The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-24
THE RIGHT MOTE MIDE.
Employment ofthe Fire Department to
Pump Out the Submerged Lots and
Cellars-Other Precautions Needed.

Cellars-Other Precautions Needed
The effect of the article IN our issue OF yes
terday morning, advising the pumping OUT OF
the cellars and vacant lots, has been marked
and immediate. DR.. Lebby, on reading The
NEWS the first thing in the morning, as is nls
sensible habit. was forcibly struck with Inc
argument that the health authorities Woulo
be, in the absence OF the street inspector, held
strictly responsible for the cleanliness OF the
CITY. and he drove down to the City Hall for
consultation with the Mayor. His Honor had
,ust finished reading the paper, and fully coin
cided with the registrars views of the case.
It was speedily resolved, therefore, to order
out the fBe engines and have these
improrised ponds dried up. The
Mayer proposed at first 10 give to
Mr.. T. J. Mackey the general super
yison OF the work, but he was speedily con-
rinced that, for obvious reasons, that would
never do, and the duty was accordingly as
signed to Major E. Willis, the energetic presi-
dent of the Etna Engine Company, who was
instructed 10 call upon so many of the differ
ent engines as necessary to speedily remove
the water Major Willis at once communica-
ted an order through the acting chief eng-
neer, Mr.. Alexander, to all the different COM
panies to turn out and set to work within
their respective districts, and pasted notices
upon the bulletins informing all citizens who
had places that required to be emptled that it
would be done without charge upon applica-
ton to him. The steamers first employed
were the Washington, Hope, lEtna, Young
America, Vigilant and Palmetto, besides sew
eral of the hand engines. Other steam
ers were ordered on duty as fast as
they could be usefully employed, and
were kept at work all night, the fremen,
both white and colored, cheerfully volunteer
ing their services, so that the only expense to
the city will be for fuel and the actual time Of
the engineers. This prompt and efficient ac-
ton of the city authorities, and the unhesitst-
ing and voluntary cooperation of the tiremen,
cannot be too highly commented, and will
have the effect Of improving the sanitary con-
dtion of the city more in twenty-four hours
than could otherwise have been done in a
month. The citizens have duty in this re-
spect, however, that should not be neglected,
which Is to give information Of all the cellars
and low lots containing water that they know
of, so that the engines may be sent
to those points. This information should
be given to Major Willis at "his Office
on North Atlantic wharf; but if more con-
yenient, the same end will be secured by
communicating it to the nearest engine
house. Another way in which the citizens
can co. operate with the authorities in their
efforts to make the city cleaner, is In the
liberal sprinkling about of such deodorizers ::
carbolic acid and ammoniated lime, which can
be obtained in any quantity at the gas works
in Washington street, al the trialng cost Of
four cents pound. Chloride of lime can also
be had Tree Of charge upon application at the
City Hospital, or at the Guardhouse, and
should be freely used, especially on the garbage
which is put out on the sidewalks early in the
morning, and too often left there by the negli-
gent scavengers until its offence is rank and
smells to Heaven. There are many other
things that need to be done. to
complete the cleansing Of the city, and now
LQaL GllS auLuOIIties nave AoniicSIou ouSn q
audable disposition to do their duty at last
in this direction, it is hoped that it will only be
necessary to direct their attention to the work
that is required to be done to have 1t pr romptly
attended to. Oae of the worst places In the
city is in Market street, between Meeting and
East Bay. The cellars Of the fruiterers stores
along this street, all contain more or less wa
ter, floating and rotting in which are melon
rinds, onions, cabbages, turnips, and all sorts
of vegetable matter. This condition of affairs
was plainly seen yesterday afternoon, when
the Etna, in attempting to pump out one Of
the cellars in Market street, had her supply
pipe repeatedly choked up BY the filth that
was floating in the water, and prompt
measures should be taken to remedy
#. Another precaution that DR.. LeeSSy might
pro6tably employ, would be th,e distribution by
the city carts ct ueodorl2ers along the cutters,
which now contain in some places consider
able sediment that has been pumped up from
the cellars by the fire engines, and, with the
adoption of these and few other sanitary
measures that will readily suggest themselves,
our citizens will be able to walk the streets
with lessened Inconvenience their sight and
smell, and snap their fingers at the chance of
approaching malaria.