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50
waters. This good result is mainly due to the measures
adopted by the Company for its reserve storage and
efficient filtration, the domestic supply has been at the
rate of about 25 or 26 gallons daily per head for the
population of the Hamlet. This quantity is unfortunately,
of course, not used, firstly, because the majority
of houses have not the provision for storing a fourth of
the supply, and secondly, if they had such, they would
not use it, at least not until taught the great benefit derivable
therefrom; this they have not been able to learn
because they have not the means provided to keep the
quantity supplied; neither can they, nor would if
they could, preserve it in the all but pure condition in
which it reaches them from the Company, a qualitative
condition which many country towns and villages would
be glad to obtain.
Landlords of the small class of house property usually
pay water rates direct to the Company; they pay for
that which is not used or not received. Owners of this
kind of property have much to contend with, and are
frequently visited with unmerited obloquy and penalties
owing to the dirty and dilapidated condition which these
houses rapidly fall into from carelessness, neglect, or
wilful damage, on the part of the occupants; at the
same time, I am sure if these tenants had better and
larger means for storing water they would use it, keep
their houses in a more creditable condition, and do less
injustice to the landlord. I am glad to find that
which I have always advocated, viz., an entirely separate
and disconnected closet and domestic supply, are found
more frequent than formerly. Either sufficient water
storage must be provided for every dwelling, or a sufficient
number of public baths and wash-houses must be
established in every district. Water, air, and light, are
nature's disinfectants and preventives of disease; they
are abundantly provided, but most meagrely and inef-