Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-16
Cur scnvenger system.

THE DIS BTLTTIRa UNDER WHICH 1T II CONDUCTED
a MIsEsABLY LANE AsD iSEFrcIEsr system
How THE B0AAD or HEALTH PROPOSES TO
REMEDY IT.
The Special Committee OF the Board Of Health,
appointed, some meetings ago, TO investigate
our system Of scayengng, submitted it's report
On Friday hight last, Ar published below Ita
adoption will be further considered at the next
meeting. The review Of the present system is
very thorough, and was written by Mr., Eckel, Of
the Committee
The Committee appointed under special res.
olutlOn Of this Board, to consider and report
some plan by which cess-pOols within the limits
OF the city can be more systematically cleanned
than at present have taken the subject under
careful confederation, as being one Of more than
ordinary Importance, and closely affecting in
lts practical bearings. the health and comfort Of
our entire community
The plan hitherto adopted - and still pursued
by the Board Of Heath-h&s shown itself to be
neither satisfactory or reliable. Although in
many instances 1t has worked tolerably well. il
haH not boon, nor, under existing crcumstances
can II be, entirely or even partially nuccessful .
aud thus, Tor reasons that must appear plainly
evident to all who will examine the facts
Under our present syHten-if 1t can be called
system at alan indefinite Eumber OF night
rcayergers are licensed, annually to cleanse
cesr-p0Oa, under such restrictions az may, from
time to tune, be adopted by the Board. These
night acavengers are composed Of poor colored
men, without carth or teams, and entirely with
out the means to procure them. With but one
or two exceptions, there il not in the long list
Of licensed night scayengers, one who owns or
can control the uHe OF single cart or team for
any certain length OF time, and although these
men, by reason OF their lCenteB, do all the ac-
tual night labor, and are supposed to be the re-
rponHible parties, they are but the merest ser
wants IN the hands OF another class OF persons
who own all or nearly all the carts and teams
Ihls elazs CONSISTS manly Of neghborin <
truckers and small farmers They require and
use night soil upon their grounds and at GER
tam hearonH must have 1t. At these times their
teams can very readily be hired by the night
5cayengers, and when 30 employed. the work of
clehhHlnB WIZ go on vigorously But a. soon as
tho supply oil night Holl necessary for fertilzing
purposes has been obtained or tho teams NAV
DO required for other uses on the farm, they are
withheld, and all night work must then stop
except in the very few instances OF individual
gers, already alluded to-
This has been the case for years past il il
the case now and its consequence has alway1
been, and still il, not only Inconvenience to
those who at the time may require their cess-
pools oleansed, but 1t also results more or leas
IN injury to the public health.
The past season has given frequent and pain
ful evidences OF this fact Although the licensed
scayeugers-al the time overcrowded with work
were ullllBeht ana urgent IN their applications
for teams and carts, none could be had until the
owners could dispense with them on their farms
and lands hence, every section of the CITY suf-
fered from the delay.
As the city grows, in like degree will this an
nOyance Increase, unless the remedy shall be
promptly applied by the proper authorities. In
no other city that we know of are the people 70
badly served III this important particular OF night
bcayenging.
The Committee have taken much pains to in
form themselves AZ to the methods employed
Tor doing this kind Of work in other cities, and
nowhere do they lind tho business 30 loosely and
indl1erently managed. To bring its operations
therefore, within the scope OF more
thorough system, has been the chief aim of the
COMMITTEE, in all it's deliberations and by a
close examination Of the various methods en-
pluyed elsewhere, we have concluded to em-
body IN this report plan adapted to our present
local neceHslties, and feasible IN its details In
our Judgment, its adoption will put the whole
business OF cess-pOol cleaning upon a practical
systematic basis, managed by responsible par
ties, and at all times directly within the legiti-
mate control Of the Board Of Health.
Your Committee respectfully submit, for con-
sideratlon and adoption, the following
CODE OF REGULATIONS.
For tho purpose Of establishing a more sys-
tematic method Of cleansing the cesspools of
the city, whereby the people may be guaranteed
security against practices offensive to eight or
smell, in the removal of right soil from their