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30
SEWERAGE.
Mr. Radcliffe says, "at the time
of the epidemic the East Districts
were less well drained than the
whole of the south, and the greater
portion of the north-west of London;
this arose from the low level
sewer of the main drainage not
being completed." But this defective
drainage, Mr. Radcliffe goes
on to say, "was not peculiar to the
East Districts. It was a defect
of the great slaughter-fields of the
epidemic, upwards of 200,000
square yards of surface in the Creek
and Lea Cut underwent then, and
do now, twice dressing with part of
the sewage of 70,000 inhabitants
every 24 hours. This is hardly the
place to speak of the loathing of such
as live in the neighbourhood, along
the edge of these depositories of this
sewage and that of the numerous
factories*— of the sickness in the hot
season— of the deaths that not unfrequcntly
follow. Ask those living
on the banks— question the people
of Limehouse, and they shall tell
their own story. But for the moment
sinking the opinion of others,
here alone— I say that here is to bo
found an accumulation "not to be
equalled by all the rest of the
metropolis." I now pass on to the
sewerage.
REMARKS.
Here again local knowledge
steps in to correct grave inaccuracies
of statement. This can only be
accounted for from the circumstance
of exact information not having
been sought, or if sought, had not
been obtained. Now what are the
facts? This defective drainage is
altogether peculiar to the East
District. On the other hand, all
those districts abutting on the river,
* At that time, 1866, Poplar had not checked this offensive issue into the Cut.