TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 659 



houses ' — the author thought that a sufficient answer had heen given to this question 

 by the proceedings which took place at Glasgow, where the Corporation obtained an 

 Act in 1866 for the same purposes as that for which the Artizans Dwelling Act 

 was many years afterwards procured. This Act led to large purchases of property 

 by the Corporation, under the name of City Improvement Trustees. As soon as it 

 became known that these large purchases of blocks of houses had been made for 

 the purpose of clearing them away, and that there would consequently be a great 

 demand for house accommodation, builders immediately commenced the erection of 

 workmen's houses, and to such an extent has this been carried, that at December 

 last, while no less than 31,057 persons have been displaced by the removal of old 

 buildings during the ten years the improvement trust had been in operation, houses 

 have been erected, not only sufficient to accommodate those displaced, but greatly 

 beyond it. These trustees were in no hurry in pulling down the houses they had 

 purchased, and did not begin such operations for about two and a half or three 

 years from the commencement of their proceedings, so that sufficient time was 

 given for the erection of new buildings. It may, therefore, be reasonably 

 assumed that a like result will follow to all local authorities in similar 

 circumstances. Altogether, however, these operations have been effected with 

 great benefit to the public, and to all who could afford to pay a small increase of 

 rent for a better house ; yet it is not to be concealed that it has been attended with 

 considerable hardship to such as are too poor to pay an increased rent in an im- 

 proved locality. In Glasgow a considerable amount of accommodation has been 

 procured for this class in consequence of a number of tradesmen, with their 

 families, removing from houses in localities not of the poorest kind to those 

 newly erected and better situated, and thus leaving those from which they have 

 removed to this poorer class. These two outlets, though important, have not 

 in Glasgow been foimd sufficient to meet all the requirements, and accordingly re- 

 course has been had by the Corporation to the erection of model lodging-houses. 

 The peculiar construction of these is worthy of attention. The accommodation 

 given to each lodger is a comfortable bed, separate from others. There is apparatus 

 necessary for washing, &c, a bath-room, a comfortable large sitting-room, to which 

 all the lodgers are admitted, cooking apparatus, and fire and gas. The charge is 

 3id. and 4^d. per night, or Is, 9d. or 2s. 3d. per week. Games of various kinds are 

 allowed in the evening, and there are newspapers and a library for the use of the 

 inmates ; a chaplain is attached to each house, and Divine worship is performed 

 every Sabbath. The success which has attended the houses already opened is verv 

 gratifying; for although they have been erected at a time when ground and 

 building was at an inflated price, and when time was required to make them 

 known, so as to procure adequate numbers, they have yielded a fair return on the 

 money spent upon them, viz., 5} per cent, per annum. 



4. On the Boarding. out of Pauper Children. By Miss Isabella M. Tod. 



The most conspicuous opponent of the boarding-out system repeatedly and 

 earnestly deplores the mischiefs of all kinds to which children are exposed in work- 

 houses. The discontent and even alarm which such a conviction created led to the 

 establishment of the English District Schools. Undeniably the scheme had certain 

 advantages. But after many years' experience, the opinion of most of those who 

 have watched it minutely is that this plan also has failed, and has failed precisely 

 because, with all possible external advantages, it has inherited the wholesale work- 

 house mode of treatment, and, therefore, has reproduced its effects upon the children. 

 Various charitable associations in England had always been in the habit of finding 

 rural homes for some of their children, but the existence of the district schools 

 (although even they are only available for a minority of the pauper children), 

 probably prevented philanthropists from quickly perceiving their need of similar 

 care. The present movement in that direction may be said to have begun with the 

 exertions of Mrs. Archer, Miss Boucherett, the Misses Hill, and other ladies, about 



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