The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-22 00:00:00

THE . SANITARY CONSTRUCTION OF
DWELLING HOUSES.

The second course of Cantor Lectures of this session was
opened on 51ouday night in the rooms of the Society of Arts,
John-street, Adelnhi, London, by Dr. W. H. Cortleld, who
took for his subject--" Dwelling Houses : their sanitary
construction and arrangements."

The lecturer began by referring to the considera-
tions which should influence a person about too choose
the situation for a house, having regard to climate,
the position of the building, and the soil. Certain
classes of diseases were especially prevalent on different
kinds of soils. On soils pervious to water the pre-
valent diseases were of the enteric or typhoid kind,
fevers, and cholera when it became epidemic; while
on the impervious soils they were consumption and
other long diseases and rheumatism. It might not
at first seem that there was much to choose
between the two varieties of disease, but there
was a reason for preferring the pervious soil,
It was known that the diseases in the first
class were due, to a great extent, to the
eontamination of water percolating through the
soil into the wells, and this cause of unhealthiness
was preventable, whereas in the case of consump-
tion and rheumatism the sufferer could only be
recommended to go elsewhere. In the reighbour-
hood of large towns the refuse was cften shot
into hollows, and houses were subsequently' built over
the rubbish, This "made ground" should, as a rule,
be avoided, or at least a considerable time should be al-
lowed to elapse for the oxidation of the decaying
matter. Another important point was ta lower the
level of the subsoil water by draining. By doing this
in one town the death-rate had been diminished by 50
per cent. All the materials used in the construction of
the portions of a house below ground should be of
exceptionally good quality. Concrete, if well made,
might advantageously be used for foandations. If
possible. the rooms below the level of the ground
should be used as cellars only. A "damp course" of
impervious material should be built in the walls to
prevent the moisture from being drawn up by
capillary attraction.
After describing the materials best adapted for the
construction of walls, floors, ceilintai and roof, the
lecturer dwelt on the importance of disconnecting the
rainwater pipes from the sewers or drains, and showed
the objection to allowing them to be carried through
the house.

FOREIGN TO THE SUBJECT.--In a telegram dated
Calcutta, Feb, sth, it is stated he Zakha Khels have
fulfilled their engagements, Lod are showing a dis-
position to maintain friendly relations. We wish
some of the English people woald follow this example.
During the present distress it would be very accept-
able if someone would maintain our friendly but poor
relatione.—Fun.

4.L.,::;;;;-1;; 'T.t•
-

THE WEST OF ENGLAND BANK
FAILURE.

In connection with the destitution in Devonshire, caused
by the failure of the West of England and South Wales
District Bank, by request of the Mayor of Exeter, a public
meeting was held on Monday afternoon at the Cannon-street
Hotel, London, in aid of the Exeter committee for relief of
destitute shareholders, at which Devonshire men in London
were specially invited to attend. Mr. Henry Stafford
Northcote, sou of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, occupied
the chair, and the room was well filled with the class whose
attendance had been invited.

The Bishop of Exeter announced that they had ex-
pected that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would
have been present, but as he was unable to attend,
and as his son was present, he (the Bishop) would
propose that that gentleman take the chair, and he
would be able to express his father's interest in the
matter.

Mr. Northcote, on taking the chair, said his father
had desired him to express the very deep and sincere
regret he felt at not being present and his cordial
sympathy and co-operation in the work they were met
to inaugurate in London. He was happy to think,
from the number of gentlemen he saw present, that he
need not explain the nature of the meeting, and he
trusted he might augur from its appearance that it
would render valuable assistance.
The Mayor of Exeter stated what had been done in
Devonshire to alleviate the distress. It was heart-
rending to read the statements of sufferers, many of
them teing widows and orphans. There was one case
of an aged person, nearly ninety, who had been pros-
perous, but was now reduced to penury; there was
more than one case of insanity. The first idea was to
form a fund, to be collected in Exeter and the neigh-
bourhood. It was then determined to extend the
operation of the fund to the whole country. In many
cases a very liberal response had been made, but the
sum subscribed was inadequate to assist the poor share-
holders as the subscribers would wish to d.). What
had hitherto been collected had been to give tem-
porary assistance in the shape of portions of the
dividend that would otherwise have been recdived.
The people of Devonshire would be most thankful to
this London Committee, who had so heartily come
forward to help Devonshire in this hour of severe trial
and distress.

