mission has yet been granted to place one on Boylston street. On the 23d of October we gave the contract to build that on the Garden to E. B. Witherspoon, to whom at a later date we also gave the contract for the one on the Common. An innovation undoubtedly, both of them, as all new things are; but an innovation long heralded and greatly needed. We can no longer do without these, and we hope soon to see these places for men in convenient localities on our public streets. They may take up two feet of the sidewalk and the same width of street for a distance of six feet; but when it is known of what comparatively little cost they are, how neatly they can be kept, and at what little expense, we feel confident that the time is not far distant when such conveniences will be found in every city. In addition to those on the Garden and Common, we have placed one for men in Haymarket square, and others are in process of construction, which we shall locate at an early day. The one on Flagstaff hill on the Common for men has been greatly enlarged, and others in different parts of the city have been placed in good condition. Two women have been appointed to take charge of the cottages on the Garden and Common; that on the Garden has already been opened to the public, and the other will be at an early date. NIGHT-SOIL. Since our last report, a contract has been made with the city for the removal of night-soil by the new odorless excavating apparatus. One of the contracting parties commenced operations with the new machine, on the first day of October; the other on the third day of November, and this method has been constantly in use, with the exception of the season of extremely cold weather. The price for the work has been increased under the new method. Under the old regime it was $5 per load, from November to May, and $6 from May to November. The Board of Health only interfered with this to this extent, we required a disinfectant to be used before, during, and after the process of emptying. This extra expense ($1) for disinfecting of course falls upon the party who leaves his order for the vault to be entered; making it $6 or $7 a load, according to the season of the year. By the contract of last year, made between the city and Messrs. Young and Varney, they were allowed $6 a load for cleaning, between November and May, and $7 between May and November, and $1 a load, extra, in each case, for disinfecting. The Board of Health is only responsible for requiring the additional dollar for disinfecting. The larger portion of the people pay it willingly, and all, we think, recognize the importance and value of this additional outlay, to secure health, cleanliness and comfort. We believe the machines used work well, and the process, we are pleased to know, is a long stride ahead of the old method. When a vault can be emptied at mid-summer noon without offence, a dollar or two extra is of no account. But there is, undoubtedly, a large number of poor people to whom any extra charge beyond what was formerly required may seem oppressive; but such persons at best are only paying a small amount for the privilege of so living as not to injure their neighbors, and, better than that, of so living as not to endanger their own health. It may be the best investment of a dollar they can make. TENEMENT HOUSES. The following is the number of tenement houses in the city as we have them at this date, with the number of rooms, families and occupants. As in previous years, these houses have been frequently inspected, to see that they were kept in a proper sanitary condition. TENEMENT HOUSES. Houses. Rooms. Families. Persons. Adults. Children. HOUSES ORDERED TO BE VACATED. To vacate a dwelling-house is to exercise a power which the law has given to the Board of Health of every city and town. We have never done this unless we felt compelled to do so, looking always to the best interests both of the occupants and of the public; when we find tenements that are death-traps and nothing more, tenements which give the tenant hardly a single necessity of decent existence, and never reach the height of a single comfort of life, we can spend no time in parleying, nor do we have scruples in at once ordering them to be vacated. Our practice has been in all cases, where a place might be made tenantable, if the owner by the time the notice to vacate had expired, had placed it in such condition that it could thereafter be occupied in safety, to revoke the order to vacate, and allow the occupants to remain; but in no other case. The number we have ordered vacated the past year is 67; the number actually vacated is 18. We give below a list of them all, those starred having been actually vacated. Houses ordered to be vacated from May 1st, 1874, to May 1st, 1875. May 2, 1874-84 South st. Want of cleanliness. * May 2, 1874 — Canal st., Charlestown District, between Allen and Thornton sts. Stagnant water under house. May 2, 1874 — 28 and 30 Corey st., Charlestown District. Stagnant water and defective drainage. *May 2, 1874-7 Mason st., Charlestown District. Want of cleanliness. May 2, 1874 - 13 Mason st., Charlestown District. Want of cleanliness and repair. *May 2, 1874-11 Stone st., Charlestown District. Stagnant water. *May 6, 1874-137 W. Concord st. Defective drainage and bad odors. * May 6, 1874 — 3 Bainbridge st. Defective drainage. May 13, 1874-53 and 57 Richmond st. 53 and 57 Richmond st. Want of clean liness and repair. May 13, 1874—59 Richmond st. Want of cleanliness and stagnant water in cellar. May 13, 1874-61 Richmond st. Want of ventilation, stagnant water in cellar, defective privy. May 13, 1874-Rear 211 North st. (third and fourth houses). Want of cleanliness, stagnant water, want of ventilation. May 20, 1874-25 and rear Wapping st., Charlestown District. Stagnant water, want of repair. May 26, 1874-106, 108, 110, 112, and 114 Ruggles st. Stagnant water, defective drainage, improper privies. May 26, 1874-118 Cabot st. Defective drainage and privy, full vault, filthy yard. May 26, 1874-1, 2 and 3 Hildreth pl. Offensive vault, unventilated rooms. May 27, 1874-Rear 6 and 8 Belmont st. Defective drainage and privy, want of repair. * May 29, 1874-251 Harrison ave. 251 Harrison ave. (Sleeping room.) Want of cleanliness. * May 30, 1874 — Rear 47 Albany st. Want of cleanliness and repair, defective privy, want of ventilation. June 1, 1874-1150 Shawmut ave. stagnant water in cellar. Defective drainage, Want of ventilation. near B. and A. R. R. Stagnant water in cellars, * June 2, 1874 — 149 Kneeland st. *June 5, 1874- Rear Market st., crossing Ward 19, four houses. defective drainage. * June 8, 1874-2 Dover place. want of repair, general filthiness. Want of repair. Defective drainage, June 19, 1873 - Atlantic ave., near Wesley ave., Ward 16. Filthy premises, want of drainage. July 14, 1874-180 North st. want of cleanliness. 180 North st. Defective vault and privy, July 17, 1874 - 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Lowland st. Defective vault and drains. July 25, 1874 — 37 Spring st. Defective vault and drains. July 27, 1874-Rear 32 Cambridge st., Charlestown District. Defective drainage, overflowing vault, water in cellar. August 17, 1874-247 Marion st. Defective drainage. August 29, 1874-29 Pitts st. 29 Pitts st. Defective drainage. August 29, 1874 — 1, 2, and 3 Russell court. Stagnant water in cellar. |