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13
and as the sheds are of a temporary nature, and not properly
paved and drained, the Council decided to call upon the
owner to carry out considerable work, or pull down the sheds.
This matter was in abeyance at the end of the year.
Slaughter The slaughter-houses have been inspected frequently,
and found to be kept in accordance with the Bye-laws.
There are only 6 of these premises in the district, and 3
are not much used.
Bakehouses. The bakehouses, 22 in number, were inspected during
the year; of these two were redrained under modern requirements,
and at one a smoke nuisance was abated.
•
Water Several more houses, that were supplied by artesian
Supply. wells, have had a water supply laid on from the water
company's mains; the water in the wells having failed
owing to the Lambeth Waterworks Company's pumping
operations at Streatham, in 1895. These operations drained
the wells that supplied 116 houses, and last year between 20
and 30 houses were affected.
OverFive bad cases of overcrowding were abated without the
crowding. aid of legal proceedings, and several complaints were made
respecting houses being in a filthy state.
Unfortunately there is a good deal of overcrowding in
South Wimbledon, and if the necessary cubic space for the
maintenance of good health were insisted on, I am afraid
many families would be homeless.
Needless to say, overcrowding and dirt go together; and
it is surprising to find what a number of the poor can only be
kept clean and decent by means of the law. There appears
to be strong aversion to cleanliness among a certain class,
and if baths were put into the houses they would probably be
used for rabbit hutches, or as depositories for rubbish.