New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-06-25
HEALTH POLICE


great deal of complaint has been made
the filthy condition of our streets, and niue
blame therefor is thrown upon the Street Com
missioner. The last branch of the allegation
not 20 inst as the first. There must howeye,
always be some scapegoat, ard it appears t
have been the intention of our charter ker
that the Street Commissioner should bear off tn
sins Of the whole tribe of city officials. So Mr.
aois must grin and bear it-see himself DALI
iampooncd and hourly denounced for every bat
odor that shall assault the nobility of any gooc
cit,een-for every moriband animal that sha
deposit its pestilental carcass in the streets,
and for sll the filthy green slime that shall col
iect in the stagnant cutters A jolly time,
truly, will this official have of it during the
present summer. which certainly opens rich and
promises fair to be swelteIing one, We wish
him patience, calm resignation and good d.
gestion, Without these qualities, he will hard
~ survive the summer solstice
But seriously, this is subject of great i'm
portance to our citizens. For some years New
Orleans has been exempt from the epidemcs
winch used to desolate it. In the meantime. it
mas justly acquired reputation for healthful-
ness and salubrity, which have produced the
hsppiest effects abroad Instead Of flying, when
summer approached, our citizens now squietly
settle down here for the summer, fearless of dis
ease or discomfort This state of things has
been due to improved police and to other fayora
BILE external influences Will it continue under
less favorable influences, if the utmost endeay |
ors Oh our authorities are not employed to en-
force cleanliness and all necessary measures to |
purify the atmosphere : There can be no doubt |
IN answering this question. We believe that
the poison which rises from decaying animal and |
vegetable matter is the seminal principle of epi-
denies. Such is the opinion of nearly all orr
Physicians. The cause of disease must, there.
fore, be eradcated.
without regard to other more serious con.
siderations, we submit that in a pecuniary
ana commercial point Of view, this publication
OF the city is imperiously demanded at whatever
cost and amount of labor may be required
A return of the epidemic will injure our credit
abroad, it wiltretard trade, postpone the com.
mencement of the business season, drive off
capltai ana emigration and check our public
works These are grave consequences of official
uehnquency and inertness. Let these consider
lions animate our corporation agents with n
little more vigor and earnestness 1t is vain TO
place the whole burden on the Commissioner.
ne is but one man his powers do not enable him
10 control all the other employees of the corpor
aton who are entrusted with portions of the !
ponce. lie hnds, at the very first step, a seri- =
ous difficulty in the contract system, which -,
enables the contractor to resist him, perhaps 10
involve him and the corporation in lawsuit !
when directed to perform duties which be
Toes regard as coming within the puryiew
\ ms agreement. What can the Commits i,
ioner do but stand idly by and discuss the N
egal question with the corporation This f.
Vhole system is radically defective There n
mould be some definite responsibility for the il
roper discharge of this most important duty b,
h Q health of the city and the lives of the on
eople should not be dependant upon the exact 70
nd technical phraseology of contract. Some ho
hcer should be vested with all the preropa. o.
YES necessary to enforce cleanliness, and be
e'd TO full responsibility for the performance
his duties. He should be the Health Officer vo,
the city-with the largest compensation and tb,
supply Of all the means and appliances needed VIII
a ' u ie snouiu Oe fenllss or inefficient, 8
e representatives Of the people should have Of
y rS"sN AA'iSeaaeeiJ W uiScnafge him. | Ra
With the great command of water possessed ~
our city, the river flowing by us during the N,
hole summer at an elevation of several feet an,
'ove the level of the streets, there is no excnse
the filthy condition of our cutters. Why are IN
t fresh streams let in daily to sweep the ro,
reefs and bitches of all filthy accommodations an,
ID impart GOODNESS to the atmosphere WHY h.
not the contract of the Water-works Comnanv ~;
forced, and the hydpants opened in every ero
aare for an hour or SO ! Why, too, are not tho
liens required to have their back yards and 7
les in cleaner condition, and to deposit the ord
81 and refuse at an earlier hour than mid. $50,
7, when those sickening and nauseatinc carts ~,
driven around to receive their pestilental r.
DIS at the very hour when the people are Iar
Dad, and need most the bracing influence of rn,,
ure air. These are queries to which we trust mo-,
authorities will pay some heed, and thus Vs.;
eve the minds of those who see in the bor
e condition Of our streets strong temptations 4
isease and contagion to resume their reirn Tno
: our city. stas