London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Rotherhithe 1896
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]
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•210
310 cubic yards were carted to the Vestry's shoots at a cost of £31, the clean snow
being thrown into the river upon the ebb of the tide, whilst the dirty was deposited on the
wharf to melt and the debris tipped into the barges.
Un employed.
Except for cleansing the streets after the snow storms no especial works were
undertaken for the relief of the unemployed, and very few applications were received of
persons out of employment during the past winter.
Steam Roller.
The steam roller has been fully employed during the past year to the greatest
possible benefit to the parish. Previous to the purchase of the roller, when stone
was placed upon a road it was allowed to remain there without complaint for weeks, but now
things are altered, and I am constantly receiving enquiries to know when the roller is
coming, if it does not immediately follow the roadman, the parishioners not being satisfied
until the road is thoroughly consolidated.
The cost of working during the year has been as follows
| £ | 8. | d. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving 165 days | 48 | 2 | 6 | |||
| Cleaning, Oil, Packing, Coke, Repairs, etc. | 35 | 17 | 2 | |||
| 83 | 19 | 8 | ||||
| 10 per cent, depreciation | 39 | 0 | 0 | |||
| £122 | 19 | 8 | ||||
The total working days were 165, and if a roller had been hired for that period the cost
would have amounted to £280 10s., showing a saving of £157 0s. 4d. upon the year's work
by having our own roller. The amount added to the saving reported in my last annual
report makes a total of £271, or 75 per cent, of the cost of the roller. It was engaged in
48 streets in different parts of the parish, and was out on hire for 6 days.