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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[July, 



still 3/. In the samp division, Ijy the adojitinn of a system of cleansing hy 

 Hushing or flooiling with water,'! lie aecumiilation of ileimsits of Jecumiiosing 

 substances lias Ken [irevcnteil in a large jiroportion of tlic sewers ; and by 

 rendering unnecessary the mode of cleansing by hand labour and cartage (at 

 onee unhealthy and expensive), 50 per cent, of the former expense has been 

 saved. 



The investigation of such details has appeared to us to be cf the highest 

 practical importance, as aH'ecting the question of expense and efiiciency. The 

 statements «e have received, are subject to considerable modifications in dif- 

 ferent places, from the varying prices of labour ami materials ; but hitherto, 

 at almost every step in the progress of this detailed inquiry, it appears that 

 the practical course of eflicient improvement is not incompatible with the re- 

 duction of existing pecuniary charges, independent of the vast gain in the 

 public health, convenience, and comfort. 



Mr. Foden, architect, in his evidence aflbrds examples of works in use, and 

 gives instances in support of similar conclusions advanced by other practical 

 witnesses, that under appropriate arrangements water may be carried into 

 houses, proper house drains and means of cleansing introiluced, and branch 

 sewers formed at nearly one-half the annual or weekly expense now incurred 

 for the proper cleansing of the cesspouls alone. 



"We have appended an estimate made by Mr. Coulthart, of Ashton-under- 

 Lyne, of the expense of all the works deemed refjuisite for the sanatory im- 

 provement of that town, as contrasted with the pecuniary saving of the ex- 

 penses attendant upon excessive sickness and mortality. 



YAhVB OF THE Refuse and Sewerage of Towns. 



To the subject of the advantage to be derived from the sale and improved 

 application of the refuse and sewage of towns, to the purposes of agriculture, 

 we have directed and are directing our inquiries. In additif)n to the instance 

 of the application of a part of the refuse of Kdinburgh to agricultural pro- 

 duction, which has already been made jiublic, we append an account which 

 we have obtained of a similar application in long and successful practice at 

 Milan. Mr. |.lames Dean states this system is adopted at Ashburton in 

 Devonshire. This topic is illustrated by the evidence of Captain Vetch, who 

 has paid much attention to this question and has had occasion to x'eport upon 

 it after the survey of two towns with a view to the adoption of measures for 

 their sanatory improvement; — the subject is further elucidated by Mr. Roe, 

 who was called upon to make surveys, for the drainage of Derby and Eton. 



In Ihe course of the investigation at Hull, an instance of a consolidated 

 collection of all improvement rates, as well as of all general and local taxes, 

 was met with, and has been recommended to our attention, as obviating some 

 of the inconveniences of a separate and special rate for local improvements, 

 and of preventing the vexation and expense incurred by separate collections 

 of the diflerent rates for existing works. The advantage of this consolidated 

 collection is displayed in the evidence ol Mr. Fox of ."^cullcoates. 



The evidence recited generally recognizes that principle of legislation to be 

 just and acceptable, which has been suggested for lightening the burthens of 

 future improvements, by spreading the expense of the outlay over an ex- 

 tended period, so that the cost might be repaid within a reasonable time, with 

 interest, by an annual rate, or by an addition to the rent, unless where the 

 persons interested choose to perform the work themselves under proiier regu- 

 lations, or where they prefer liquidating the charge at once. But the appli- 

 cation of this principle, which woubl in so many instances do away witli ob- 

 jections to improvements on the ground of the immediate expense, .and which 

 would require to be accompanied by securities for the protection of absent 

 parties, is a subject demanding further inquiry and consideration. 



Defective Ventilation 



We have directed our Inquiries into the evils attendant on the over crowd- 

 ing of dwellings, and on the bad construction and imperfect ventilation of 

 houses, and the defective regulations fur the width of courts, alleys, and 

 streets, causes w hich are represented as contributing largely to the extension 

 of disease. 



The evidence collected exhibits the great benefits derived from the intro- 

 duction of ventilation, at an expense comparatively inconsiderable. Dr. 

 Arnott explains the means which he has devised for that purpose, and which 

 iie reprcseiits to be cheap, simple, and eflicient. Mr. Toynbee instances the 

 successful apiilicatiun of one of those means to some of the over-crowded 

 rooms, occupieit both by artisans and by persons of the poorer class in the me- 

 tropolis. The evidence of Dr. Higby, already referred to, shows the import- 

 .ance of ventilation in rendering successful other means taken to prevent the 

 recurrence of severe epidemics in the hospital to which he is attached. Dr. 

 Guy furnishes examples of the improvement in the health of workmen, that 

 may be anticipated from the introduction of ventilation to all workshops, in 

 which large numbers are crowded, or in which processes are carried on in- 

 jurious to health. 



