The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-06-01 00:00:00

Stourbridge, 29th April, 1872.

G entlemen,

In accordance with the resolution passed at one of
your recent meetings,' That a Medical Officer of Health
be requested to examine the placea prejudicial to health
and report thereon, and, at the same time suggest ouch
measures, ill his opinion, are necessary to promote
the general health of the town," I beg to offer the fol-
lowing suggestions.
Grounding my observations on drainage on what I
gather from the town map, besides Beauty Bank and the
streets connected with it which I have already mentioned,
other parts of the tiwil seem quite unprovided with sew-
enige, via., part of Mill-street, Birmingham-street, from
No. 3 to the corner of Foster-street, the whole of Mount- I
street, and the greater portion of the inhabited part of
Angel-street. This leaves a closely-built and dirty part
of the town quite unprovided for in the matter of drain-
age, except what runs along the surface into the neigh-
bouring streets. Tale deficiency ought to be remedied.
It is surpridng that this part of the town remains so
healthy as it does under existing circumstances.
A 811114 ii stream of water called the 'Town Ditch," has
Mien used for the purpose of drainage. In the course
id this, at the corner of Kidderuainsteristreet and Won
cester-street. there oppears to he a catch-pit. in which the
more -mid parts of tee sewage subside, which necessi•
Urea the nuisance of emptying it periodically. This
evil. I think, might be remedied by carrying the whole
s. wage away at once. From this point the " ditch "
passes through green fields as an open drain, and arrives
at the bock of the houses at the corner of Bowling-green
Lane and Ltonoitreet. The water is necessarily charged
with all the offensive matter it has collected, and leaves
a filthy deposit in its course ; this is not only an annoy-
sag hi:ism:or to the neighbourhood, but mast likewise be
very prejoitcial to the puthic health, and the ditch cer-
tainly ought to he covered ever immediately.
I mot ii Mso draw your attention to the utter want of
ventilation its some of the small houses in Webb'e yard
and Yak Horse Yard, at the end of Coveatry-street, and
in miler phices. The houses are built withoot any hack
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outlet whatever. either wiuriow or door, so that a current

utt tobot possiiny • sist. If this objection cAunot be
obit tel ii It iuses already built, could it not be prevented
inn.l t rsi r efe,t •ds, sod tcold not the overcrowding
uf in small dwelling houses be scouted. Alsd,
ti.. ty :vies end cesspools shoubi be placed at seine little
11111.i.C.• heal the houses. At the end of Mill street and
also in Dukv-street. some of the back premises in which
the people principally rciide, &repot more than two yards
frtin toe entrance uf the privies. The same observirtions
would apply to pigsties.
it. of manure, or decomposed animal or vegetable
refuse, ought not to be allowed to remain near the dwel-
ling•houses ; neither should drains be placed under the
ilooring of the houses. Cesspools should be emptied
fr, gneutly, and time or other disinfectants used during
the process, and inmediately afterwards.
A sufficient supply of pure water is much required in
some parts of the town, and I would also wish to recom-
mend to your consideration the desirability of erecting
public batha and washhouses in some easily accessible
situation. . .

I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
ROBT. LYONS CAMPBELL.
Your Committee have considered it desirable to post-
pone the consideration of the Report.
PUBLIC Ifitxxxii BILL —Your Committee report that
a communication from the Local Government Board,
dated the 2nd May, has been received, sad to which a
reply has been forwarded by sour Clerk. Lathe corres-
pondence is not vet c trupleted your Committee report
progress. A communication having been received from
Mr. O. W. Hastings, Malvern, inviting either your Chair-
man, or some other member of your Board, to a confer-
enr, at Warcester on the provisions of the Bill, your
Committee ',coated the Rev. David Maginnis to repret
sent them at the said conference, which was held at
Worcester on Saturday last. Your Committee recom-
mend that Mr. Magiunis's travelling expenses be paid.
Mr. Hughes said, in the absence of Captain
Walker, he would move the adoption of the re-
port. tie was very much pleased to hear of the
decrease of small•pos in the town. He thought
that showed they were endeavouring to stamp it
out. .

The Chairman said before he put the report to
the ideetin Er for adoption, he would make one
remark. Mr. Mginnis going to Worcester af-
forded him great pleasure. tie knew that in his
absence Mr. 31am uois had kindly consented to
take that position, and the committee necessarily
treated with him as the representsiive of the
Board. _ _

.....
Mr. Perkins seconded the adoption of the
report.
Mr. Maginnis said as he had been requested
to state his experiences at Worcster, he would
do so. The meeting was really a representative
meeting, and representatives from Town Coun-
cils, Town Commissioners, Boards of Health,
and Boards of Guardians throughout the county
of Worcester were present. There were only
two absentees —Dudley Town Council and some
authority at Malvern Link. The Mayor of Wor-
cester presided, and Mr. Hastings, at some
length, gave them the objects of the Bill.
The Chairman said after hearing the remarks
of Mr. Maginnis, he would again trouble them
with a few remarks. The Local Government
Board was one of a very extravagant and expen-
sive character. Asa member of another Board,
_ _.

the Board of Guardians, he would make an ob-
servation. They wanted a hospital for the recep-
tion of saiall-pox cases, and wanted to know the
cost of the erection of one suitable for the par.
p!se. The Local Government Board sent down
their plan, and said it would cost .0,500, whilst
he was quite sure that £5OO would have done
everything that they might require. This WM
1 one of the cases of the extravagance of the
Loc.ll Government Board. The Chairman !said
before pa-st from the ques'ion he had another
remark to nose and that was to propose a vote
j of thanks to Mr. Maginnis for his kindness
undertaking to go to Woreester, and tor the