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15
November, although the weather was very cold, this fresh heap
exhaled an unpleasant sickening, smell, evidently depending upon
the decomposition of the organic matter mixed with the ashes. A
notice has been served.
At the southernmost end of Swan-lane, close to the palings
separating from the lane the premises of the Grand Surrey Canal
Dock Company, a large pool of water forms itself during the heavy
rains, and renders the street almost impassable. It seems to
gather at that particular spot from the slope of the embankment
turned northward, and that of the street southward, both slopes
meeting at the palings above named.
The water also in the part of the bed of the old mill stream
lying westward of the bridge is in a filthy state. It would be
advantageous to the health of the locality were that portion of the
stream filled up.
The joint Gas Enquiry Committee has terminated its labours.
The testing apparatus has been erected and an officer appointed to
superintend its working, and to report periodically to each Board
respectively, on the state of the gas as to pressure, illuminating
power, and chemical composition. The report of the Committee
will be duly submitted for your approval.
Forty-one persons died during the elapsed month; three deaths
were from hooping cough, which seems to be the only epidemic
disease at present prevalent in Rotherhithe.
Yours respectfully,
December, 1860. W. MURDOCH.
SIXTIETH REPORT.
Gentlemen,
I beg to call your attention to the footways over the lock gates
at the new entrance to the Surrey Canal Docks. These footways
are made of oak planking, and are about two feet in width. On
the southern side of them, towards the Docks, there is an iron
hand-rail supported by uprights of the same material, but on the
northern side, towards the river, they are quite open, there being
present neither rail nor chain. Now it happens that when the
large bridge remains open for some time, the foot passengers enter
the Dock gates and cross over these narrow footways. Two
persons meeting thereon, one must necessarily pass on the unrailed