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30
The charge for the Laundry, including a supply of boiling and
cold water, and the use of a mechanical wringer, steam dryinghorse,
mangle, and irons, is but 2d. per hour, and the Commissioners
desire once more to impress upon all who are brought
into close contact with the labouring classes, the immense
convenience thus afforded to those whose home is restricted to
one or two rooms.
It will be observed that the receipts last year (£3,212 10s. 4d.)
•were larger than for either of the two previous years. This
increase arises partly from a larger number of bathers and
washers using the establishment, and partly from the Vestry
for the first time paying the Commissioners for washing the
towels, attendants' blouses, &c., used at the Piccadilly Lavatories
and conveniences. This washing, the Commissioners did
gratuitously for the first year after the lavatories were opened,
but the increasing number of towels used necessitated the
occasional employment of additional help in the towel laundry,
and induced the Commissioners to ask the Vestry to enter into
an arrangement for the work on something like a commercial
basis. The larger number of laundry tickets issued may be in
part accounted for by the closing for several months of the
public washhouses in Endell Street for extensive alterations. At
the end of the year, however, the number of tickets issued each
day compared favourably with previous years.
The increase in the expenditure (£2,945 3s. 3d., compared with
£2,671 lis. lid. for 1890) occurs under two or three heads only,
and admits of easy explanation. Thus the continued fog of the
winter 1890-91 frequently rendered it necessary to burn gas
throughout the building during the whole day; the additional
cost of water is due to the Grand Junction Water Company
having terminated the former advantageous arrangement as
stated in last year's report, and requiring payment according to
the quantity registered by meter; the alteration to the bath
money-taker's office, as explained last year, has enabled the
'Commissioners to dispense with the services of one of the moneytakers;
and the repairs to the water mains were rendered
necessary by the bringing into use of a second main which had