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6
Systemtaic Sanitary Inspection.

It appears that 410 houses give a population of 4,181 persons,
nearly all of the working class, showing an average of about 10
people in each house (10.2), they are not large houses; mostly
6 roomed, and not of modern construction.
It is sad to find so many families living in single rooms—
—rooms varying in cubic, space from 750 in a back room to 1250
in the front, allowing for each individual where there is a family,
less than 300 cubic feet of breathing space. This, with closed
doors and windows at night, is far too little for healthy existence.
These places, cabins I may call them, are clean, tidy, and
comfortable, and I am sorry to say represent not only the modest
dwelling of an aged widow receiving Parish relief, but the homes
of artizans receiving high wages. It is satisfactory to say that
only a few are the reverse of what may be called respectable and
comfortable homes, and when they are otherwise, it is too frequently
owing to improvident and drinking habits.
The conditions and difficulties under which a family is placed
when living in one room can scarcely be realized without occular
demonstration. Imagine the picture of a back and front room
occupied by two distinct families. Besides the living inmates,
man, wife, four children in one room; man, wife, five children,
one a grown up lad, a big girl or younger children in another,