Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-06
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Some time last winter the LEDGER be
gan to advocate strong Board OF Health
believing such a department or append
age to the city government necessity
and matter of justice to the poorer
classes especially, as we'll as promoting
the general welfare of the city. From
time to time we have alluded to the sub
ject, until finally the Mayor and General
Council came to the same position. An
ordinance was finally passed last Satur-
day establishing a small, well paid Board
of Health, with full powers to control
the sanitary affairs of the city. Had il
been done four weeks ago many lives
would have been saved; but it is not too
late to make an effort to stay the scourge
when over fifty people are dying day.
And when the epidemic has passed
away the board will find plenty
of work for the next two years.
With all the means and facilities
the city can supply it will take fully two
years to put the city in decent order; af-
ter that the labor will not be so great,
and if discipline is maintained and sani'
ary regulations enforced, as in mill
tary camp, we will have no more epi-
denies. This has TO be done or Mem
phis goes by the board Such times as
we have had for twelve months will not
only keep people from coming here to
invest their money, but will drive away
our remaining population to healthier
localities. The Board of Health cannot
now do much but disinfect; the removal
Of garbage and years accumulations Of
flth at this. time would increase the NOR
tality, but uninhabited houses can, un-
der another ordinance, be burned down,
and much may be done to prevent the
spread of the disease at present and the
recurrence OF other epidemics. This
one has gone too far to be abated at once,
but a great number of lives may be
saved and the conditions Of the
atmosphere modified for the better
The salaries are liberal for the times,
though not any too. much for the
herculean tasks to be performed.
The police is placed at the commxad
Of the board to a5ate nuisances, etc,
and undertakers and others are re.
quired, under penalties, to report to
them, furnish dates, statistics, etc The
last section appropristes $4,000 for the
use of the Board Under the circum-
stances we dc not see where the ordi-
nance could be improved. The city gov
ernment has assumed the responsi-
bility, and taken long step in a d.
rection that the press and the people
will heartily endorse and sustain. The
measures adopted are ct for such dire
emergency, although the situation was
not fully realized as soon as might have
been, and even public sentiment, while
kept slightly divided as to the presence
of yellow fever, vas slow to assert
itself, we cheerfully concede that
all acted in good faith and
and believe that all win work disinter-
estedly for the public good. If mistakes
have been made, let Us Overbalanee them
By prompt, noble actions such as become
men in the face Of great public dan
ger. Let women and children and non-
combaianis,be sent to the rear, but men
must remain at the front until the crisis
Of our perils has passed away. There
is more heroism in the acts ofthOse Who /
seek osi the stricken sufferers Of Happy |
Hollow than those Who seek the bubble /
reputsiion 81 the esansu's mouth, and /
fhs is the feld and work before the /
Board Of Health.