HH62/1/FIFE/47

Transcription

[page] 46

and acre to person, with sickness and mortality, will be referred to in
the Section dealing with these.
In the remainder of this Report, the order prescribed by the Board
of Supervision for District Reports will be followed.

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF SANITARY STATE OF DISTRICT,
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS IMPROVEMENT.

To deal adequately with this subject, and at the same time without
duly extending the length of this Report, is a matter of no small diffi-
culty, when the area, the population, and the number of populous places
in the District are considered. It appears to me that this Section re-
quires as full treatment as possible, in order to show what is the sanitary
condition of the District at the commencement of the supervision by
the District Committee as Local Authority, and what work remains for
them to carry out, in order that the whole District may, in the course of
time, be put in a satisfactory state.
A good deal of time was necessarily taken up at the commence-
ment of my duties, in bringing the machinery of the department into
working action; and time has only permitted attention to such general
questions as water supply, drainage, and sewerage of villages. To take
up the subject of individual houses systematically, a most important
duty, would necessitate a greater amount of time than has been at my
disposal; and such ruling principles of sanitation as water supply and
drainage of villages seemed to demand my attention first. I have re-
ported on a good many populous places in the District, as to their pro-
vision of water supply and drainage, and their condition is therefore
known to you; but to make this Section as complete as possible, I shall
refer to all populous places (whether already reported on or not) in the
parishes in which they occur.
Auchtertool. - The water supply is from shallow wells close to
houses, and is of doubtful quality in consequence. Drainage is by
means of side gutters, and is not very efficient. The village is tolerably
free from nuisances.
Little Raith colliery village is supplied by gravitation water of good
enough quality. Drainage is carried out by surface channels and
underground drains. The habits of the people are such that nuisances
abound, and vigilant sanitary inspection is needed.
AUCHTERDERRAN. -
Cardenden has a good water supply by gravitation; but there is a
want of privy or water-closet accommodation. Ashpits for depositing
house refuse are needed.
Denend. - The water supply here is not well distributed, and there
is also the want of accommodation by privies or water-closets. Ar-
rangements are now being made to have these procured.
Dundonald has a good gravitation water supply; but there is want
of accommodation by water-closet or privy. Ashpits are also needed.
Capeldrae Row gets water from a well. A want of ashpits exists.
Westfield colliery village has been frequently referred to in con-
nection with the occurrence of enteric fever there, and very serious
insanitary conditions existing.

[page] 47

The proprietor of one half of the place has provided ashpits,
privies, and drains, but the tenants of the other half, who were held to
be responsible, refused, on the ground that the proprietor was liable. In
the meantime, ashpits and privies are being provided by the Local
Authority.
The village urgently needs a water supply; but who is to provide
this has not yet been decided.
Shawsmill is a small hamlet, and there is nothing special to report
in regard to it.
BALLINGRY. -
Flockhouse village was frequently reported on, as the water supply
was defective, being from shallow wells near to sources of pollution.
There was an absence of proper water-closet or privy accommodation,
and the drainage was very defective. After an action had been raised
in the Sheriff Court, these matters were put right.
Lochore. - The water supply here was defective, owing to want of
sufficient wells over the village in connection with the gravitation sup-
ply. There was also no water-closet or privy accommodation, and the
drainage was very defective. These matters have all been attended to.
Lumphinnans. - The village has a good water supply by gravita-
tion. Drainage is mainly by surface channels. Ashpits and privies
are provided for the tenants. Nuisances are very common, from the
untidy habits of the people.
Rosewell. - This village was in a very insanitary state from defective
water supply, want of drainage, and want of water-closet or privy ac-
commodation. After an action had been raised in the Sheriff Court, the
necessary improvements were carried out.
BURNTISLAND. -
The village of Binnend is the only populous place of consequence
in this Parish, under the District Committee.
The water supply, formerly adequate, in consequence of the increase
of the population, has now become quite insufficient, and during the
past summer the want of sufficient water was a very great danger.
There is urgent need for full supply being obtained. The drainage
is by surface channels and underground drains. These were defective
in many ways, but some improvement has been made. Huge privies
and ashpits are provided for the inhabitants, but they are structurally
bad, and not sufficiently cleaned out. In many of the houses over-
crowding to considerable extent exists.
KENNOWAY. -
The village of Kennoway derives its water supply from wells. The
principal one is in the middle of a field, in a high state of cultivation,
and with houses close to it, and on a higher level. It is a very doubt-
ful source of supply, and an analysis of the water points to this. The
water main of Wemyss supply passes the village, and this is the most
likely source of a new supply. Drainage is by surface channels, and,
as the houses are built on a slope, it is fairly satisfactory.
The condition of the houses is generally satisfactory.
Star is a hamlet in the north-west of the parish. The water supply
here is from shallow wells in close proximity to houses, and the quality