The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-30

Thus it is shown that the mortality Of
the city OF Providence, with u population
OF lOO'675-more than three and hall
times larger than Wheeling-was 1874
lea per / 900 than Wheeling, with a pop
ulation OF only $1,000; and that OF all the
cities with which it ia here classed, it has
Welded the largest harvest OF death. This
lneuyiable showing against Wheeling is
the natural result OF the poor sanitary de.
fences Of the city; and the sooner this sad
truth is fully understood by all classes oil
The people, better their security for the
intufe. But it was not necessary for us
10 ro,away from home to prove that even
moderately good hygienic surroundings
Weld the blessings OF good health, and pre-.
vent high death rate. We have, indeed,
Int TO look over into the Seventh Ward
the lsapd-ior abundant proof. There,
gu, OF a population Of 1896, but four
deaths occurred in July, and one OF these
from old age. This Ward is sit
uatel Immediately opposite tho most
densely populated part of the city;
is little over mile in length, with
An area OF about 400 acres, and one OF the
newest wards Of the city. At least three
iourths OF its residents live in their own
houses; and hence along with natural adj
vantases Of location, more attention is
there paid at all times to domiciliary
cleanliness than ia usually observed by
families who rent from year to year.
The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth
Wards invariably furnish the largest
mortality returns; and this is not at all
surprising when their sanitary situation
is understood. The Fourth and Fifth
Wards--in the very heart Of the city-are
separated by Wheeling Greek which is
nothing less than an immense open cess
pOOl-so foul, for the distance OF hall .
mile or more from It's mouth, that neith-
er fish nor frogs can live in its sinking
waters. Along its banks, which are the
dumping grounds for all manner OF filthy
scrapings from the streets and alleys, are
situated several slaughter houses, two or
three soap factories, the City Gas Works,
oil reineries, ETC.; besides, it is the recer'
table Of the sewage from North Main,
Market, and other streets.
But the banks OF Wheeling creek are
scarcely more disease-breeding than that
portion OF the unpaved wharf at the foot
Of l4th street, in the Third Ward. Here
there isa nightly deposit Of garbage from
the restaurants fronting the Ohio river,
and of rotten vegetables from the "green
grocery" houses in tho neighborhood.
And this Is not all,-even the contents Of
old priyy vaults, full to oyeraowing,
have been dumped over the bank; and
with every wind from the south and west,
the sitting odors from these sources OF
corruption are swept over the city.
There are in Wheeling probably SO
miles Of streets, and about the same dis
lance Of alleys. OF the streets, 81 miles
are paved with boulderS; and from q to
miles macadamized with limestone.
They are never swept exceptb by the winds,
and then the dust thus raised is often
binding and choking. The cutters are
constantly unclean from accumulations OF
wash.Water, soap-sudS, kitchen slopa, etc.
Three or four time5 year they are
usually cleaned by simply shovelling
the 9Th into mud-piles, there to
dry for several days before being
Carted away to the creek bank, OF
to some low place in street that may
need filling; or tits more quickly disposed
OF by throwing it Into the middle OF the
street, where, with the dung OF animals,
and dead rats and cats, 1t Is dried and
ground into dust which, ROlsnS vOlenS, must
he breathed and swallowed by the people,
indoors az we'll as out OF doors.
The system OF sewerage is plainly de:
Iectiye. None Of the sewers are trapped;
and from their openings ut various points
Tor the reception OF surface and gutter
drainage, Is constantly exhaled the most
hcEeutng gases. In hundreds Of houses,
with socalled modern improvements, the
klIchen'sinkand bath.tub waste pipes are
nntFapped, and communicate directly
Win the street sewers.
The Sixth and Eighth Wards are
scarcely severed at all, and yet they have
the least natural advantage Of surface
drainage. From them, we believe, come
every mOnththc largest mortality returns
according to their population. In these
wards, there are many unimprovcd lots
shlch are covered the year round with
'Agnant water.
Over the Public Markets, there is no
sort Of sanitary supervision exercised;
and, like as Atmany private stands, faint.
I'd meats and stale vegetables are sold
without hiudrance.
The water supply-with the exception
OF a few wells which are still in use in
NE Seventh and Eighth Wards-is from
!ae Ohio River; and from the Basin, on
zoe .!de Of Wheeling Hill, ii Is distribu.
au through the street mains without Gil.
Ntlng. In proof that 1t is not free from
contamination only requires the fact to
oe stated that there are at least 1900
people Including both Sides Of the River
-Aartin's Ferry and suburbs, on the
Eest; and about three-fourths Of the pop.
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