The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-07

.Doyyy WITH THE DUsT Two or three days
of sunshny weather have dried the streets,
and the mud, gravel, mortar, and other ruD-
bish which has been quietly reposng on our
streets for so long, has been called by fresh
breeze into condition of most unpleasant
activity. The dust flies here, there, ana every
where-into the eyes, into the dilated nostrll,
and into the mouth, spelling the clothes OF
our citizens. and running their usually placid
temper. A contract has been made with an
enterprising individual to sprinkle our streets
in summer, but our present necessity Is great,
and if the dust could be kept down now, we
might live on hope, instead of dust, for the
future The active building operations which
are being carried on vigorously have al
ready caused the sidewalks TO be blockaded
and barricaded with brick and stone, ana
plank and iron, and 1t does not seem aoso-
iutely necessary that those who are innocent
of garrotng, or any of the long roll OF offences
known to the law, should be wantonly choked
to death by dust. No one wishes 10 returh 10
dust before his time, and yet to dust does each
citizen return, when, impelled by the exl-
gencies of his affairs, he ventures 10 IraSel on
Main or Cary street. The James is near
water Is plentiful, and mud, for general pur-
poses, is a hundred times better than dust.
The SANITARY CONDITION OF RICHMOND
The attention of the City Council has already
been called, through the medium OF the press,
10 the necessity OF taking promptand vigorous tpis
measures for improving the condition OF TINS
city but, so far, little has been done except
what has been accomplished by the efforts OF
private individuals. Circumstances exist
which cause Richmond TO be in CONDITION OF
peculiar danger. Cholera made It's appearance
last summer and fall In Europe, and In the
natural course Of events the terrible scoarge
will assuredly appear in this country before
many months are past. In New YORK ana lhe
principal northern cities, the mayors, SlLy
| Councils, and police, are on the alert. Cui
| verts, drains, and sewers, are being cleansed,
vigorous examination Is made OF all lots ana
all their powers TO moderate the severity OF
| that disease, which may be made comparatively
| harmless but which cannot be avoided alto
1 gether II such steps as these are requisite IN
| those cities which have for the last hve years
| been maintained In their customary CONDITION
1 of cleanliness and order, how much more
necessary are they In city when stilI con-
| tains the heaps of fostering, mouldering rub
4 bish accumulated during long ana dis
organizing war. That which would be but
carelessness In the one case, would be crimi"
nal dereliction of duty in the other, and ouI
people would be content 10 hold their repre-
l sentatiyes responsible for all shortcomings, II
that responsibility alone would sufiice te
save them and their families from the rayage'
of terrible disease.
Those who have not carefully examined the
condition Of the city cannot realise It's nlthJ
and disgusting condition. The houses occu
pied by some persons are but seldom cleaned
tho ashes and garbage remain In high heapi
upon the premises, and whatever may DO theii
good WILL there are many who have not th'
means TO remove them. Frequently, four, nye
or more families occupy the same tenement
and sufficient concert OF purpose can never o