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could be made to disinfect public carriages, and, if so, upon what
terms. To this I replied that we would, when so applied to, carry
out our disinfection, so far as we could practically do so.
gratuitous!}'. I am somewhat astonished at the report of the
Ambulance Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, which,
whilst it in one short paragraph expresses an " opinion that such
disinfection cannot be efficiently performed owing to the usual
construction of those vehicles,'' in many others gives reasons why
cases of infection should only be removed by themselves. This
latter opinion commends itself so readily upon sanitary grounds
that I sincerely hope such may be soon arranged, but, as I
apprehend that the police officials are only anxious that cabs
should be disinfected which have been, probably through inadvertence,
subjedted to risk, I did not feel justified in withholding
promise of assistance. Although three months have elapsed since
consent was given, 1 have received no applications yet to redeem
my promise, thus bearing out my view as to the occasional service
which is demanded.
In December last I received some letters from the Comptroller
of the Bridge House Estates, who, writing from the Guildhall,
stated that in construCtng the New Tower Bridge it would become
necessary to remove the remains of the persons interred in the
burial ground situate at the East end of the Tower of London, and
to inter them in the Ilford Cemetery. Removal of the remains will
be shortly effected under my supervision, in accordance with the
terms of the Act of Parliament. The work of exhumation is now
proceeding under the direction of the City Architect.
The mean weekly temperature of the air during the year was
4S0-75 Fahr., which was slightly above the average for last year.
The highest temperature recorded was 89°.8, on
Meteorological July 6th, and January 7th, 1886, registered the
Returns. lowest, when the thermometer stood at 1605.
Rain or melted snow was measured during the
year as producing 24.09 inches, and having fallen on 162 days.
For a more detailed analysis of the records of this department, see
Table N (page 35).
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOSEPH LOANE.
To the Board of Works for the
Whiteehapel District.