Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-04
THE SANITARY PROBLEM.
Mayor HOweIFs Proclamation Caus.
tieaIIy Reviewed.

Mayor hOWeAA8 EEOeAHlmaAAOia Nauaa
tieaIIy Reviewed.
To the Union and American:
This is a strange document, from the
Chief Magistrate Of a city having so many
nuisances Of a public character within her
limits. To be brief, look ct the mouth Of
the sewer upon College street, running
from Locust street down College, emptying
into an open drain in an alley, about two
thirds the distance from Locust street 70
Lick Branch, prOducing-a nuisance almost
uncomfortable.
The open sewer between Cherry and
Summer streets, running from Broad south
to the Wilson Spring Branch conducts most
Of the privy soil, sewerage, etc, draining
six or eight acres Of the most densely pop
ulated portions Of the city.
The branch west Of the Chattanooga
depot has been long complained Of. Suits
for damage as well as prosecutions before
the Criminal Court have been threatened.
The pond between College and Market
streets north Of jefferson has been produced
as is reported, by a badly constructed cul-
vert on Madison street.
The pond in the alley RAINING south
from Broad street between Summer and
High streets, the result of eXcayating the
alley for the accommodation of the Nash
vile and Decatur Railroad Company, is al
so a source of constant complaint.
These are some Of the nuisanCeS, the re-
suit Of public Improvements, inflicted upon
the citizens in their vicinity. Would it
not be considerable upon the part Of the
Mayor to abate such nuisanCes as are above
reported, whilst he is so emphatic in his
commands TO the citizens to have their
premises cleaned?
There are many filthy ponds in the city
upon private property That may be num-
bered BY the dOzens-the receptacles Of not
only the filthy waters drained into them
from the surrounding neighbOrhOOds, bus
also the repositories frequently Of privy
soil, dead caTcasses Of hogs, dogs, cats, etc.
The Mayors attention has been called to
the existence Of such nUisances time and
again, but not one Of them has been abated.
He has published extracts upon what seems
to be the purpOrt Of several sections of the
sanitary laws, in regard TO nuisances,
such az, HOccasioning or permitting pool
Of stagnaut water, or other offensive place;
failing or refusing to create necessary priv
les, or to keep the same in proper cleanly
order; permitting water to accumulate in
cellars; depOsiting Stops, dirty water, filth,
trash, or any offensive matter whatever on
any square, street, alley, CT
lane, ETC." These are the most
general ard offensive nuisances to
which our citizens are subjected The
Msyor orders "that any and all persons
committing any Of the OGenses named in
his proclamation shall be dealt with
according to law" Every man and woman
- IL Mav~gr'a rFrprI irT1 and
his peremptOry orders, at once enquiries
what they shall do with the Stops, dirty
water, filth, etc, anavOidably acCumulating
in the culinary departments Of their house
holds. There are no public sewers with
which they can connect to carry of such
sewage from their residences. They have
no private cOnveyanCes in which such ar
ticles can be conveyed 10 the river. The
wives and daughters are not able to carry
them in buckets and tubs upon their heads
to the river. Furthermore, a majority Of
the population are working men and
this work done.
IT, therefore. the edicts Of the Mayors
proclamation be not carried out by the citi-
Zans, although they have no means TO avoid
committing such OfienseS, they viii be ar
rested, carried before the Recorder, who
has no discretion left him, but the execu-
ton Of the iron will Of the law, which says
oppressives fines shall be assessed, paid or
secured, or the offender sent to the city
work-hOuse, to liquidate the fine by hard
labor at seyenty-five cents per day. This
is not only hard and oppressive, but
| every rejecting man would call it ALSO
lutely wrong. It would be a strange YER
dict if any sensible judge or jury would
confirm such a judgment as the Recorder
would be forced, under the law, 10 render.
Laws are not made for the purpose Of re-
quiring citizens to attempt impOssibilities-
All that the Mayor orders in his prOcla-
nation can, however, be done, and satisfac-
torily to all interested, if proper measures
are adopted to enable the citizens 10 per-