[Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, Morpeth U.D.C. / Borough.
- Morpeth (England). Urban District Council.
- Date:
- 1897
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, Morpeth U.D.C. / Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and having received the sanction of the Local Government Board, are now available for enforcing penalties for default in carrying out necessary sanitary | reforms in all departments. Those relating ]to the cleansing and whitewashing of entries to tenemented properties have been advised with good effect, but it is a matter of regret that more progress should not have been made with regard to paving and draining of yards owing to the opposition of persons interested in this class of property. Inspection has been made of dairies and cowsheds under the orders for the purpose, and as a rule the regulations as to lighting and air space are complied with, and this is a most important matter in connection with the health of the animals and the purity of the milk supplied to the community. Water Supply.—The town has been well supplied with pure water sufficient for drinking purposes by means of steam-pumping at Tranwell daring the progress of the new waterworks, which are now rapidly approaching their completion. By the formation of a second storage and settling reservoir, the deepening of the old reservoir, and the addition of two filter-beds, a service-tank of large capacity, and the drift pipe which allows the flow of water from the borehole springs into the immediate supply well from which it gi-avitates to the town, the water supply will be more than doubled, and a storage has been arranged from which all purposes of drinking, baths, trade requirements, and public necessities of street watering, and drain flushing will be met for many years to come. It is expected that the works will be completed in about a month’s time from date of this report. Sewerage and Eiver Pollution. — Much time and thought has been devoted to this subject by the Council during the past year. With the hope of avoiding the enormous expense which would be entailed upon the town by either of the proposed schemes for carrying the sewage into the tidal waters of the Eiver Wansbeck, the Council has made, and is still making, inquiries into the working of the septic and bacterial methods of sewage disposal, and for this purpose they deputed their Sanitary Inspector (Mr. Curry) to visit Exeter, Yeovil, and the works at Sutton and Hendon. Mr. Balfour, C.E., who has been called upon to advise the Council in this matter, is still awaiting further developments of the question of the above-mentioned treatment of sewage, more especially as to the possibihty of the Local Govern¬ ment Board sanctioning such system in places where, as in Morpeth, it is impossible to obtain the amount of land now required by the Board for land filtration. Scavenging and Eoad Eepaiks.—The whole of the streets which had lapsed into bad repair owing to the prolonged dispute with the Earl of Carlisle as to his liability to contribute to their maintenance, have now been very carefully and effectually repaired, and well rolled in with the steam road roller. The scavenging has been well carried out, and extensive improvements have been made to the local footpaths by the laying of tar asphalt and renewing of the street pavements where necessary. A considerable amount of building has been progressing in the North Fields and on the Thorp Estate, as'well as in the neigh¬ bourhood of the High Stanners. FEED. W. SKEIMSHIEE, Fell. Eoyal Instit. Public Health, &c. Morpeth, March 8, 1898. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, Steady progress has been made in the sanita¬ tion of the town, especially in the matter of the cleansing of tenement properties, the bye-laws having jmposed duties on the landlords, as well as the tenants, which has resulted in a much cleaner and consequently much healthier state of affairs. Increased attention has been given to the requirements of the bye-laws i-elatingto slaughter houses, dairies and cowsheds, for in every case where fopd such as milk and meat is being stored, or prepared for sale, too much care cannot be taken t<i guard against taint or infection. A common lodging house in Manchester Street has been licensed, the accommodation being clean and wholesome, each bed being single and having a wire-woven spring mattress. 68 nuisances from spoutingj, animals improperly kept, choked drains, paving fef yards, lime-washing of staircases and passages, slaughter houses and cowsheds, and horse mi mure heaps, have been satisfact orily dealt with. 1 otices of intention t o commence building operations and laying of drains have in every case been forwarded to me, as required by the new streets and building bye-laws, and inspection of foundations and drains has been made accordingly. Plans for 10 new buildings and 13 for alterations have been submitted to and approved by you. There is still a steady demand for houses, especially of the tenement class, and these are being built, and sold almost as soon as built, on the Thorp estate. The works of water supply at Tranwell are approaching completion, and with a plentiful supply of water a more regular flushing of the sewers will be carried out, and the streets will be watered with pure water from the mains, instead of that from the Tanners’ Burn. The method of sewage disposal is not yet fully deter¬ mined, the Local Government Board (being careful that no errors may arise through hasty or ill- considered action) not being yet in a position to sanction the treatment of sewage without land filtration. It is, however, very necessary that an attempt be made by the Council to carry out that](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29804231_0002.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
