The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-27

I WHttllcT many Ill tile auulence nOUu
those things, for the average of mankind
are somewhat dull of apprehension. But
"The Royal Favorite" has departed, and
list of more enjoyable plays is being
submitted by Mr.. Haverly, ] should
add that still another theater sin course
of construction outof the Mozart Garden,
a building of size.
A great deal has been written and said
of the insanitary, immoral and degraded
habits Of the lower class Of Chinese, but
| doubt if any section Of the famous Chi
nese Quarter of San Francisco can pre-
sent worse scene than Sanitary Super
intendent Raymond, of this city, lighted
upon the other day within three blocks
of the City Hall, and within less than
half mile of the Aristocratic Heights,
IN a neighborhood occupied by Italian
rag-ptckers. In five houses he found
sixty-fivc of these persons residing, and
to convey an idea Of the wretched condi-
tion of these people make a few extracts
from his report, emitting portions that
could scarcely be read with equanimity
even after supper:
1t is impossible to describe the condi-
tion of things as they existed at the time
of my visit. IN the yards, in cellars and
in easements, piles of rags and paper, col
lected from the streets, cutters and ash
barrels, sinking bones, stumps of cigars
and all imaginable filth were to be seen.
Some of these people live in the cellars,
crowded together so thickly that there is
scarcely room to turn around between
the beds and the stove. Everything is
in disgusting condition, and filth and
squalor are everywhere. There is moth
ing short of an order to vacate these
houses, which will do any good. The rags
and paper and filth should be removed,
and this business should not again be per-
mitted in part of the city so thickly
settled. 1t is wonder that an epidemic
has not before this occurred in thisquar-
ter of the city, and strongly urge the
most severe and radical measures.
The Board of Health did apply severe
and radical measures, for it ordered the
houses vacated and the offensive material
carted out of the city. Hundreds of
this class of Italians annually land in
this and the adjoining city, and as they
are clannish, the temptation is for them
to settle near together. A Chinese is a
thousand-fold preferable to them, for he
Invariably seeks employment that is
wholesome, such as washing or shoe
making; but the lowest class of Italians
seem to come here schooled in filth and
welded to it. The better classes, how
ever, make highly desirable citizens, tax
ing generally to business or to marble
cutting.
Dphtheria and scarlet fever are making
such fearf;l ravagcs in this city, that the
Common Council and Board of Health
are seeking a possible solution of the san
itary problem involved in our sewer sys-
tenn. During the nine months ending
September Goth, 1856 lives were sacrificed
to the former and 319 to the latter dis
ease, about one out of every three per-
sons smitten dying. No cityin the world
has superior sewer system, but gases
will rise, and while, owing to the general
descent of the city on all sides toward
the East River and New York Bay, waste
material is rapidly carried off, noxious
vapors, in accordance with the natural
laws which govern them, move in the
contrary direction.
The result is that sewer gas finds its
way into many house, despite even
patent traps and vent-pipes. The only
remedy appears to be to perforate the
street manhole covers, placing a dcodor-
izer in each cover, and, perhaps, by
means Of fiues erected in given localities
to relieve the pressure on house-pipes. In
Liverpool, England, central chimneys
supplied with fire for burning the gases
generated in the sewers were at one time
introduced, but, it is said, failed to give
perfect satisfaction. Brooklyn is, | be-
} lievc, the first American city to give
t the subject serious attention, and, whcl
5 she docs attempt to apply q remedy, she
will doubtless give Yankee inventors !
chance to show what they are good for
: just as | close this letter ! learn tina
n Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, pastor Of the Lee
;, avenue Baptist Church, and famous II
o the advocate OF open communion, ha
y accepted peoples nomination. as candi
t date for State Senator in the Third Dis
:, trict, In his letter of acceptance he dc
t fines his policy as follows:
e "Rcai estate is overlaid and paralyzet
o with taxes. Honest industry goes a-ber
e ging in land burdcncd with the bount,
of God. The criminal in the prisol
~ shop completes with the honest mechanic
and monopolics are the enthroned mon
= archs of the land Twill do anythin,
e consistent with law and order to breal
the yoke of oppression, and restore tn
= people to that position Of power which i
{ our God-given right"
It As there are two Republicans in tn
It field, with Democratic backing the rev
s erend candidate might win. He is al
c eccentric man, but above all noble
" warm-hearted man, full of practical idea
II and not without experience. CRAs.