Measures of external ventilation, by arrangements for Ihe proper widlli 



and direction of streets, open an extended field of inquiry. Mr. H. Austin, 

 architect, presents an instance where better arrangements of houses now form- 

 ed into courts, alleys, and streets, would secure a superior ventilation and 

 afford a good return for the outlay. 



Builders of the humbler as well as of the higher class of tenements, stale 

 In their evidence losses incurred, and injuries done to the inhabitants, and to 

 the (iroperty, by the building of houses at wrong levels, which might have 

 been obvialed had there been an autlientic survey, n ith the proper levels laid 

 down, to which they could have had access. These witnesses have attested 

 the utility of pre-arranged lines of drainage, as guiding the direction of new 

 buildings, where no other circumstance governs their disposition. 



Mr. Roe, surveyor to the ilolboru and Fmsbury Commission of Sewers, 

 gives an instance of the evil that has arisen from the want of such a survey 

 as the basis for a correct system of drainage, and he has adduced an estimale 

 of the large outlay probably requisite to repair the defects thus occasioned. 



With reference to this branch of our inquiry, we have examined engineers 

 •and competent witnesses as to the best description of surveys requisite for the 

 gradual, efficient, and economical improvement of old districts, and for the 

 proper regulation of new districts. M'e refer especially to Ihe evidence of 

 Mr. Butler Milliams, Kngineer and Professor of Geodesy to the College lor 

 Civil Kngineers at Putney; of Captain Vetch and Captain Dawson, of the 

 Royal Kngineers; and of the Civil Enguieers, Mr. Myliie and Mr. Hawksley. 



We have obtained and appendetl to this report specimens of surveys upon 

 the scale adopted for the survey of towns now in progress under the direction 

 of the Board of Ordnance, with some estimates of their cost, made in com- 

 pliance with our request, under the direction of Colonel Colby, R.K. 



Among the subjects still requiring investigation, are the efl^ects of manu- 

 factories which emit offensive and deleterious effluvia ; and in what manner 

 injury lo the public arising from these causes, may be diminished or pre- 

 vented. 



In the course of our inquiries, evidence has been afforded of the pollution 

 of wells, and the increased ofTensiveness of emanations from sewers caused 

 by the infiltration of water passing through contiguous grave-yards. As the 

 efTects produced upon the public health by the practice of interments in towns 

 have not been referred to this commission, and as at the time we entered 

 upon our duties that subject was under .separate investigation, we have not 

 directed our special attention to it. 



Among other important topics which we have before us is the subject of 

 sanatory regulations for common lodging-houses, and the prevention of the 

 filth and over-crowding, which often render them the seats of contagious 

 diseases, a question which also involves local regulations of police. 



Our attention has been invited to the means of giving facilities for provid- 

 ing public walks, baths, or other convenient bathing places in the vicinity of 

 populous towns. 



We have especially turned our attention to the means for improving Ihe 

 worst, and Ihe most crowded districts, in large towns ; a subject of great im- 

 portance, and of very great difficulty. It may appear to be a comparatively 

 easy task to provide against the occurrence, in new districts, of the evils 

 w hich at present prevail in parts of old towns ; but in the heart, and even in 

 the immediate suburbs of towns, not only of ancient, but also of modern date, 

 where these evils chiefly abound, the value of the projwrty, the iiilricacy and 

 variety of the interests involved, and the occupations and callings of the in- 

 li.ibitants, increase in a great degree the difficulty of devising measures which 

 we may be able with confidence lo recommend as efleclual, and at the same 

 time as capable of enforcement. In the recommendation of measures calcu- 

 lateil to have a retrospective efl'eet upon such masses of property, (the dis- 

 position of which has not hitherto been placed by the legislature under any 

 control,) the greatest caution is necessary, lest, while seeking to afford a 

 remedy, injustice might be done to the inhabitants or the owners. This sub- 

 ject is still engaging our most anxious attention. 



In order to admit of the recommendation of systematic and comprehensive 

 measures, adequate to the magnitude of the subject, many practical details 

 are involved, which must be minutely examined and viewed equally in respect 

 to accuracy of principle, economy of execution, and adequate provision for 

 regulating and defraying the necessary expenses. 



We anticipate that it will be necessary to have recourse to the aid of the 

 legislature for furlher enactments, before the improvements so much to be de- 

 sired can be fully accomplished ; but at the s.ame time it is our duty to state, 

 that in many instances much might be effected, under the existing laws, to 

 mitigate, if not to remove, many of the evils which now prevail. 



In presenting this our first report to your Majesty, we are anxious to ex- 

 press our opinion that the information already elicited oilers the reasonable 

 prospect that great improvements may lie made to the general benefit of all, 

 especially Ihe poorer classes of your Majesty's subjects. We entertain a 

 confident hope that we shall be enabled to submit to your Majcsly's recom- 

 mendations adapted to carry out the object of your Majesty's commission 

 w ilhin as short a period as may be compatible with the consideration due to 



