HH62/2/STIRLI/81

Transcription

[Page] 80

my attention to a number of very old houses in an insanitary
condition. The ninety-nine years' lease on which they were held
had almost expired, and the owner caused the houses - about sixteen
in number - to be closed.
In Torrance five similar closures have been carried out.
People in Torrance have lately had the opportunity of getting
better house accommodation. In the centre of the village a large
three-storey tenement has been erected in general accordance with
modern sanitary principles. The walls are dry, and there is ventila-
tion under the floors. The back area is excavated and paved. The
drains are ventilated, and the houses are in every way better than
the average damp, thatched, low-roofed dwellings occupied by the
inhabitants generally. The rents are very moderate - £6 for two
apartments, and £9 for three. But on the occasion of my first
visit this large tenement had been standing nearly empty for a con-
siderable time, and great difficulty has been found in letting it.
The people object to the rent, having been accustomed to pay only
about £4. It is unfortunate that they cannot take advantage of
good houses when they are to be had. The difference in health
would far more than atone for the difference in rent.
During the year I have paid several visits to the wooden huts
occupied by the navvies employed on the Glasgow Corporation new
water works tract. These huts are situated at Corrieglen, in the
Parish of Buchanan; Duchray and Kelty, in Drymen Parish; and
Breinzet and Blairgar, in Killearn Parish. Generally, they were
in a most insanitary condition through defective construction, want
of ventilation, overcrowding, want of proper water supply and drain-
age, and want of proper privy and ashpit accommodation. All the
above huts were the property of two contractors, and after repeated
warnings legal proceedings were taken against both. In one case
no defence was offered, and the Sheriff granted decreet. These
huts have now been put into very fair order. In the other case
the Sheriff remitted the matter to a reporter, who made a number
of recommendations, which have been carried out.

[Page] 81

WATER SUPPLY.
There are five Special Water Supply Districts with a
population as under:-

[District] -- Parish. -- Population.
Lennoxtown, -- Campsie, -- 3023
Edinkiln, -- Strathblane, -- about 150
Netherton, -- Strathblane, -- about 400
Killearn, -- Killearn, -- 354
Balfron, -- Balfron, -- 885
[Total] -- about 4762

Lennoxtown. - The Water District includes the Clachan at
Campsie Glen and Haughhead. The water is from the moorland
of the Campsie Fells. It is collected in a reservoir of about
650,000 gallons capacity, this being fully a fortnight's supply
at 15 gallons per head per day. It is passed through a
fltering bed before distribution. The pipe supplying the District
is only 4-in. diameter, and recently this has sometimes been
found too small to supply all the demands from the Water District
and from the railway. The water is piped into a few of the newer
houses, but the main supply is from pillar wells, of which there
are fifteen on the side-walks throughout the town.
Edenkiln (at Strathblane Railway Station). - Water is taken
from a burn coming from the Campsie hills. It is conveyed by a
pipe 3-in. diameter into a built and covered tank, of which the
storage capacity is said to be equal to only two days' supply of 10
gallons per head. The water is not filtered, and in consequence
there is apt to be deposit in the pipes, which have to be scoured
frequently. The supply is piped into four properties. With this
exception the water is got from four pillar wells. It has never
been insufficient, even during last summer's drought.
Netherton. - This District includes Netherton and Blanefield.
The supply is that of the Glasgow Corporation, whose water-main
from Loch Katrine passes down the Blane valley. At Blanefield
there are three pillar wells and at Netherton there are several taps
at convenient distances. The water is not piped into any of the
houses.
Killearn. - The supply here is derived from the Glasgow

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