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91
doorway to be made in the outer wall, thus securing light and
ventilation into the open air.
The necessity for this alteration was demonstrated very
quickly. The following day it was discovered that a man was
lying dead in the back parlor of 63, Regent's Row, who had
died of typhus fever, and on examination it was proved that the
closet was fitted like that of 8, Norwich Road. There was no
trap, there was indeed nothing whatever to protect the tenants
from being poisoned with sewer gas. The Committee, therefore,
directed the same alteration of closets in No. 63, and also No.
62, Regent's Row, as they had previously directed at No. 8,
Norwich Road. In executing the foregoing works, and to
secure proper drainage of yards, sink and sculleries, it has been
necessary (the back part of the yards being above the level of
the part adjacent to the houses), to extend the lower part 3-ft.
6-in. by removal of that much of the upper part, and to repave
the yards and sculleries, the same being in a very defective
state.
The dust bins provided by the owner were constructed of
fragments of old decayed wood and could not be durable. In
their place, as directed by the Committee, substantial brick bins
have been substituted. In conclusion, I beg to say that it has
been necessary for me to devote an altogether disproportionate
amount of my time to these houses.
23 to 49, REEVE'S PLACE.
These seventeen cottages are old and somewhat decayed
structures, having large forecourts in Reeve's Place and small
back yards abutting on Nuttall Street. The back yards were
defectively paved, and the water closets foul and dilapidated,
the forecourts originally intended for gardens, but now used
largely for trade purposes by costermongers, were not paved
nor drained, and could not be kept clean; they were therefore,
generally in a miry condition, to which the interiors of the
houses responded; and it could not be otherwise.