§ Mr. DAWESasked whether the central hall of the Central Telegraph Office is a completely enclosed space on the ground floor of the building, without either outlook on to the streets or outlet to the open air, that air and natural lighting are only obtained by means of shafts of over 100 feet in height, on each side of which are water-closets and urinals, that the temperature of the place has for some time past averaged over 82 degrees; whether he will say when the medical officer of the Department last visited it; and what was the nature of the last report as to the suitability of its continued use as a workroom for some 140 men and women?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe central hall measures 76 feet by 50 feet, and is 32 feet high. There are large open areas on each side measuring 66 feet by 42 feet each—wider, that is, than many City streets, The floor of the room is about 100 feet from the roof level. The nearest of the sanitary conveniences referred to are 42 feet from the windows of the central hall, and most of them are situated on upper floors much farther away. Besides the ventilation through very large windows on each side of the hall looking into the areas, fresh air is brought in by a duct from St. Martin's-le-Grand, and an exhaust fan is 1655 provided to remove the heated air from above the tubes. When the outside shade temperature is 90 it is not easy to reduce the inside temperature to a satisfactory point, but I will have inquiry made as to how the atmospheric conditions can be bettered. The chief medical officer, who visited the room some months ago, is of opinion that the hall is not unsuitable for use as a workroom. The maximum force employed at the busiest hour is 136.