living, the occupations,