Mr. liaise explained the preliminary steps which
had been taken in London. They had raised in
Exeter £5,200, and they had had abont 136 applica-
tions for assistance already, and they anticipated that
they should have about 70 more, about 200 altogether.
They had dealt with 40 cases, but the sum subscribed
was totally inadequate, and it had been determined to
make an appeal in London. The age of the applicants
varied from 60 to 80. Those only were relieved who
were destitute and incapable of earning their own
living. In London Dr. Lake and himself were acting
as honorary secretaries in originating the movement.
They had communicated with Devonshire men, and
had the gratification of receiving- promises to the
extent of between £6OO and £7OO, which he hoped
would be largely increased before the meeting termi-
nated.

The Bishop of Exeter (who announeed a donation
of .£5O from Sir H. W. Peek, Bart., who could not be
present) moved—
" That the fund raised in Devonshire being totally in-
adequate to meet the destitution arising from the failure of
the West of England Bank, Devonshire men resident in
London be invited to co-operate with the Committee formed
In Exeter, for the purpose of raising a Londt4n fund to assist
in helping to mitigate the disaster which has fallen on so
many of their fellow Devonshire men, who are now rendered
destitute."

He was quite sure that if Devonshire residents
in London had had the opportunity which he
possessed of looking into many of these cases, it
would be felt that they were not unreasonable in
obtaining every assistance they could for the
county of Devon and the city of Exeter. The
oases could hardly be described. One was the case of
a poor old women living in a village not far from
Exeter, who had formerly kept a little shop, who had
retired from business when not far from the age of
seventy, and was living very quietly on the shares she
had in the Bank. She was described as always doing
her best for all her friends and neighbours. She had
absolutely not a penny besides those shares to live on.
Think of such a case, with the possibility of going to
the workhou-:e. Another was the case of an old
woman who had brought up a family. She had only
about £24 a a year, which had all been swept away,
and she was left penniless in the world. Another
was the case of a lady well on in years, who had
shares bringing in not quite £9J a year, who was
left absolutely penniless. Cases of that sort, one
after another, came before them. He spoke after
careful personal inquiry into the cases. It was im-
poAible to come away from the meetings of the Corn.
mitten without having the heart rent with the suffer-
ing that had been inflicted by this disaster. All they
could do was to find out the worst cases of destitution,
and that was what they had done. Four hundred
pounds had been granted in this way. What was
to be done with this amount of destitution? Some
of these persons possessed small annuities, which
would be swept away by the salts. In some cases they
might prevent a home from being broken up by
saving the furniture. The sum thty had been able
to raise they should not consider the sum total
of what was to be raised in the county of Devon,
and he trusted they would be able to increase that
sum. What could they do with £5,000 in such a case
as this? He hoped it would not be considered that in
making this appeal to the Devonians in Loudon they
were doing more than might fairly be claimed from
those who had prospered in the world and had not for-
gotten the old county, one which, more perhaps than
any county in England, attached its sons to its soil.
He earnestly asked that they would give their best
help in the work it was proposed to do. The very
greatest car,- was taken in the distribution of this
money, and they were anxious that the money should
go to those who thoroughly needed it.
Mr. Mills, M. P., seconded the resolution, and the
Earl of Devon, Mr. Arthur Kekewich, Mr. Holman,
and Mr. E. T. E. Besley supported the appeal.
On the motion of Mr. Edgar Bowring, a committee
was appointed; after which the Earl of Devon 'moved
a resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Townend,
that all persons having business connections with
Devonshire, or who otherwiso felt interested in the
county, be invited to contribute to the fund, All the
resolutions were unanimously adopted, as was a vte of
thanks to the chairman, moved by the Mayor of
Exeter, and seconded by the Earl of Devon. It was
announced that the contributions promised would
reach about £l,OOO.