The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-10 00:00:00

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SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS IN

MANCHESTER.

(From the Manchester Times.)
A few months ago an unanimous resolution was
passed by the Town Council of Manchester, recom-
mending the Improvement Committee to apply a portion
of the very ample funds accruing from the Gas Works,
the property of the corporation, to the purpose of open sing out the ends of close courts and alleys, so as to,
secure a thorough ventilation of the places in which the
working classes reside. In the discussion which took
place on the motion, it was stated, from the evidence of
Dr. Southwood Smith, Mr. P. Holland, and a number
of other gentlemen of high professional reputation,
that the rate of mortality in ill-paved, ill-drained,
and ill-ventilated alleys and courts was very much
beyond the general average, and nearly double the
rate that prevailed in first-class streets, the re-
sidences of persons whose circumstances enabled
them to choose their locality. It was also
stated, to show the practicability of a great
sanitary improvement, that in a great number of in-
stances the removal of a few small cottages here and
there, and the pulling down of walls and sheds, which
ts
he irioa
uragtiel do
ucto court from
which
t ttccuorurretn,
current
do, would give somelevsom n
e air,
i rh:g i
hitherto
nes,
excluded, might be directed.
The Improvement Committee, entering zealously
into the spirit of the Council's recommendation, ap-
pointed a sub Committee to the arduous task of per-
sonally visiting all the more closely-built districts
of this closely-built town, to ascertain v. here sani-
tary improvements were required, and how they
might be made. The evidence, during their fiist two
or three days' investigation, presented to their senses
of sight and smell, but too strongly corroborated the
truth of the statements made by the medical autho-
rities quoted. The reading of their report to the Ge-
neral Council, from which the following is an ex-
tract, was heard with deep interest :
" No. 5 is a range of courts of irregular width, the
approaches to which are from Long .Millgate throe ;h
narrow entries. These courts are crowded aith inha-
bitants living, or, more properly speaking, confined in
abodes which are not only destitute of every arrange-
ment conducive to comfort and health, but surrounded
by a mass of filth sufficient to appal the mind of any one
accustomed to the comforts arising from clean and
airy dwellings. Your Committee cannot refrain from
expressing their surprise that the malaria engen-
dered in these localities, and which is so fatal to the
poor people living in them, has not proved, more,
extensively disastrous in the surrounding neighbour-
hoods. Your Committee are of opinion that the
whole of these courts might be ventilated by the
formation of a street from Miller-street to I3Arlow's-
court running along the top of the courts, and w hick
would, at the same time, very much facilitate the
intercourse of the inhabitants ; and although the dis-
tance is considerable, the expense would be compara-
tively trifling, as, with the exception of two or three
small buildings, the proposed street would run through
yards separated simply by walls."
In these earlier investigations, it was seen that, al-
though a great deal might be done in effecting better
circulation by the simple removal of obstructions,
such as cottages built across the end of a narrow
street, or pig-styes and privies separating one court
from another, it was of nearly equal importance that,
the aid of the Paving and Sewering and the Nuisance
Committees should be called in; and a further course
of visits to other parts of the town, brought the con-
viction, that unless these Committees put forth all the
powers invested in them by the late Police Act.
vigorously, and we may almost say relentlessly, the
work of sanitary reform would be not one fourth done.
In the streets running from Queen-street, and
between that street and Alport-town, there seems to
have been originally a good back yard, or small back
garden, to each house ; but within the last twenty or
thirty years, those vards or gardens have all been
built upon, and so closely that spaces of only from
four to six feet width has been left for passage, light,
and air ; and the only entrance from the street to each
such closely crammed court is through the lobby of
the front house, both front and back door being taken
from the hinges to allow ingress and egress, while
almost every room in the front tenement is occupied
by a distinct family. To make this horrible state of
things still more horrible, most of the courts are
unpaved and undrained, with the filth and the water
thrown out from the houses, lying in hollow puddles,
offensive alike to the eye and the nostrils, and sending
their pestilential effluvia right into the doors that
open upon the abomination—and all this aggravated
by pig-styes and privies poisoning the air which the
wretched inhabitants are compelled to breathe !
It is difficult to suggest an effectual remedy in
such cases. Poor people must have cheap dwelling-
houses, and they must live near their place of work,
To pull down the whole and to rebuild with airiest
the space would only be to dislodge two thirds of the
population to the immediate over crowding of some
neighbouring locality ; and to throw ventilating open-
ings between court and court, where all is one mass
of buildings, is impossible. The first sight of this
locality made the visitors almost hopeless of effecting
any good; Mit tnere were, nere and there, wnere
considerate landlord had possession, eircumstanaes
which again raised their hopes. When flags hail
been put down and a channel had been made, with a
well kept grid over a sewer, there was an approach
to an appearance of snugness and comfort, and in
such places it was almost invariably seen that the
houses were kept neat and clean, and that the in-
habitants were decent and tidy in their appearance.
It was felt that what had been done voluntarily in
some cases should be effected compulsorily in all.
It will be seen from the report of last Wednesday's
Council meeting that a new Committee has been ap-
pointed, consisting of members from the I.mprove-
ment, Paving and Sewering, and the Nuisance Com-
mittees; and we presume that their duty will be to
facilitate the exercise of powers which will be
obtained by a special Act, of which the Parliamentary
notices have been given, for effecting sanitary im-
provements. They will bring before the Improve-
ment Committee every case in which, by the pur-
chase amid removal of obstructing buildings, a better
ventilation can be secured; they will apprise the
Paving and Sewering Committee of every case where
draining and flagging are required; they will ask of
the Nuisance Committee to prevent the accumulation
of filth; and they will compel present owners to re-
move every nuisance-producing building, and pre-
vent any future such erection, while they will exact
the provision of all the necessary conveniences that
decency requires.
In carrying out such powers there will be some
cases of individual hardship, and consequently some
outcry ; but the duty of the Council will be to go en
firmly and determinedly, keeping in mind that though,
in a certain sense, every man may do what he likes
with his own, he is not to do so to the injury of his
neighbour. It is in the power of the working classes,
for whose health and comfort these improvements are
to be made, greatly to aid the Council in completing
its beneficent design. In every instance where they
have a choice of residence let them choose it in places
which are well paved and drained. Let them tell
their landlords that they are determined thus to
choose. Let them say, "We will not live in bad
health, and sacrifice one-half the term of our natural
existence, merely because you are stupid enough not
to see that you would be promoting your own interest
by making our abodes more healthful,"
In all inspections of the localities in which the
poor reside, the visitor receives increased conviction
of the necessity of an abundant supply of water.
The English are essentially a cleanly people; but the
virtue—for it is a virtue, and a great one—of clean-
liness cannot be exercised under present arrange-
ments. The poor ought to have double, aye, triple or
quadruple their present supply of water, and we do
think it might be contrived that they should have it,
The Council cannot supply them with sufficient food,
for the deficiency there is the work of a cruel, im-
politic, and selfish legislation ; but it may give them
an increased supply of those other essential neces.
saries of life, light, air, and water.

