The national Republican., 1867-07-16
LOCAL DEPARTM ENT.

ing OF the Board OF Health was held yesterday ut
o'clock, p m. l
president, and the secretary proceeded to call the
roll. Messrs. Hsgnsr, Riley, Prentiss, Bacon,
Todd, Angus, Ford, Elliott, Fenwick, Gaddis,
Pearson, Roberts and Dove were present, and
thore being quorum, the secretary, Dr. Dove,
proceeded to read the minutes OF the previous
meotngi which were adopted.
Dr. Hsgner, chairman Of the committee to
whom was referred the petition Of Mr.. Samstsg
to dsodorize night soil, made the following re-
port ~. a1|Hr 20 %.
The committee to whom was referred the prop
osition Of Messrs, samstag q Co., "for the pur.
chase and removal Of the night soil Of this city"
beg leave to report, that they have given the
subject their careful eonsideration, and have
been guided in their expressions Of opinion solely
with view to the improvement Of the sanitary
condition Of tho city. In consulting various au
thorities, We find that for years past the plan
adopted in London. Paris, and other large cities
In Europe, has been to disinfeot oil night soil
before removing 10 out Of the limits. In the
city of-Paris, by decroe Of the Department Of
Poiics, as far back ns 1880 the disinfection OF
all night soil Was rendered obligatory before Its
removal. Since then various laws have been
passed, still mors stringent than the first, but
all having In view the thorough and absolute
disinfection Of this material before taking II
away from the various privies, cesspools, 30,
sity. In England the same steps have been
taken and the same processes Of disinfootio,
used. 1t Is also now practiced in New York
and other large cities In this country. Why,
therefore, should not the Same system be intro.
duced into this city the capital Of the country,
whose increase In population within the past feu
years has almost equalled many Of our Western
cities7 The advantages Of this plan are almost
incaiculable, both as regards health and comfort
We have all experience the disagreeabs effects
resulting from the conveyance Of this material
in night carts through our principal streets, the
course Of which can readily be followed the next
day by using either Of the two senses, that Of
sight or smell. It would only consume time un-
necessarily to adduce any argument to show that
tho various gases and emanations from night
soil, even independent Of the existence Of any
epidemic, Is deleterious to health and productive
OF grave forms Of fever, intestinal affections,
40 The National Hotel disease which prevailed
example familiar to all When cholera prevails
tho importance Of disinfeoting the discharges Of
patients suffering from that disease well as the
priyies, water closets, 30 into which such ma
terial Is thrown Is now looked upon as well
known fact. In this way the extension Of this
{ fearful disease may be checked, and with the
other means recommended, our city may be. as
It has been heretofore, comparatively free from
this terrible scourge.
Now Messrs. Samstag 4 Co. propose to dis,
infect every priVy or sink before removing their
contents with agents recommended by this
Board, and, carry II deodoriIsd and disinfected
out Of the city limits to any point designated BY
the city authorities. They also propose to pay
certain price to the city for each load Of the
material taken away, and they also guarantee
that property. owners shall be at no more expense
than at present. The location Of this place oil
deposit should bs carefully selected and agreed
upon by the proper authorities with the approba
tion Of this Board.
The means used for disiufeotion have already
been fully aud ably treated in late report L
this Board by committee appointed for tina
purpose, through the chairman, DR.. Prentiss
and this committee therefore think II unnesessar,
to mention them at this time.
In conclusion your committee would recon
mend to the favorable consideration Of the Cit,
Council slthe propositit n lof Msssrs. samstsg
Co and that means be taken as speedily q
possible to carry into effect their plans.
Mr.. Elliott moved the adoption Of the repor
Of the committee; which was unanimously agree,
10. ....
DR.. Todd, of tho committee to whom was re
fsrred the question Of the impurity Of tn
Potomac water, read 4 letter from Theodore
Samo in reference to the matter. Tho lotte
stated that
"The Potomac water now used In the cities G
Georgetown and Washington Is as pure rs m
that can be supplied for several years to come
Very little improvement In Its quality can b
expected until the completion Of the distributin
reservoir, tho necessity of which has been full
shown In the annual reports Of the Chief Enginse
of the Washington Aqueduct"
DR.. Todd further stated that by the 10th 0
August the water used in this city and Georg'
town would come direct from the Great Fall
and he thereupon moved that the committee !
discharged from the further consideration Of th
subject which was agreed to,
New business being In order, DR.. Dove, u
secretary, read o communication from A.
Smith and others, In relation to q lot on Mint
street between p and O. In square No. 1915 als
the square bounded east and west by Seveni
and Eighth streets, and south and north by
street and Rhode Island avenue. These plao
are used as q receptacle and deposit for all val
cities Of flth, and the stencil Is most abominabl
and the petitioners prayed the Board Of Heal
to take some action In the matter.
Drs. Prentiss and Ford made few remarks
reference to the communication and on motto
Aportion Of the petition was referred to u
Mayor, and DR.. Dove, the secretary, will tai
cognizance Of the remainder.
DR.. Fenwick, as o committee OF one, asked
a continuance until the next meeting TO make
report, and asked that tho committee be increas
two more,
The entire matter was laid over until the ne
meeting Of the Board
DR.. Prentiss offered the following preamble o.
resolution:
Whereas, numerous complaints have been ma
by citizens to members Of this Board that wa
contractors for removal Of garbage arc very
miss in the discharge of their duties calling
garbage at the different residences only once
twice a week, and In some instances at ev
longer intsryRlsi
And whereas, this Board Is satisfied Of the j
tics Of these complaints. both from personal I
seryation and from the fact that there are no
sufficient number Of carts In some Of the wa
at least) employed to carry out the requirsme
Of the law, by which II 10 made the duty OF
contractors ito visit every dwelling and plac,
business In their respective wards daily from
81 lst day Of May to the LIST day Of DecembeIj'
And further whereas, this Board 10 impres
with the Importance Of carrying out so salut
Giaw in sanitary point Of view as the one ab
quoted FROM therefore
Rs,Oiped, The the attention Of the Mayo