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14
galvanised iron. I regret to find that the collection
of house refuse has not been executed in a satisfactory
manner, which has caused a considerable number of
complaints. I need hardly point out the importance
of a frequent removal of this house refuse, more
especially from the houses of the working class,
which are too frequently the most neglected. I need
hardly remind you that accumulations in the small
backyards of small tenements, such as Chiswick New
Town and other parts of the district, are detrimental
to health, more particularly during the summer
months. The real defect in this as also in other
badly-served districts is the absence of a methodical
plan for visiting every house in regular rotation.
Such a systematic arrangement is carried out in
the district of St. Pancras, that the actual complaints
of householders have been reduced from over
20,000 to less than 2000 by the adoption of a scheme
devised by Dr. Sykes, the Medical Officer of Health.
Each contractor is strictly bound to call at every
house, street by street, in that area according to a
schedule, and work regularly through the list. He
has also to furnish every Monday both the number
of the cart and the names of the men told off to
work each division on the schedule. By this arrangement
the householders know exactly when to expect
the dust cart each week, and can arrange accordingly.
If there is any failure or irregularity the inspector in
charge of this department can lay his finger both on
the time and the man, and can without any difficulty
ascertain whether the dustman or householder is to
blame. An arrangement such as this might be easily
adopted in this district, which is to say the least
unsatisfactorily served; it can effectually be remedied