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26
" Orders were given for the quarters to be thoroughly cleansed, and
" when this had been carried out, a detailed inspection was made.
" It was found that the total cubic capacity of the aliens' quarters was
" 16,269 cubic feet. This, reckoning two children as one adult, gives
" 67.74 cubic feet per head, but making deductions for lavatories, beds,
" &c., the available air space per head was only 60.84. The available
" floor space clear of the bunks was 963 square feet, and the available
" floor space per head 8.8 square feet.
" Twelve cubicles were stated to have been occupied by families, but
" beyond these no provision was made for the separation of sexes.
" The ventilation and lighting of the quarters were unsatisfactory.
" Only two water-closets (neither of which were ventilated) were
" provided for the 80 male passengers, and two for the 95 females and
" 130 children passengers. Ventilators were fitted to the latter closets,
" but they were obstructed by lifebelts.
" The only lavatory accommodation for the males consisted of three
" basins fitted in the lobby of the closet, and two for the females.
"The quarters were found to be very damp owing to the leaky
" condition of the deck overhead, and condensation of moisture on bare
" iron surfaces overhead and at the sides of the vessel.
" The mean length of the bunks was only about 5 feet 4 inches, and
" the mean width about 21 inches.
" In the event of bad weather the alien passengers would be confined
" to their quarters, as the after main deck was entirely occupied by horses."
" The s.s. "IRKUTSK," of Windau, from Libau, arrived in London
" on 13th December, 1905, with 239 passengers.
" Five of them, namely, 3 females and 2 children, were first-class
" passengers, and 234, consisting of 61 males, 91 females and 83 children,
" were steerage passengers.
" The total cubic capacity of the quarters occupied by the steerage
" passengers was 16,135 cubic feet, and, counting two children as one
" adult, this works out at 83'60 cubic feet per head, but making
" deductions for fittings &c., the available cubic space per head was
" 76.14.
" The total available floor space was 774 square feet and the available
" floor space per head 4 square feet.
" No provision whatever was made for the separation of sexes.