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the Vestry of St. James's cannot at present take the
initiative, the district, from circumstances, has to relieve,
accept, and dispose of the result from other districts,
and as the more distant contributors to sewer "gases,"
or whatever name may be bestowed upon what are
generally called "smells," do not themselves feel any
immediate result, makes it difficult to impress upon them
that others do. In wider suburban roads with gardens in
front of the houses, the result is not so palpable as when
a great amount of such unpleasantness is concentrated
in such a locality as Berwick Street or Silver Street.
The unsolved question of Ventilation of Sewers must
remain unsolved till such time as they will not require
any ventilation at all, or at any rate very little.
The definition of Ventilation of Sewers means really
getting rid of the smell. The Metropolitan Board of
Works have done much towards this, more than is generally
understood, but the point to be really aimed at, is to
have as little to get rid of as possible.
This subject leads naturally to the next, viz., Public
Conveniences.
The Vestry and the Works Committee know so well
how they have been, and are, hedged round with difficulties
on this most important subject that any observations are
quite superfluous.
One small affair in King's Arms Yard, Glasshouse
Street, has certainly been accomplished. The continuance
of this is even now partly on sufferance. It is not the