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9
The Unhealthy Condition of Certain Portions
of the District.
The Inspectors, in the two subjoined reports, have directed the attention
of the Board to the defective sanitary condition of some of the houses
situated both in the north and south sides of the District.
These reports are of great importance, and well deserve the best
attention of every member of the Board. I feel perfectly convinced that
whenever such facts as are set forth in these reports are known, means will
soon be taken to get the evils removed. I can state, for the information of
the Board, that the Inspectors, by frequent visitation of these places, have
caused the landlords, to a limited extent, to comply with their orders
for improvement; but it is found to be almost impossible, from the
old and worn out condition of the property, to get such structural alterations
effected as will permanently improve the sanitary condition of the
tenements. Even if some of the owners were willing to do so, it would be
found impracticable, owing to the want of space and from the faulty
construction of the houses. Under existing circumstances, while negotiations
between the Metropolitan Board of Works and the landlords of some
of these localities are in progress, it is not probable that any improvements
will be carried on, but as may be reasonably expected, matters will become
worse and worse.
The only effectual remedy, therefore, is either to close the houses or
to demolish them with as little delay as possible. Some inconvenience may
be expected to be felt for a time when masses of the people are removed
from a locality; but, in my opinion, greater inconvenience will be
experienced in allowing those wretched houses (the condition of which is
well described by the Inspectors) to remain. On referring, however, to my
Reports for the quarters ended July, 1865, page 7; September, 1877, pages
17 and 18; and June, 1879, pages 10 and 11, it will be seen that the
working classes who have been compelled to remove in consequence of their
houses being demolished for public improvements readily find lodgings
elsewhere; and hence, in my opinion, there was no necessity to make
extensive provision in the Act for the building of houses for the labouring
class. Indeed, it would be interesting to be informed of a single instance
in which such provision has been made, and appropriated to the actually
dislodged families.
BOARD OF WORKS, WHITECHAPEL DISTRICT.
Dwellings in Goulston Street and Localities adjacent.
Gentlemen,
As the Sanitary Officer of the North portion of the Whitechapel
District, I feel it to he my duty to ask your attention to the bad sanitary
condition of some of the courts and alleys in an area called the Goulston
Street Scheme; respecting which your Medical Officer of Health made an