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19
of Peabody-buildings, and for that I cannot do better than repeat
the report made by Mr. Wheeler and myself when we inspected
them :—
"Having viewed the same we found the shoots of the dustbins
open direct to every floor, which, being in the centre of the
building, we consider injurious and prejudicial to the sanitary
conditions of blocks of dwellings of this nature. Although they
have existed for some years, we think it would be the means of
reducing the chance of sickness, besides making the building
much more healthy, if a shoot was constructed in brick or iron
on one of the external walls at the end of one of the passages.
This shoot should end on the yard level A, and although having
an inlet for dust from each floor, could be ventilated externally,
and would not of necessity require a roof (which would greatly
facilitate the collection of the refuse), and being thoroughly
ventilated and entirely on the exterior of the building would not
give so great a chance of poisonous gases permeating into the
residences. Although there might be a difficulty in compelling
them to carry out such an alteration, no doubt the certificate
required by the Inland Revenue could well be withheld until a
long-required sanitary improvement such as this were carried into
effect."
The reports of the Inspectors of St. Margaret and St. John is
appended to this report, and shows that in St. Margaret's 1,913
houses have been visited, and in St. John's 2,210, making a total
of 4,123. The details of work done are also shown.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your faithful servant,
BARNARD HOLT.