The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-13

THE PLAGUE.

.The Present FILTHY Cenditlon OF bedford
Jtreet-rhe Appearance the 'Helapsing"
lHeSer r. 4Iarnnnx syn,pton nls--ren Cases and
Three Deaths In One Dny-Ammediate Actien
Necessary. n 100
really startling. The filth, both in the main
thoroughfare and in the many courts and alleys
runDing therefrom, is so great as to be hardly
bearable. The inspectors of the Board of
Health have reported the street in good condi-
ton, but that Is far from being the truth. As
the warm weather is now coming on, some
urgent measures are necessary, or disease and
death will be the result. A most deadly disease
has now made its appearance, which If
not checked will spread Into pestilence, and
go through the whole city. The head officials
of the Board of Health should themselves ex-
anime into this matter. The keeping of a
locality SO important to the health of the whole
community should not be intrusted to subordi-
mates, who certainly do not attend to their bust
ness, as can be seen at glance by any one visit
ing the vicinity. The courts IN the rear OF Nos
62S and 632 Alaska (Bedford) street are now
reeking with filth. pedestrian cannot pass
through them without getting covered and the
stencil is fearful. Doekerty court in the next
square above, is In a like condition. In this
place there is an outhouse in constant use, in
which the filth is piled some four or five inches
thick. In one court the liquid DRAWINGS from
the ground above are running into cellar
where there are several Inhabitants. The tenants
of these houses beg to have the whole place
cleaned but the property-owners will not do it,
.- and the Board of Health do not notice 1t. If
left long in this condition the effect will be
fearful
deadly and as much to be feared as the ''yellow
fever" has made its appearance. In the "Contl
mental, one of the notorious spots of the Locality,
which is a small shanty about ten feet long by
about six wide, and with height of about five
feet situated inthe rear of No. 62S, awoman died
only yesterday. The small shanty or outhouse is
inhabited by whole family and is one of the
places most In need of cleaning. The woman
Ia tha hare urrOu T.
, ing for her husband to have her buried.
small bunch of Grape hung over the alley way
leading to the spot to announce the fact. In
the cellar of No 62S two men have died within
a week. These cellars, according to the state
ment of Mr.. Long, the missionary of the Bedford
p Street Mission, who certainly ought to know,
should either be entirely whitewashed or else
closed for the summer. They are all very filthy
and without any ventilation. They are usually
crowded with people, and the effluvium is such
that il is hardly possible for a man to breathe.
Mr.. Long yesterday entered the one where the
deaths had taken place, and he had Immediately
. to leave it or he would have tainted on the spot
1 The public baths which were started last season
by the mission will again be opened as soon as
funds can be raised. As only cold water is used,
on account of the lack of accommodation, they
, can only be used in the summer.
That this dreadful ''relapsng fever" has in
reality made its appearance is a settled fact
The physician of the mission certifes to ten
cases of the fever in one week, all of which
were exactly similar in every symptom. This
disease is known to exist in New York, where
the authorities heve been fighting it all winter
There is much connection between the worst
streets of New York and Bedford street, which
easily. help the progress of the disease
When a thief is driven away from New York by
the search of detectives he takes refuge in Bed
ford street, and when member of the same
class is hunted down here, he goes to some of
the dirty dens of New York, and returns when
the danger is over. The seeds of the disease
can easily be carried by these parties, and it is
only by the greatest care that the effect can be
counteracted 1t is certainly not tie best way
to battle it to let the street remain in the condi-
tion in which it now is. That in itself is suf-
fcient to breed the worst of diseases.
If this dreadfuldsordero once gets fairly started
in one locality, it will spread through the entire
city like wildire. Not only will the people be
dying by thousands in Bedford but in every
street. The time may come when the dreadful
dead cart will again rumble through the high
ways; when imuffled men will cast therein
the naked bodies of the numerous dead; when
the cross of danger will again be seen upon the
ct doorway; and when the roaring fires will bt
kindled to drive away the destroyer. Wher
such a time comes, then perhaps the authorities
will learn wisdom, and not before. Such timt
may possibly come, far off as it now seems tt
II be, if precautions are not taken, and none arr
now being taken.