The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-02 00:00:00

Seca nub tit jWs.

COMMISSIONEuS MEETING.

Ifr. W. J. Tnrney presit:ed at the usual monthly
nif.!,.t.ine of this Board held on Monday-, in the
C Aninissioner,' 10 m, Corn Exchange. There were
aito pr.Hnt Idessr-. Scutt, Gillam, Underwood,
yrelley„ North. Ink, Nati. Attwood, Perkin. Peer
in. Hickliu, Palfrey, Griffin, Edwards, H. ffurney,
sad Haek-w-
The miuutee of the last meeting were read and
euafirmed.
The linanee Committee reported that the
troallurees balanees on the several accounte are as
Nllows : Highway Account, A 598 17s 8d; Im-
provement Amount £293 13s 4d; Urban Sanitary
Authority £2lB 13- 9.1. YGur Committee t aving
exatum• d the fol owing Accuuutf, and ending them
correct, rec,,rumen it that they be paid. High way
Acouit £lO3 15. 41 ; Improvatiteht, Act:otint
Atit) Us 10d, ; Urtan tituaitery Authority ioooUri.

16s 8.1. T...e Co:ntnittel reporf.l prngress on
Ntr:rizet 111,(.1B ;Ids. _ _

The Chairmai ii he did not think th.y should
Jot the money under 4 per cent. They could get
it 50 times over at 4 per cent. He recommended
that the Board lyt the money remain as it is at
present.
Mr. Edwards said he Lad received a coma' inica-
tion from a friend to lend it at 31 per cent, and
he promised to write, lie had not yet received a
lett..r, but he thought he should before the week
was out. _ _

C airman said he did not think they should
get the money now.
Mr. Edwards said if he received a letter before
next meeting he would hand it to the Clerk.
Mr. Underwood asked when the notices to pay
off the bond expired?
The Clerk replied in March, and it was desirable
some decision should be come to in the matter before
long.
Mr. H. Turney said their was no hurry about it. '
The Clerk said sonie of the bond holders wanted
, to know what to do with their money.
The Medical Officer of Health reported that the
deaths registered frnin December 26 to January 21,
I '
1884. is 11, viz : 6 males and 5 females. The death
rate i+ 13 5. The number of births registered in
the same period is 19, viz : 11 males and 8 females.
The birth rate is 25 3. The death rate for the past
month is very low. The corresponding month last
year was much higher, viz: 27-5. With regard to
the notices served about the water I tes ad last
month they will be complied with excepting one
cue iv' Spring Trace, Union Street. In this case
the w ate is proved bad by Nesler's test so that
there is no need to send a sample to Dr. Swete.
It will be seen \in my Join nal some wells have been
tested. A case\ small pox exists in Mount Street.
Premises in Euville Streit, Mamble Square, and
Mount Street have been tested. The Medical
Officer's report for the year 1883 was laid before
your committee and also his Journal.
The Town Officer reported the nuisances reported

64. Nightsoil reolovai 142 privies, 102 ashpiis, and
1 cesspo,Jl, belonging to 260 houses hav3 been
emptied. Number of loads 195. Three cases of
overcrowding are reported by the officer, two of
them are eemoved and the other notice not expired.
Your committee report that the application for a
transfer of lodging house, No. 2 from William
Hid to William Lewis be complied with. The

town officer presented his annual -report for 1883.
Your Committee recommend that permission be
granted to attach electric wires to your premises
from Fire Brigade Station to the firemen's houses.
Your Committee report progress as to the disinfect-
inc apparatus and the insufficient lighting of streets
Your Committee have instructed your clerk to ob-
tain particulars concerning the purchase of a water
cart. The adulteration of food: A letter has been
received from the Rev. W. J. J. Welch on this
subject which will be laid before you. The Captain
of the Fire Brigade presented his repolt for the year
1883.
Dr. Eagar, Medical Officer of Health, presented
his annual re! err, whim& stated that during 1883 the
number of deaths was 164, giving a death-rate of
168 per thousand. In 1882 the number of deaths
was 230, and the death-rate 23.5. The birth-rate for
1883 was 31'5. There bad beim 21 deaths from
scarlatina, 3 small-pox, 2 diphtheria, 2 typhoid
fever, 10 phthisis, 1 whooping-cough, 38 bronchitis,
14 heart disease, 7 croup, 1 measles, 3 childbirth,
and 14 from accidents. During the year there had
been an outbreak of rmall-pox, and the arrangment
that had been come to about the isolation of in-
fected persons in the tents had been most beneficial.
Mr. H. :Turney mentioned the importance of
small-pox cases being at once reported t..) the sani-
tary officers, and stated that a case of small-pox
had been brought to the notice of thoir officer that
day, the 28th, though the patient was taken ill on
the 24th. He believed the same medical gentleman
conc rued attended one or two other small-pox
cases without reporting them to the authorities of
the tcq% n. If they were treat3d in this way how
were they to stamp out disease? It was ordered
that a letter be wiitten to the medical man referred
to with regard to the importance of reporting any
case of the kind.
Mr. H.Turney then read the following letter from
the Rev._ Dr. Welch :—King
_Edward's School,

