The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-04 00:00:00

THE BAKEHOUSES OF THE CITY OF LONDON.

Dr. LETIIEBY reported on the condition of the
bakehouses of the city of London. He caused them
to be inspected in order that they might be brought
under the provisions of the act of Parliament for
the regulation of bakehouses. The act was passed
in the month of July last, and was the result of
complaints made to the Secretary of State for the
Home Department by the journeymen bakers of the
metropolis as to the unwholesome condition under
which their labour was carried on. These complaints
were brought before Parliament in the summer of
1848, and were the subject of Government
inquiry
in 1861 and 1862. The chief facts brought to light
by this inquiry were, that young persons of tender
age were employed in bakehouses throughout the
night, and that the bakehouses were often in a
filthy condition, were imperfectly ventilated, and
were sometimes used as sleeping places. Acting,
therefore, on the recommendation of the commis-
sioner who was appointed to report on the matter,
Val Government originated the present act of Par-
liament. It provides that no person under the age
of 18 years shall be employed in any bakehouse be-
tween the hours of 9 at night and 5 in the morn-
ing. It also provides that every bakehouse
providedkehouses thhawllibe
kept in a cleanly state, and shall be
proper means for effectual ventilation, and shall be
free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy, or
other nuisance. And lastly, it provides that no
place on the same level as the bakehouse shall be
used as a sleeping place unless it is entirely sepa-
rated from the bakehouse by a proper partition, and
shall have an external glazed window of at least
nine superficial feet in area, half of which shallL obne.
made to open for ventilation.
The execution of this act within the city of
don is entrusted to the Commisasilo)nre.
rlsJeotfliSebey7eiaT
who
ee rt.
y e are f
o bes
h
the local
circumstantialcalauthoritiesan inspection made of
v
kehouso
within the
every
a
limits of the City. The
results of this inspection are as follow :-
1. There are 141 bakehouses in the City, in
which there are employed 364 boys and men and
on© woman. At the last census there were 508
men and 84 women employed as bakers and confec-
tioners in the City.
It would seem, therefore, that
about 72 per
cent of the bakers living in the City
are engaged as workmen in the bakehouses.
2, It wa3 ascertained that 101, or rather more

The report of the medical officer was at once
agreed to, and it was ordered to be printed and cir-
culated amongst the members of the Court.

THE OAS SUPPLY.
Dr. LETEEBY reported that the gas supply to the
City during the past week had been generally good
as regards the illuminating power, but the chemical
quality in the 7asb MI6. Great Cefitral and the
Chartered gas has not been good. The average pro-
portion of sulphur in the Chartered Company's gas
was 22.3 per 100 cubic feet of gas, and in the Great
Central 21.2, that of the City gas being 19.5. In
12 out of 18 observations the amount of sulphur was
above that sanctioned by the act of Parliament.
Some other business was disposed of, and the
Court adjourned.
Naval and Military Intelligence.