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ment of the carriage traffic; and it is earnestly hoped, by all those who have
the public health of this great city at heart, that no reasonable expense will
be refused in improving the habitations of the poorer classes.
" As the Whitechapel District is, for the most part, a very old portion of
London, it will probably be found that, proportionally, there are more
houses unfit for habitation within its area than in any other District in the
Metropolis; and this circumstance will satisfactorily account for the several
areas which I have thought it to be my duty to bring under the notice of
the Metropolitan Board.
The 31 and 32 Vic., cap. cxxx., better known as "Torrens' Act," may
be looked upon as a failure; for, although the District Boards may compel
landlords to take down houses which cannot be made fit for human habitation,
yet they have no power to purchase the land which would then be rendered
vacant; and even, if they were empowered to purchase it, it would be found, in
some instances, not to be of sufficient width for making it into a thoroughfare,
or for selling it to build houses thereon.
In building a new class of houses for the poor some difficulty will be
experienced in so arranging the necessary conveniences that nuisances shall
not arise; and the pipes for the water supply must be so situated as to be
out of the reach of children, who, from the love of mischief, might damage
them. Great watchfulness must be exercised over the tenants to prevent
nuisances in the rooms arising from the accumulation of filthy rags, skins
of animals, and other offensive materials, which, from my own experience of
the habits of some classes, will occasionally occur. Some open spaces must
be provided within the curtilage of these buildings for a large class of
persons who earn a living by wood chopping and sack making, who, unless
careful supervision is used, will soon destroy the property.
Whitechapel and Limehouse Improvement Scheme.
In the Provisional Order, signed by the Home Secretary, as set forth
in the Metropolis (Whitechapel and Limehouse) Improvement Scheme
confirmation, it appears that the number of persons of the working classes
who will be displaced by the Scheme, if carried out in accordance with this
order, is estimated to be 3669.
The dwellings to be erected on the lands constituting the Improvement
Scheme shall be built in 24 Blocks; 19 of which Blocks shall be 5 storys
in height, and 5 shall consist only of 4 storys; and each story shall not
be less than 8 feet in height in the clear.
The Blocks shall be so constructed as to provide, in the aggregate,
accommodation for not less than 3870 persons of the working classes; or
201 more persons will be accommodated in the area than will be displaced
therefrom.