Stougbridge, January 21st,188i. To the Stourbridge
Improvement Commissioners, Gentlemen, I beg
to ask your kind attention to a very important
clause contained in the directions issued to the
Sanitary Authorities by the Local Government
Board with reference to the adulteration of food,
and other articles. By referring to that clause you
will find that it is in the power of the Local Sanitary
Authority to direct the the Inspector of NuisancEs
t. procure and submit samples ti food, drink, or
drugs suspected to be adulterated to be analysed by
the Analyist appointed under the "Sale of food end
drugs Act, 1875," and upon receiving a certificate
stating that the articles of food, drink, or drugs
are adulterated, cause a complaint to be made and
take other proceedings prescribed by that Act. It is
well knots n that there is at least one article of food
frequently adulterated in this town I refer to milk.
I used not, I am sure. point out to you the value of
pure milk to any community, but to the poor it ie of
especial importance. This has long been recognised
in other towns where supervision with reference to
such matters is exercised. I theref, re respectfully
beg that such instructions may be issued to the
Inspoetor of Nuisances as may put a stop to these
illegal practices by whomsoever carried on. I am,
gentlemen, your obedient servant, W. I. J. Welch.
Mr. H. Tummy said he had had some conversa-
tion with Dr. Welsh on the subject of his letter,
and be found Dr. Welch referred particulary to the
milk served at the poorer class of houses were very
much imposed upon The Clerk was directed to
write to Dr. Welch. thaking him for his letter, and
the matter was referred to the General Purposes
Committee, with power to act.
Mr. H. Turney read the the following report of
the Fire Brigade :—The brigade had been called to
11 fires during the year, being 3 more than for the
year of 1882, and nearly 3 more than the average
for the past 4 years. Three of the fires were of a
serious nature, the damage amounting to more than

I one-sixth the value of th-e property -at risk. The
to at amount of damage was estimated at abeht
.e.58,4)0 as compared with £30,310 damage and
' £33,760 at risk during the previous year. These
; values were approximate, as the correct amount had
net elways been obtained. Two fires were of a long
duration having 17 ant 28 hours respectively. The
steam fire engine had been usel at 3 fires, doing its
; work in a very satisfactory manner. In going to
• and from the fires the brigade had travelled 33
miles. The average attendance of members at the
tires was a little over 11, the average time in turn-
out, when horses were required, being 7 minutes,
and when horses were not required 1 minute 15
secen Is. The times given were only approximate.
The Fire Brigade Committee were considering the
' advi..ability of putting electric fire-alarms to the
member's residences sou to do away with the great
delay and inconvenience of a public alarm, which
attracts the public and does not effictually call the
brigade. The drill had been well attended during
the year, and on September 29th the brigade re-
ceived the Midland Firs Brigade A.esocie.tion when
a number of interesting drills were eon° through.
The brigade comprised 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1
superietengeut, I hon. surgeon, unit 14 men. There
were 30 hydrants the pr., petty of the Commissioner s,
18 the property of the Water Works Company, and 8
private hydrernts The 10 new hydrants orde:ed
by the Commissioners had been placed on the high
pressure mains on the moat full positions. The pres-
sure of water in the mains had been excellent. The
CaptAin begged to th nk Superintendent Wheeler
I ant the members of the police force for their assist-
ance to the brigade,
vote of thanks was passed to the brigade for
their services
Mr. Woolley asked if there was any report from
the Incorporation Committee ?
The Chairman said, there was nothing to report.
A. meeting was held on Thursday to complete the
arrangements for cativasiug the town. The sign-
ing of the peti•ion was going on very satisfactory
and the whole thing would be completed shortly
and sent to London.
The Improvement Committee reported tle:t
plan for the erection of 3 lionsee in West Street,
was laid before your commi•tee and passed subjeet
to compliance with the Bye Laws. Property in
High :Area and Foster Street :Your Committee hold
a special tneethig to consider the appropriation of
tole prop niy particularly the width of the streete
referred to. as the whole matter is not definitely
agreed upon by your Committee they report pro-
gre,s. Apvlication has been received from the driver
of tee steam reller for:an increase of wages. Your
committee recouamend that the application be
refused.
The report was adopted