The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-29
SANITARY REFORM.

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citation of New Orleans, the object Of which Ia
to aid the public authorities In improving the
sanitary condition of the city. This Is well as
far as IL goes and we are glad to see that the
people are awakening to the vital Importance
of sanitary reform In New Orleans. Some
|, good may, and we have no doubt WILL result
from this movement OF our citizens But little
OF permanent value will or can be accom-
plished toward the desired end by mere vol
unteer and unsoienti6e organizations
Tho numerous Investigations into tho
nature and causes OF yellow fever, which were
provoked by the devastating epidemic OF
last summer, have not added single Inn
portant fact to our previous fund OF informa-
J tlon. and hence have afforded no clear and
certain light by which our measures Of pro-
lection can be guided The same differences
OF opinion exist now that existed twelve
months ago as to the efficiency Of quarantine
In excluding the pestience from our shores.
and the same diversity of opinion prevails
AMONG physicians and scientists as TO the
Importance Of rigid sanitary system as a
protection against yellow fever. Consequent
ly, we are thrown back upon experiment,
But the conservative thinkers very Justly
hold that. nothing being positively proved.
the proper line to pursue In experimenting
Is that dictated by common sense and pru-
dence. Hence we find nearly oil our sci
entists advising the most thorough and rigid
measures Of sanitary Improvement. II the
cleansing and flushing Of the streets. and the
thorough drainage Of the oily, be not certain
preventive Of the pestilencs which at long In
tervals has visited us, they are beyond al
question conducive to the comfort, happiness
and general health of the community. We
hold. therefore, that just now the greatest
need OF New Orleans is complete system Of
sanitary Improvement.
But as we have said, we cannot look TO a
volunteer committee Of citizens. however
public spirited and enterprising, for such
system. As body to meet an Immediate
necessity and az movement to arouse public
sentiment on this subject. this com mittee Is OF
great Importance. and we trust will meet with
the enthusiastic support of the whole commu-
nifty. But we must look beyond any such or
ganization for permanent and increasing ben
Gifts. What is necessary Is the organization,
under an act Of the Legislature or sooner by
| an act OF the City Council under an author
izatiOn OF an ordinance OF the convention,
Of q sanitary commission composed OF emil
nent physicians, engineers and layman
whose mission shall be to devise q
complete and comprehensive plan for the per-
lection OF the sanitary condition OF the city
including Its drainage, the cleaning OF Its
streets and yards the ventilation of tene-
ments. a complete reform Of the privy abuse,
and, In short, everything appertainng to sani-
tary reform. This plan should be drawn with
q view to Its progressive accomplishment
!, through q SCI les OF from five TO ten years by
the city government, under the direction
OF the Board Of Health or Sanitary Bureau.
| But the question arises. where Ia the money
to come from to carry out this vast and OK
pensive though all important scheme2 We
answer that the first duty Of the city Is to
protect the lives and health Of It's citlzens;
that Its prosperity and growth are also O
paramount consideration. For years past
the people have been taxed into poverty TO
pay creditors OF the city holding bonds, either
fraudulent or issued In the most proli-
gate manner 1t is time now that something
should be done for the city, it's property.
Its commerce, it's Industries and It's people.
| We propose. therefore. 10 the fret place. that
the city to suspend the payment of all inter
est on the city debt for five years Or longer.
and the public authorities, In the meantime,
to contest, In the courts, the validity OF every
series Of bonds issued since the war, with the
same vigor and pertinacty that they have
contested the consolidated bonds. In the
second place. the first Legislature which con-
venes under the new constitution should
pass new charter for the city,
under which the expenses of the municipal
government will be, like those Of the State
reduced to the very lowest possible figure
consistent with a vigorous administration
These two measures will enable the city to
largely reduce the burden Of taxation; pay
the police, school teachers and other en-
poyees OF the city government promptly In
cash, and SGT aside several hundred thousand
dollars per annum to carry out the sanitary
system which may be adopted.
In our opinion thesanitary system adopted
should be of the largest and most compre-
hensive character. 1t should include sys-
tenn Of city waterworks, by which an unceas-
ing stream Of water OF large volume may be
poured through our streets during the whole
summer, both cleaning the cutters and cool-
Ing the atmosphere. 1t should include
regulations for the ventilation of tene-
ments, which are to be rigidly observed
In the construction Of all new buildings
and In the rebuilding of all those destroyed
by fire or otherwise. A plan should also
be included for the construction of water
closets and the reconstruction OF those now
in existence. Large powers should be given
to the Board of Health or Sanitary Bureau
entrusted with the prosecution OF this scheme.
and all good citizens should be taught to
understand that personal rights do not In
clude the right to accumulate filth, disobey
sanitary laws and subject the balance Of the
community to the ills and discomforts of
bestial filth.
Under system OF sanitary reform such as
we have suggested the temperature OF many
portions of New Orleans can be lowered and