454 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



houses than in those country districts with which they can 

 be compared. That the low death-rate does not follow from 

 the specially favorable ages of the inmates is shown by the 

 results of the census taken in December last, which shows 

 that in these houses, out of every 1000 inmates, 330 were 

 under and 670 were above ten years of age. On the average, 

 therefore, the inmates were younger than in the population 

 of London generally; since in that city 237 per thousand 

 are under ten years old. If we compare the death-rate of 

 children under ten years old in these model houses with the 

 death-rate of children under ten years old in London general- 

 ly, we find that it is 24 per thousand in the former, and 48 

 per thousand in the latter. In fact, the figures show that the 

 population of the model houses is much more healthy than 

 that of the mixed population of London. There is therefore 

 a saving of disease as well as a decrease of deaths ; and the 

 advantage conferred upon the inmates, in the shape both of 

 economy of time and the economy of expense, must be very 

 considerable. In these houses the average population is at 

 least four times more to the acre than in the most densely 

 populated parts of London, forming an irresistible argument 

 in favor of the increase and extension of this class of build- 

 ings. 



But besides this great decrease in the rate of mortality 

 and disease, and the increase in the density of the popula- 

 tion, a great check seems to be given to immorality and 

 crime. Indeed, the improved dwellings of the Metropolitan 

 Association, in the facilities they offer for the detection of 

 crime, actually tend to its discouragement and suppression. 

 There are twelve sets of dwellings in different parts of the 

 metropolis, accommodating in all 5300 persons. At each of 

 these points a superintendent and a laborer reside, which of- 

 ficers, in performing their duties, become acquainted with 

 the tenants, their occupations and pursuits, and are instru- 

 mental in speedily detecting and removing any bad charac- 

 ters. About twenty years ago, in one of the dwellings of 

 the association, a working distiller established himself with 

 an illicit still. The rent was regularly brought down to the 

 collector, to prevent him seeing inside of the door of the ten- 

 anted rooms, and all went on most satisfactorily until the oc- 

 cupant of one of the basements of the dwelling stated his 



