Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-08
RO.9KD or HEALTH.

ALEXANDRIA, Aug. :, l87l.-Thc Board of
Health met this evening, ut tho Auditors office
Present: DR.: r. G. Powell, President and
Mcssrs. Geo. II. Robinson, Capt w. w. Rock
E. j. Lloyd, y. E. Addison, j. B. Smoot and
0. =. Whittlesey.
THE meeting having boon called for the pur-
pose of considering proposition Of ThoS. Sew
ell esq, Of New Orleans, for the removal of the
night soil Of the city upon an improved plan,
which frees the citizens from the annoyance in
cident to the old system, that gentleman WAS in
troduced to the Board, and detailed t. them the
features of his system. which were well received.
The following is Mr.. Scwclls address t. the
Board:
To the Board Of NatM Of the city Of -liscanariu:
Gentlemen: propose 10 remove the mis- ht soil
in the city ofAlcXandrla, and dcodOrze and discn-
feet the same previous to removal, in the follow
ing manner:
Deliver to each house sufficient quantity of
tho improved dcodOrizcr and absorbent, - be
used in each box; the same to be used daily and
from time to time, and remove the contents of
said boxes, when required, ut the same rate ct
charge us regulated by laws now III force and
without any additional charge for the drodorlz-
ing material to he furnished rs above proposed.
To pursue the business in satisfactory man
ncr will require large outlay Of capital, there
fore privilege running through several years
Will be required
Awaiting your prompt action and trusting for
-
truly yours, THOMAS SEW ELL.
Georgetown, August 4, 1871.
The following, addressed t. the President OF
the Board, was also read:
GEoRGETowN, Angus! 4tl, 1871.
DR., r. e. PomrU:
Dear Sir: lettering to our Interview this morn
ing, beg leave to say that my system of deoder-
iZlng and removing Of nj ght soil, Is i'll successful
operation in the city Of New Orleans and else
where; the company established by my efforts
have an exclusive right for the city Of New Or
leans for twenty years the city authorities hav {
contracted for that service in the public build
ings ut 81 800 Il year The wagons pass through
the city ut all hours Of the day, without offence
To sight or smell.
| have submitted the system to the Board OF
Health of this district meeting with their hearty
approval. y report in its favor will be made on
Saturday evening. There is little if any doubt
of its being adopted. 1t is undoubtedly the great
sanitary measure of the age, and design intro
ducing it in all cities where the drainage is i'm
perfect. including Richmond, Norfolk, Augusta
and Others and hope you will look upon it with
favor for your city.
The terms on Which ! am willing TO put it in
operation do not add IL the present cost on the
now very imperfect and disagrceablc system,
and cannot fail to be acceptable to the citizens.
In order to carry the systQm into permanent
and continuous effect will require the privilege
for II term OF years SAY ive.l 1t will be the means
Of urrcsting the spread of any contagious disease
that may alict your city.
Trusting you will make IN effort for the intro
ductiun, ! remain very truly yours,
THOS. SEWELI.. Box !G2.
NIB have srl-ncting fixtures on the princplca 81
water closets, which may be- put up i'll the house
or convenient thereto; also Scli-acting commodes
which can be moved from and to any part of the
house rs may be required in case ui sickness.
Out house, may be placed near the house for
convenience.
The benefits of the system cannot be c>tirnat",!
in dollars and cents.
After Il full and free interchange of sentiments
upon the matter before them, the Board, on mo-
ton, adopted the following:
RcSOircd, That an opportunity be given To Mr..
Sewell, and he Is hereby invited, To illustrate, by
experiment, the utility of his system Of dlsntrct
ing or deodorZng night soil.
RcSOlrr2 That the Health Officer Of this city
BIZ directed to communicates To tho City Council
the request that they postpone the election OF II
Night Scavengcr for the reason that wo are
now investigating II proposition submitted To
us for tho better cleansing and dIslntcctIng OF
the night soil.
On motion, II committee Of four-onc from
each ward-was appointed to conduct the irvcS-
tigution, to which the Health Officer Was added
sad committee stands thus DR.. r. {. Powell,
Health Officer, and Capt. W. w. Rock, Geo. H..
Robinson +. j. Lloyd and J. b. Smoot.
The committee To whom WIS referred the con-
dtiun Of Washington street, between Princcund
King, reported progress.
After issuing orders for the abatement Of a few
nuisunccs the Board adjourned.
.. &. WlllTTLESEY, Srct'y