HH62/2/LANARK/15

Transcription

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the kingdom, but most assuredly the condition of the dwel-
lings of the working classes, and particularly of the miners, is
not one of them. I am bound to state that, with a consider-
able experience of the dwellings of the labouring classes, I
have never seen anything so uniformly bad as the condition
of the miner's cottage and its surroundings in the Midland
Counties of Scotland. I hope I appreciate the difficulties
which colliery proprietors have to contend with, such as in
many instances the temporary character of the works, the
short time often in which the houses have to be got ready
for their occupants, and, perhaps most important of all, the
disinclination on the part of the workmen to furnish a large
house and pay a proportionate rent for better accommoda-
tion. Still the fact remains that the owners of the houses
are responsible for their property, and these considerations
may palliate, but do not excuse their neglect of providing
something more worthy of the name of homes for those in
their employment.
It is altogether anomalous to have a whole series of
regulations for the housing of cows, while for human beings
the dwellings are allowed to be "the chance product of
an unscrupulous and unregulated downward competition
for cheapness." Clearly in this matter the same powers
of formulating building regulations ought to be possessed
by districts in Scotland as are possessed by every village in
England.
Under this heading, in the reports for each ward, I have
entered more into detail, and it is therefore unnecessary to
do more than indicate generally the condition of the
county in this respect. With the exception of the "colliers'
rows" nearly all the houses are substantially built of stone,
and contain at least two apartments. The proportion of
one storeyed houses is large, particularly in the Upper and
Middle Wards. In the Lower Ward, especially in the
neighbourhood of Glasgow, there is a growing tendency to
erect tenement houses, which are let in flats.
One objectionable feature even in houses of three

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apartments is that of having a bed in the kitchen. Apart
from considerations of cleanliness in cooking and eating, it
is clear that proper ventilation and airing of the bed-
clothes cannot be carried out. Even in farmhouses it is not
uncommon to find one or, as I have sometimes seen, two
beds in the kitchen. In case of sickness the objections are
still more evident.

Water Supply. - This important subject is pretty fully
discussed in the separate reports for each ward, and it is
therefore unnecessary to enter here into detail. Speaking
generally, about three-fourths of the Middle Ward, one-
third of the Lower, and a smaller proportion of the Upper
have no water supply worthy of the name; but in all three
wards, and particularly in the Middle, efforts are being
made to wipe away this reproach. The Glengavel scheme
of the Middle Ward District is the most comprehensive
with which I am acquainted for dealing with a population
scattered over an area like that of the Middle Ward, and
will, when carried out, as there seems every probability
of its being within the next three or four years, be a
splendid testimony to the large hearted manner in which
the District Committee has met its responsibilities.

Ashpits and Privies. - I have elsewhere in this report
alluded to the insanitary structures, if they can be dignified
by such a name, which do duty in many cases throughout
the county for privies and ashpits.
These blots upon the face of the county are in direct
opposition to all that is involved in modern hygiene.
Indeed, in the majority of instances, they are admirably
contrived for polluting the air, and water, and soil
in their vicinity. It is not difficult to understand
why the ashpits were made so large - clearly because
they were not intended to be emptied except twice
or thrice a year, nor why they were uncovered -