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13
WOOD PAYING.
In September, 1894, a deputation, consisting of Messrs.
H. H. G. Grattan, Frederick Frank, James Hayward, William
Huntley, F. Rand, and J. Wallis attended the Board and
requested that the upper portion of the Borough High Street,
forming the incline to London Bridge, might be paved with wood,
instead of stone, in continuation of the wood pavement already
laid down. The application was referred to the Paving and
General Purposes Committee and carefully considered. The
Committee, however, were of opinion that having regard to the
exceptional nature of the traffic and the very considerable extra
cost which would be incurred in the maintenance of wood, the
Board would not be justified in adopting it, and the site has since
been repaved with granite cubes, as originally intended. Towards
the cost of these paving works, estimated at £2,037, a loan of
£2,000 has been obtained of the London County Council, at
3½ per cent., repayable in ten years by annual instalments of
£200.
Applications were also received from the Managers of the
Orange Street Board Schools for Union Street to be paved with
wood, and from the Governors of Newcomen's Schools for the
roadway opposite the Schools, which are situate in Newcomen
Street, to be similarly paved. The Board informed the Managers
of the Board Schools referred to that when Union Street is in
need of being repaved their application shall be further considered,
and resolved to accede to the request of the Governors of
Newcomen's Schools.
PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.
The construction of underground Public Conveniences at
the east end of Southwark Street, in lieu of the erection formerly
standing on the site, having been completed, the same were
opened to the public on the 10th October, 1894. Although
availed of to a greater extent than was the previous structure, the
financial result thus far, owing to the greatly increased cost of
maintenance is far from satisfactory, the half-year's working
showing a debit balance of £23 10s. 11d. A detailed statement
of the receipts and expenditure for the half-year will be found on
pages 76 and 77.
The Board some time since resolved to construct similar
conveniences at the west end of Southwark Street, at an estimated
cost of ,£1,850, such cost including the removal of the large
central lamp column at the junction of Southwark Street and
Blackfriars Road, and the diversion of electric and other mains
rendered necessary for the purpose of the excavations. Application
for a loan of £1,750 towards defraying the cost has been
made to the London County Council.