COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHICALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
133
The dwellings are small, ill-ventilated, undrained, and thickly congregated. They are deficient in all the appliances of cleanliness. The social habits of the people, which it is difficult to control, add intensity to the external evils of their position. Though they had the means to receive their filth, they would retain more than they reject. They, however, use water freely, and were the localities of their abode efficiently drained, this indiscriminate habit would be in many respects a safeguard. Fresh water, however, although abundant in the Island, is a scarce and expensive luxury with the people. It is brought from a distance, and in dry weather obtained with difficulty, at an undue expense of labour, and, I regret to add, from objectionable sources, such as the public drains, or stagnant receptacles of rain water. A few tubed wells or fountains would be easily constructed, and at little cost, equally to the great benefit and comfort of the inhabitants.
The large open drains which convey the torrents from the mountains to the sea, and serve also for sewers, are open in the upper parts of the city. Their excessive declivity is a consequence of the city's layout. The air, at a short distance from these openings, becomes so foul that it will not support combustion, an evidence of its deleterious qualities. As these drains empty themselves into the sea below high-water mark, the tide rises into them, and forces the foul air through the upper openings. Every person who lives in the vicinity can testify to the practical effect of this affliction, from the disgusting odours which emanate at different periods of the day from the drains. The surrounding air thus becomes...
91
6
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON]
133
small, ill-ventilated, undrained and
thickly congregated. They are deficient in all the appliances of cleanliness. The social habits of the people, which it is difficult to control, add intensity to the external evels of their position. Though they had the floace of Reine to receives their filth, they would retain more) They however
ute water
than they reject . freely,
and were
the localities of their abode efficiently drained, this indiscriminate habit would
be in many respects a safeguard __. Fresh wata; however, although abundants in the Island, is as scarce and cxpension luxury with the people. It is brought from a distance, and in dry weather obtained with difficulty. at
at an undue cxpened wither of -labour, and, Iregret to add, from objectionable fources, such as the public drains, or stagnant receptacks of rain water A few truble wells or fountains
fountains would be
money
91
carily, constructed, and teed qually to the
greatly
eeefort, shambanels and tability of the
fity
The largo
drains which convery
peservoirs
of filth,
the torrents from the mountains to the sea, and serve also for are open in the upper parts of the bity.
their excessive declivitiy .
consequenes of
the air, at a short distance
openings, becomes to foul that it will
from these
not support combustion,
an evidenc
of
its deleterious qualities . As then drains
the
empty
themselves into
Lear
below high-
: water mark, the tide rises into them, and
forces the foul
aip
through the upper
openings. Conry person who lives in the
the vents
can te
testify
to the
vicinity of practical buth of this affection, from the disgusting odours
odours which ainanate at
different periods of the day from the drains. The surrounding
air thus becomes
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.