The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-23

1 oiuo iuIo holu, AUuefSL nuu ooutu 1oieoeo'
This trench was then filled up with rough
stones, brlckbats, &C., loosely thrown In, so
as to leave interstices for the water to run
through. and over this was laid bed of shells
and earth solIdly packed down to prevent the
sand from Sitting down from the surface and
filling up the drain. This drain has been
found to draw the moisture from the surround
ing lots most completely, and to empty con-
tinuous stream of nearly pure water into the
river, and 1t is the cheapest drain that can
possibly be made, inasmuch as no walls what
ever are required to be built The same sys-
tenn has been applied to the draining of the
square between King, John, Radcliffe and St.
Philip streets, and to the lots adjoining Isllng-
ton court, at the foot of Cannon street, and
with the most satisfactory results:
A very liberal use OF dIsnfectants has been
commenced by the board of health and Is
urged upon all citizens Carts have been en-.
ployed during the past few weeks, and will be
| kept at work until the return of frost OF In
tervals, carrying chlorl6e of lime and strong
solution of copperas, which Is thrown into the
graliDgs of all the drains to prevent the escape
of efluvia, and In those streets where the
drains have been opened and the dirt spread
over the streets, although this work. was all
done last winter and the dirt has all been
frozen hard since 1t was spread upon the
ground, large quantities. Of lime have been
sprInkled over the ground to make doubly
sure the assurance that no lingering germs Of
disease shall escape to poison the atmosphere.
A thorough cleansing of all sinks and vaults
throughout the city has been In progress
during the winter and spring, and will be
completed by the first OF June.
COMPLETE INSPECTION
of every ward of the city as to Its sanitary
condition ls now being made by Captain Minott
and the police force under his command, and
the results Of Lhls inspection are 10 be reported
by the registrar to the board Of health on the
first of June, after which dale the care OF
each ward will be transferred TO the repre-.
sentative of that ward In the board OF health,
who will be expected, with the assistance of
the citizens, to maintain complete survell-
lance of the ward and keep 1t in the thorough
sanitary condition In which it will be turned
over to him. Regular weekly meetings Of the
board will be held after June l, at which the
members will report the condition of their
several wards, and the registrar will devote
his especial attention during the summer to
Market street, the river front and such other
localities as demand the most careful watch.
ing. Marked street Is now In good condition,
all the cellars having been we'll cleaned and
ventilated, and it will now b. comparatively
easy to keep 1t clean and healthy.
SMALLPOX LAST WINTER.
It is not generally known that the City of
Charleston was seriously threatened last win.
Ter with an epidemic Of smallpox, and that
this terrible calamity was only averted by the
prompt and energetic actlcn Of the Mayor and
the health authorities. In January, three
cases of this disease, brought from New York,
appeared In Wentworth street, and before
it was discovered 1t had been communicated
BY visits 10 the house, 10 King street and one
or two other places near by. Soon after,
sailor from New York vessel was brought to
the City Hospital. and In day or two was
found to be suffering from smallpox. Two
or three other patients In the hospital became
Infected, and two cases also occurred In The
Jail near by These cases all appeared sud
denly, and the city had at that time no small.
pox hospital in its possession, the building
formerly occupied for that purpose having
been turned over to the Old Folks Home.
The necessity of isolatlng the smallpox cases
being pressing, however, the Mayor and re.
gistrar obtained from General Getty permission
TO use the old parade ground near Magnolia,
and there provided place to which the pa
tlenls were promptly removed, aud the spread
of the disease effectualy prevented. The
dreaded epidemic was thus happily and quiet
ly averted, and there is not now In the city,
and has not been for many weeks. single
case OF smallpox.
DUTY OF THE CITIZENS.
These statements will show what the health
authorities have been doing to put the city
into proper sanitary condition, and they
claim that the city Is now In better condition
than 1t has been before for ten years, and that
the prospects for healthy season are exceed
ingly encouraging. It now rests largely with
the citizens to see thatthis condition OF thlegs
Ia maintained, and to this end the board of
health request the cooperation OF the people,
and have, by means of the advertisements
and notices in TIE NEWS, and circulars and
hand.bIlls which have been and will be dis
tributed, given many practical suggestions by
which this cooperation may be made effective.
Citizens are especially requested to report all
violations of the city ordinances relating to
health affairs, and for this purpose "com.
plant books" have been opened at both
tho upper and lower Guardhouses. ANY
complaints received in this way will
not only be promptly attended to, but
will be- received as favor by the regis
trar. It Is the duty Of houaekeepers to put
their ashes, garbage, &C., out In front Of their
houses before 7 A. NJ, and of the contractors
to remove them before ten o'clock every
morning, and any neglect of this ordinance by
the scavencers should be promptly reported.
The scaveugers are also required, from March
l 10 November /, to remove everything taken
from the streets (even The street sweepinga)
beyond the limits of the city, and any violation
of this rule. such for instance as using the
street refuse for filling up holes or low lots.
with or without the consent of the owner Of
the ground should be reported and Will be
atnnnad