for
the first offense, 50s. for the second offense, and 3 pounds for
the third offense. The aldermen had to contract to pay for
lighting, trimming, snuffing, cleaning, supplying, maintaining,
and repairing them. To pay for this system, citizens paid
according to the amount of rent their holdings were worth. If they
didn't pay, they could not vote.
Bad areas of thieves and prostitutes and the slums east of the
City were gradually being replaced by warehouses and offices. In
1757, London Bridge was widened and the houses were cleared off
it. There were lanes for carriages in the middle and for
pedestrians on each side. Its arches were also widened. Lights
were put on it to be lit all night. And watchmen were put on it
for safety and protection of passengers. (This was paid for by
tolls of 1/2 d. per horse, 1d. per carriage, and 2d.-1s. for
vessels with goods.) About 1762, a body of enterprising citizens
secured private acts of Parliament which allowed them to levy a
house tax in return for providing paving and lighting, which then
greatly improved, as did sanitation. Sidewalks were raised between
the street proper and the buildings, replacing the protective
posts which had lined the roads. Flat stones were put in place of
the pebbles on the roadway. Signs hanging in from of stores, which
had blocked the sunlight, were placed flat in front of the
buildings. This also made the streets more airy.
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