This book was written in 1898, a time when
London was heavily slummed and overcrowded and new towns were flourishing in
areas of England that were previously bare land. Advances in technology and
communication allowed the producer and consumer to have a closer relation; this
was predominantly because of improvements with the transport system.
Slums were being reduced and parks/orchards
and woods were succeeded into lifestyle of the public for them to enjoy. It
becomes apparent that people’s lifestyles were becoming gradually better.
However there was an every growing dilemma as to how to improve over-crowded
cites, ‘few appeared to believe that such a remedy would ever be found.’ Over
crowded cities needed to be healthier, wholesome, cleaner and sounder economic
conditions.
The article goes through potential options
regarding how the land in London can have a monopoly price; if one fifth of
England population lives in London then more people would be bidding on a small
piece of land to rent. An idea is presented that if people are de magnetised
from living and working in London then they could in turn safe them selves
money on rent, and potentially give them selves a better lifestyle. For example ‘families which are compelled to
huddle together in a small room’ and pay extortionate rent for city dwellings
‘will be able to rent five or six.’ For this de-magnetisation to happen a wide
variety of jobs needs to be offered in rural and other areas outside of London.
Moreover for London as a City to blossom in
the future and thrive as a capital it will need adequate systems in place to
cope with an ever-expanding population. These include: railways, sewerage,
drainage, lighting, and parks. The article also states how other cities have developed;
‘slums have disappeared from Berlin since 1870; 88 acres in the Centre of
Glasgow have been re modeled.’
I’ve only visited London a handful of times
but from the London I do know it appears to have advanced its technologies to
cope with the demand of its population as well as tourism. It was interesting
to read this article from over a century ago as it enabled me to understand how
London used to work and how advances in technologies have improved the quality
of life.
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