National Republican., 1878-04-05
QUE BOARD or nEALrH.
Msrssins the conadeaec Of the cenmus

Mevitine the Conhdenec of the Couamunity.
Aud now. In response to the accusations that the
board has done nothing TO merit the confidence OF
the community. wo refer 10 the published records,
commencing In 1874 and following and which
have M all times beou open TO pcruSal.
Among the earlier subjects which attracted the
attention Of the board was the notorious washing.
ton Canal, justly styled the stygean ces'pool, which
for long time had been rccdng with 9Th In the
very heart Of this clty-a receptacle for sewage,
fruitful source Of nicphtc vapors generating DIS
ease, and disgrace to the community.
It is not necessary to occupy space In your col.
umns detailing the efforts Of the board IN finally
accomplishing the abatement Of thh prolific source
of disease and discomfort.
The cooperation OF the Board Of Public Works.
OF Commissions and Of the then Governor OF
this District was IN time secured, and from then
dates the onwnrd progress Of reform.
Another reformation which had to fight Its way
| against prejudice and personal interest was the
establishment Of the pound service.
Interested individuals arraycd themselves against
| the agents Of the board aud fought them Al every
available point: but the boarl persovered In the
fearless and impartial execution of the law. end
finally a. railways has as far "sIstaincd
| sGnces detrimental to health.
when the Board Of Health came into power the
system of removing and dsposing of night soil was,
perhaps, the most itOlsrabe nuisance that existed
| IN this city.
The scnyenscrs werc under no restraint and de;
pNsltel this dangerous compost wherever u suited
their individual convenience, and without regard
| to the welfare OF the citizens
1t had become sucn an evil that the pcorlc no,
| came seriously alarmed, aud finding no law or au'
thority to protect them against theSs dangerous
| practises, rose
IN ARMS AGAINST TuE scAvESGERs,
and threatened their lives II they continued the
| practice Of findscriminntc dumping.
Under that section OF the law empowering the
| board to determine what are nnsances dctri.
mental to public health, and how to Rbate the
Permission OF the then Governor ofthls District the
scayengcrs were placed upder it, control and CON.
PEELED to deposit at locality sufficiently remote to
The noisy night carts, disturbing the siumbcrs Of
| citizens, and reekiny with offensive odors making
their slow transit through the streets giving out AT
every step OF their progress the germs OF disease
which were waited into our bedroom windows
seem now at this late date like troubled dream,
| compared n the method at present In uSc.
| But this end was not attained without eternal
vigilancc." and noco>sitated In obtaining the
abatement that various membeIs of the board and
officials should patrol the city all night for weeks
| ~ prevent Interference with the new order intro
duced and TO avoid infrnctions of the law,
adopted by the Board Of Health, steady uphill
fight 10 overcome prejudice and individual ami
mostly. for which the board has received, hgira
| lively, more kicks and cuff than TANKS.
since the establishment Of this one reform alone
| THE DEATH RATE
| from crm-prnduced diseases. engendGrei by In
4 haling the villalnDus stcnchcs nightly difuscd
through the Atmosphere, has most decidedly Rbated
hundreds Of lives have been saved, and untold SUI
| ferings from sickness prevented.
Regurding the poisonous sewer gases above men
TONED. will II satisfy the inaligners N learn thai
the Board Of Health has not and never had any
control whatever over the sewers Of this city
The sewers are under the control Of the Board O
Public Works, and whatever assaults have been
made calculated To throw the responsibility upon
the Bovrl Of Health have been INSTRUCTED; and
the same may be Justly shtd Of other complaints
Neither the members OF the BOARD. the Health
Olccr, nor any inspector Of the sanitary force
have even the right 10 enter the grounds Of pri
rtsSiI.tlrp nhetn n nuisance
unless complaint Is formally made that the same |
actually In process Of affecting the public health
W.