SANATORY CONDITION OF THE WALTON-LE-DALE DISTRICT.
To the Editor of the Preston Chronicle.
SIR,-I was much gratified at seeing a report in your paper, some few weeks back, to the effect that the Board of Guardians had appointed a committee to carry into operation the Sanatory Improvement Act in the Walton-le-Dale district; but I must confess that my hopes of seeing a speedy improvement in the sanatory condition of that locality has been very much disappointed, for on passing through Walton and the neighbourhood, on Monday last, I perceived that all the middens, cess pools, bog holes, stagnant and filthy pits of water, remained just in the same state and position they were in previous to the appointment of the committee. It is to be hoped that the committee will speedily turn their attention to the subject, and by a prompt removal of the abovementioned nuisances, be the means of arresting the progress of that dread of humanity the cholera.
I would particularly call their attention to the state of the few streets in the neighbourhood of Mr. Bashall’s mill, better known as Cuerden Green. There are one or two short streets there in a most filthy state, where a large bog hole is left continually open, and the channel that ought to carry away the refuse matter is in some places more than a yard wide, and is always full of stagnant filth, and I have often been surprised, on passing that way, that the typhus fever, and other serious and contagious diseases have not been more frequent visitors in that neighbourhood. I think it highly desirable that some qualified and disinterested person should be appointed inspector for the country districts, not only to inspect the streets and roads, but also the dwellings of the poor.- More especially as it wanted in such cases as the above, where the houses all belong to one man, and that man the employer of all the tenants. Many of the houses are as bad internally as externally, some of them not having been whitewashed for a long period. Walton is not the only place that requires inspection and improvement, for I am sorry to say that in the more immediate neighbour-hood of Preston, there are yet Many grievous nuisances untouched. There is one particular part of the township of Fishwick which I am sorry to see has not yet been noticed by the authorities of the town; perhaps as it is a few yards over the brook that forms the boundary of the borough, it does not come under the jurisdiction of the police commissioners, or of the inspector appointed by the corporation. Be that as it may, it is certainly one of the most filthy places within miles of Preston, I allude to the passage leading to those back houses, or rather filthy cellars, at the back of that portion of the left side of London-road which stands in Fishwick, and I think that some means ought to be taken to compel the proprietors to remedy the evil, and make the place, if possible, fit for human habitations.
Trusting that the above remarks may merit a corner in your valuable journal, and meet with the attention of the proper parties, I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,
Preston, August 22nd, 1849.
A TRAVELLER.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
Date: Saturday, Aug. 25, 1849
Publication: Preston Chronicle
Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/Y3207431962/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=6&xid=9d0d30b0
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