e Public Health
Acts or have been passed subsequently to them, one of the most
important is the Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890. It contains
three distinct parts. Under the first an urban district council may,
by means of a scheme, acquire, rearrange and reconstruct an area which
has been proved to be insanitary. The scheme has to be confirmed by
the Local Government Board, and carried out by means of a provisional
order. The second part of the act deals with unhealthy
dwelling-houses, and requires the urban district council to take steps
for the closing of any dwelling-houses within their district which are
unfit for human habitation. The third part of the act deals with what
is called in the act working-class lodging-houses. But the expression
is a little misleading, for it includes separate houses or cottages
for the working classes, whether containing one or several tenements,
and the expression "cottage" may include a garden of not more than
half an acre, provided that the estimated annual value of such garden
shall not exceed L3. This part of the act may be adopted by a rural
district council, but an urban district council can carry it into
execution without formal adoption. Land may be acquired for erecting
lodging-houses as above defined, and these, when erected, may be
managed and let by the council.

Baths and wash-houses.

The urban district council may adopt the provisions of the Baths and
Washhouses Acts, and thereunder provide public baths, wash-houses,
open bathing-places, covered swimming baths, which they may close in
the winter months and use as gymnasia.

Tramways.

Under the Tramways Act 1870 the urban district council may obtain from
the Board of Trade a provisional order authorizing the construction of
tramways in their district by themselves. Any private persons, and any
corporation or company may, with the consent of the council, obtain
the like authority, but the Board of Trade have power in certain cases
to dispense with the consent of the local authority. Where the order
is obtained by a person or body other than the district council, the
council may purchase the undertaking at the end of twenty-one years
after the tramways have been constructed or at the expiration of every
subsequent period of seven years, and the terms of purchase are that
the person or company must sell the undertaking upon paymen