Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25
The Corporation Meeting.

well attended, and lively Interested
WAS manifested regarding the work In
contemplation.
At 8 p. m, the meeting was allied to
order by the Moderator, MI j. M.
Haven, S. W. Rowell, Esq, debating
as clerk, when, after reading thtarticles
of warning, Dr.. Goldsmith, chairman of
the committee appointed at a revious
meeting to examine the sanitaT condi-
tion OF our village and report what steps
were necessary for the constitution OF
proper sewers wherewith to cry off
the filth and garbage arising tom our
village submitted the following report,
which was accepted by the meeting:
Gentlemen The condition OF things
existing in our village, for theremedy
of which your commission was appointed
to consider the ways and mean, seems
to embrace two separate MATES, viz:
surface stagnant water and subsil stag
nant water, and the garbage OF houses
and excreta of men animals. Tie evils
which pertain to these conditions are
various and manifold.
Those which pertain to accumllations
of surface water and and a wetsubsoil
are In part economical and in part sani-
tary.
The economical evils are thosl which
manifest themselves in 8 cold, Ate and
limited vegetation (for instance pears,
grapes, cherries, ETC., perfectly IraCtica-
Bile in Brandon and Pittsford, ART impos-
sible in Rutland), and all vegetables are
later here.
I'd. The dampness Of many cellars rem
ders them measurably useless, and rots
the foundation timbers OF dwellings.
Sd, The retention of rain water. The
slow oozing of sluggish springs renders
the streets muddy, mirey, and in some
seasons, almost impossible; requiring
for the hauling of gravel and ether an
nual repairs an outlay of money almost
equal to the yearly interest OF the cost
of complete and perfect system Of
sewerage. The disease producing influ-
ence of wet subsoil may be inferred
from the fact that PittenpOker, tie great
est hygeist living, predicted Of the city
where he lived that it would that season
escape the ravages of the chdera de-
veloping itslef everywhere in tle cOun-
try around, for the reason that the sub
soil was dry, and it did, ard on q
second advent that the city would not
escape, for the reason that at that time
the subsoil was saturated with water,
and it did not.
So important is this matter considered
by the Prussian, French and British
Governments, that it is the standing rule
in their armies, that the sites of all per-
manent barracks and hospitals must be
upon land having dry subsoil, or else
that the subsoil must be drained before
a building is erected, and this, too, with
out reference to the removal of surface
water and excreta.
The evils pertaining to the non. re-
moval of garbage and excreta concern
personal comfort, public decency and
the public health
LIST. With the present state of things,
water closets, one o. the greatest COM
forts in a household, are impracticable.
ANY one using one without sewerage is
subject to Indictment. The discomforts
of i9tid privy to be reached through
rain and mud need no comment
ID. The presence Of garbage or cess
pools at the back Of houses is foul, dis
gushing and disgraceful to say nothing
of the question of health.
The health question is one, however,
which dominates all Others. A somewhat
extended and careful examination Of this
matter has led your Committee to re-
gard the following propositions as clear
ly established by the concurrent testi-
mony of number of distinguished sci
entifc observers, and upon facts care
fully observed, and reported with circum.
stantial detail.
LIST. There is given off from collec.
tions of house garbage and human ex.
creta great variety of gases, and that
ofthese gases some of those having nc
odor, and therefore not perCeptible tC
common observation are the most pois.
| onous.
I'd. That some diseases, as Cholera
Dysentery and Typhoid fevers are pro.
duced almost exclusively by matters de-
rived from human excreta, so much SO
that 1t may be regarded as a matter Of
some doubt whether these diseases are
ever produced in any considerable mum.
Der of cases without theo peration of this
agency.
Sd. That the poisOns of these dis
eases may be operative by the agency
OF vapors arising from collections o.
forces, or by the supage of their fuit
parts into drinking water.
4th. That some of the most frightfu
instances Of the apparent poisoning O
whole Families, Schools, Jails and Ho
tells, have been traced to Accommodations
OF kitchen garbage. We need refer only
to the celebrated Washington example
where so many Of the inmates lost theil
lives from this cause, CT to .the Masel
Ion Boarding School, where IS of thu
young ladies were taken with typhui
from this cause. The physicians of oul
village tell US of number of cases oc
curing In our midst in which valuable
lives have been lost in the same way snC
by like causes.
9th. That netal matters are more dan
gerous in privy vaults than if left upor
the surface of the ground.
hn oil