The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-15
THE AUXILIARY SANITARY ASSOCl
ALTON AND IT'S WORK.
To the Editor of the Democrat:

To the Editor of the Democrat:
The man who raises n voice even savoring
Of opposition 10 the views and schemes OF the
Auxiliary. Sanitary Association of New Or
a cans must certainly look out for squalls
But shall certain and emphatic condemnation
deter one from honest expression OF opinion
on a great public question? ! say no. and,
while feel no disposition whatever TO throw
the slghtest obstacle in the way of intelligent
effort I'd improve the health Of New Orleans.
feel II q duty to point to the enumeration OF
erroneous views or the waste OF the energy or
money or the people. Every individual man
or woman has the absti act right to do "a he
or abe pleases with his or her money, but
rravely question The right Ut any man OF
association OF men TO appeal to the pockets OF
n whole community Ter an individual OF
community for money to be spent VI the
merely ostensible interests of all. ] rather
think II a positive obligation on the part Of
such individuals OF associations 70 be pre-
pared with data demonstrative of the sound
ness OF the positions they assume before
making the appeal Or, will give more lati-
tude. II an individual or association appeals
fur money To try a sanitary experiment here
let such experiment be based either on I'M
,questlonahIy satisfactory experience, or on
reasoning that III crcdtable 10 human iDtelli-
gence and acceptable to thinking minds.
OF course won't find II difficult to impress
many enthusiastic minds with the belief that
would by all means assist ra,her IMAM i.li-
pede the efforts OF the Sanitary Association.
Ii | differ with, or criticisn. or condemn
their views or acts, but they have boldly as
stunned a hervulean taek. their acts can affect
me and every other man ior pooo or eVlI, M,d
thaxy ,ftt ~
test III they are right under enlightened rea.
soning or absolute precedent, IN al
right IL they are wrong. then let them stop
the wrong. .
Watching closely to see how and where the
Sanitary Association would take hold OF the
great question thus far, ! ma then, COIL
sidering the points Of: !. Filling the Locust
Grove Cemeteries with two feet OF river sand.
2. Flushing the cutters with river water. ..
Having All ordinance enacted blythe city, re-
quiriDg each householder to clean the gutter
in front OF his or her premis, e; 4. Cleaning
privies; s. Preventing intermural interments
Id cemeteries located In populous portions OF
the city.
/. What end is sought by covering the Lo-
Gust Grove cemeteries with two feet ST sandp
Clearly the prevention of yellow fever. In
fer that 1t cannot be for the general preven-
ton of disease. for 1t is only necessary to In
quire and IL will BE- found that the population
IN the immediate vicinity OF these cemeteries
is as healthy as Is the population OF New Or
leans In general and the sanitary condition
N iha city now, and ever since the late cpl
demic of yellow fever, will compare most
fayorably with that of any of the large cities
Of the civilized world, while Berlin and some
ether large cities would no doubt gladly
exchange sanitary conditions with us.
/ say IL with diilidence, and with the pro-
faundest respect Tor the enthusiasm 81 the
Sanitary Association, but surely move
ment, a duty, precedent TO large expenditure
of money for covering these cemeteries with
sand was that Of Enthusiastically demonstrat-
ing the insaiubrious quality OF the eAhaia-
tions SO loudly proclaimed as elh ma, Az
therefrom. say it now, and may mo cause
to more than once reiteEate 1T, that IN sclen-
titic research In general. and pre-emlnently
SO i'm sanitary research, the bonest anu lstel-
ligent mind must never lose siRlt o. lne III
portant fact that post hoe does not necessarily
mean pgopter hoe. The relations oil cause
and effect are positive and lar more enuua
ing than the spasmodic ana erralic lho. wv
ments OF associations OF meH any
intricate studies Of trained minds. aIo i,'
they require for their calculation MINDS tissl u
ed In logic and skepticism. Men who search ioI
thath must be acute and skeptlcai. lhsy
may be ever SO willing 70 beaieVe, puI Iiios
must be sloas to believe. Ihe SANITARY Asso
citation beieges that the eondltlon OF Iue LIZ 70,
Gust Grove cemeteries is detrimental 20 liz
health OF New Orleans. and no doubt there ~
not a man in the association VINO Wouiu .l uos
at least stare in wonder at the indip VIC ~
should combat the proposition. bul ln is; 80
e9ltable question comes over bne ihqaii,,I1S
mAnd-why do you believe it, gentlemen Wy
inquiries reveal but one reasan lh tne as0o-
clalan, viz: the cemeteries stink.
but at once the question arises. are 3,s So