Sanitary condition of the Settlement.—In January the Committee submitted the following Report upon the Sanitary condition "of the Settlement, and the steps they would recommend to be taken for improving it—Shanghai, 26th Jan., 1874.
The attention of the Watch Committee was particularly directed, last summer, in conse-Gelora, to the sanitary condition of the place, nonce of an apprehended visitation of the and especially those portions of the Settlements north of the Yang-king-pang occupied by Chinese.
Since then the Works and Watch Com-native rentals as, in their opinion, the only mittees, accompanied by the Health Officer, measure which will be just to the majority of (Dr. Henderson), the Engineer, and others of ratepayers, and will secure the necessary the Municipal Staff, have made a tour of means for meeting the increasing expenditure inspection of the district lying north of the called for by the rapid of the native Maloo, as fairly representing the existing state of matters in the Chinese quarters of the Ero of this Municipality. ulation in the Settlements under the con-
Settlement generally.
In connexion with the Report, it was This inspection has confirmed the reports resolved made from time to time by the Health Officer of great overcrowding among the native po-"That with reference to the imperfect pulation, deficient and imperfect drainage, the means of drainage now existing in some existence of pools of stagnant water, and acparts of the Settlement, the Watch Comcamulations of filth on the premises occupied mittee's attention be directed to the ne-by Chinese in such quantities as seriously ces sity of taking measures under the to threaten the health of the community even powers conferred upon the Council by in the best of seasons.
Bye-law VIII of the Land Regulations, to In the opinion of the Watch Committee, the existence of conditions so unfavourable remedy the defects so far as possible before the termination of the cold season." from a sanitary point of view, is attributable Since then, the Committee have decided in a great measure to want of a proper _super-to flush one of the drains in order to ascer-vision on the. part of the Municipality over the erection of tenements for the occupation tain the nature of deposit (if any) in them, of the Chinese.
It is proposed to flush the sewer in the Most of the owners of such premises are Honan Road, between the Kiukiang and foreigners, and many of them non-resident Tientsin Roads, that being reported as one here. A' large portion of their tenements in a bad condition. have been hastily erected, without regard even A Circular letter in the sense under-tothe safety of the structures themselves, noted has been addressed to all owners of with no attention to drainage, and with the native house property. evident desire to crowd at a minimum expense Sim,—A careful examination of the Native a many buildings as possible on a given apace. quarters of the Settlement North of the Yang-Lots have been built upon which are below the level of the adjacent streets, and whole king-pang, having been made by the Watel Committee, in conjunction with the Health squares densely covered by houses, with no means of egress but narrow and in many Officer, for the purpose of ascertaining their cases unpaved Alleys, which serve as recep-sanitary condition, it has been found that tades for all kinds of filth and garbo they are as a rio' ever crowded, imperfectly could not be expected that landlords so drained, and in a state so exceedingly filthy as to call for immediate action before the regardless of sanitary rules in the construction of their dwellings, would be particular in approach of the hot weather, supervising their premises when occupied; it the opinion of the Council, based upon is well known the Chinese tenants themselves the information laid before them, that if such action is not taken the health of the Sottlewill not lift a hand to remove the filth thes ment cannot fail to be materially affected create, and the properties being private can and should an epidemic, such as cholera, not be dealt with by the employes of the unfortunately make its appearance, its ravages Council save in exceptional cases. would undoubtedly be fearfully increased by To remedy as far as possible this unsatisfactory condition of things, the Watch Com-the existing state of matters, There can be no doubt but that a largo mittee would recommend prceection: of the owners of Native tenement rapidly as possible through the principal streets traversing the Chinese quarters.
Jat.—That the main drains be pushed as Law VIII of the Land Regulations, and that ave failed to comply with the terms of Bye-the Council would be fully justified in rosortby native tenements be called upon to fill up ud. That the owners of property occupied ing to such coercive measures as they are therein empowered to. take, their land, if necessary, so as to raise the level The Council are satisfied, however, that the above that of the realls, thus ensuring a promajority of such owners are disposed to give per flow of surface drainage to the main sewers; their hearty ce-operation in ensuring proper and to take such other steps as in the opinion sanitary conditions for the Settlement, and of the Council may be necessary to maintain prefer to appeal to them to take such remedial their premises in a condition not projudicial to the general health.
Stops as may appear necessary, he Council, therefore, would recommend And to prevent, as far as possible, a contin.
I.—That all premises below the level of the nance of the present unsystematic method of adjacent. streets should be raised, so as to erecting native houses, the Committee would cause a flow of surface drainage to the public further recommend 3rd.—That no tenements for Chinese occu-IL.—That private courts and alleys should tion be allowed to be put up within the be paved, and furnished with side-channels, Settlement until the Engineer shall have for the same purpose. amined the proposed site, and approved of it as all pools of stagnant water, and sufficiently elevated, and in other respects surface drains with no outlet, should be filled properly arranged for the purpose; and fur-in; and all drains communicating with the ther that regulations as to the construction public sewers should be examined, and cleared of houses for the occupation of Chinese in of accumulations. the Foreign Settlement—the width, grading TV.—That some effective measures should and paving of lanes and alleys leading to the interior portions of premises occupied by removed, and passed within easy reach of the be adopted for having all Sith and. gar them, and the ratio of population to the Contractor whose duty it is to dispose of space so occupied—be drawn up by the En-such. inoer and Health Officer and, after approval the Council be strictly enforced, 'V.—That over-crowding should be prevented
The Committee are aware that the cost of fat as possible, constructing the requisite main drains will be Assistant Secretary, heavy, and such as the present state of the It expresses in general terms exactly Municipal finances will not warrant, but, so what the Committee want done, and they impressed are they with the necessity of immediate steps being taken in the matter, that every hope that owners of property they would request the Finance Com will ce-operate to ensure a proper sanitary see if means cannot be devised for raising the condition of the Settlement. extra funds required.
If the suggestions, however, therein "Phe Watch Committee, in this connexion, contained are not acted upon, it will be would express the opinion that the expenditure incumbent on the Council to' define the necessitated by the presence of so large a na-requirements in each individual case, and tive population is vastly out of proportion to take rigorous measures to have the work the income derived from this source, either completed before May or June. directly or indirectly; and as the chief if Slaughter House.—The Committee having not the only benefit derived from the ex-had occasion to consider a proposal made istence of this population in our midst, them to construct a Slaughter-house with accrues to the owners of the tenements occu pied by them, who form but a small por-in Municipal limits, on plans to be furnished tion of the resident community, Your Com-or approved of by the Council, they have nitico would muggest that the rexwisite steps been advised by the Council's Legal be taken to ensure an increase of the tax on Adviser that the Land Regulations and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.