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windows and ventilation shafts, the re-laying of drains, new means
of access, and the re-facing of walls. The visitation during the
execution of these works was laborious, but the ultimate result has
been fraught not only with great benefit to the working bakers, but
with considerable improvement in the methods of manufacture of the
bread and other articles made upon the premises.
Housing of Working Classes Act.
During the year I only reported the following house as being in a
state so dangerous to health as to be unfit for human habitation, viz.:—
No. 23, Clarkson Street, Canning Town,
which was voluntarily closed and thoroughly renovated, before
occupation, by the owners.
In January, 1903, the Housing of Working Classes Committee
reported: "That, in connection with the subject of housing accommodation
for the working classes, your Committee have had it brought
to their notice that complaints are constantly arising with regard to
the alleged overcrowding of houses, and recommend that the Public
Health Committee be asked to cause instructions to be issued to the
Inspectors of the Public Health Department to pay special attention
to this question in their house-to-house visitations." In order to carry
out this instruction constant watch has been kept during the year
with a view to detecting overcrowding, but my officers have been
unable in their enquiries to elicit facts which would warrant the
belief that excessive overcrowding is rife in West Ham. From the
Nuisance Table in the Appendix it will be seen that 39 notices to
abate overcrowding were served during the year, a much smaller
number than was found necessary in the years 1899, 1900, and 1901.
During the year 498 new buildings were added to the inhabited