INVERNESS AND PERTH RAILWAY.—A tneeting of
the sub-Committee was held yesterday, in the Ex-
change Rooms here (Mackintosh of Mackintosh
in the chair). to receive the interim report of the en-
gineer on the progress of the survey. Draft plans and
sections of the line were submitted by Mr. Mitchell—
in a complete state, from the River Nairn to the
county march betwixt Inverness and Perthshire%
and in sections of the line thence to I)unkeld. The
result of these details was most satisfactory, show-
ing that, notwithstanding the elevation of the country
through which the line would pass, the gradients
are unexpectedly favourable. The progress of the
survey through the Athol estates has been unfortu-
nately stopped for the present by Lord Glenlyon ; but,
from the explanations given by Mr. Mitchell and the
sub-Committee, it is hoped his Lordship's objections
will be removed. Mr. Mitchell stated that if the weather
keeps open he is immediately to proceed with the survey
of the branch line from Inverness to Elgin. The sub-
Committee passed a resolution, expressive of their regret
at being deprived of Lord Glenlyon's countenance tied,
co-operation in this great public undertaking, and
directed application to be made to him that ho may be
pleased to grant the desired facilities. They further
ordered the subscriptions for the necessary outlays to be
forthwith called in and published; and the thanks of the
meeting being voted to the Chairman, for his conduct in
the chair, the meeting adjourned,—lnvernesN Courier,
Wednesday.

REPRESENTATION OP DARTMOUTII—TIIC death of
Sir John Seale has created very great excitement in the
town, 211 d which will no doubt increase until his succes-
sor iu Parliament be elected. The election, it is expected,
will take place next week. There are three candidates
in the field, viz., Mr. Joseph Sostnes, a large ship-owner
a London, an an elder brother of the Trinity House, &
Conservative; Mr. G. Moffatt, all (Talent City merchant,
largely connected with the East India and Chins trade, a
Free Trader 3 and Mr. Thomas Hunt, of the firm of
Newman and Bunt, of the City of London, merchants im
the Whig interest. A severe Oiliest 1 ontieirated.—De—
vonport Independetit4

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