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15
Dr. Sanderson, in his first annual report (1856),
expresses the opinion that the Canal itself and the
various noxious trades which are carried on on its
banks are not only a public nuisance, but in an
unmistakable manner shorten the lives and multiply
the diseases of the surrounding inhabitants. In
1857, in consequence of the foul state of the Basin,
the Vestry requested the Company to empty it and
to remove the mud by spade labour. This the
Company declined to do, and contented themselves
with hand-dredging during several of the winter
months. The manner in which the work was done
did not satisfy the Surveyor of the Vestry. In
May, 1858, the Basin was emptied, and the
Company determined to cleanse the bottom by
spade, notwithstanding a protest from the Sanitary
Committee pointing out the danger of such procedure
during the summer months. Dr. Sanderson
reported that, although the operation was continued
during eight days, the excavation had not at the
end of that period extended to so much as one-half
of the whole area of the Basin; that during the last
three days of May, when the weather was unusually
hot, the emanations were most overpowering, and
afforded convincing evidence of the inexpediency
and probable danger of exposing the channel to the
summer sun. In December of the same year, the
Sanitary Committee requested the Company to